Comparing student competences in a face-to-face and online business game

•Comparing students competences in a face-to-face and online business game.•Business game constitute a relevant e-learning method in management training.•The simulation of a real business environment allows students to develop an experiential learning.•The students’ perceptions about the generic and managerial specific competences is fostered by the business game.•Online students have different perceptions than face-to-face students.

In today’s globalized environment, universities and business schools need to incorporate elements and tools to obtain high-performance capabilities. Curricular schooling can benefit from the usage of educational business games. We analyzed the evolution and performance of two group of students who have followed a business simulation during some academic semesters. Data from a questionnaire answered by 146 students were analysed and compared with the European Tuning Project competence ranking. The results showed that the level of generic and specific competences obtained using business games is quite high. Moreover, the study have found that the assessment of competences acquired by students with a business game is not the same in the case of on-campus students than in the case of online students, in most cases the online group values specific competences higher than the face-to-face group. Our results suggest that the use of business games and can be considered a useful tool to improve student’s achievements and to foster a good level of competences.