Business Simulation Games for the Development of Decision Making: Systematic Review
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsDear authors, it is my pleasure to review your research article. I hope that you will receive my reviews and assessments with a good feeling, which are intended to improve it and help you to publish.
First of all and regarding your theoretical framework. I consider necessary a greater conceptualisation of the BSG and in particular of Serious Games, the discipline in which they are framed. It is interesting to define and conceptualise them. Look for new references, Clark C Abt, is an author who can be useful to start with.
Then, when you argue the validity of these, don't do it with only one study. Lines 36 onwards, look for new research to add to your references to support line 37, 39 and 40... Let each assertion have more than one study behind it.
Before moving on to Method, they should outline other literature reviews in the field of study. This will help you later to expand your conclusions and compare the results of those papers and yours. OK?
I must point out that some of the aspects marked as: Not applicable in the checklist need to be revised. For example the protocol, they have two options: to elaborate it and upload it to a repository such as figgshare, osf or similar, or to state in some section why they do not elaborate it. In this sense, they should review this and other sections of the checklist. I see new citations, although they should be added in MDPI format, not with the surnames in the text. The flowchart is correct. And the conclusions have been expanded.I think that if these small changes are adjusted, the article is publishable.
Finally, enhance your discussion section by relating your study to previous reviews, as well as identifying limitations and foresight.
Best regards
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
Thank you very much for the suggestions on the changes, as they have helped us to improve the document. We have updated the document taking into account all the suggestions, as we found all of them very appropriate.
Comments 1: First of all and regarding your theoretical framework. I consider necessary a greater conceptualisation of the BSG and in particular of Serious Games, the discipline in which they are framed. It is interesting to define and conceptualise them. Look for new references, Clark C Abt, is an author who can be useful to start with.
Response 1: We have conceptualized the BSG and the serious game by adding references, such as the one you suggested in the introduction.
Comments 2: Then, when you argue the validity of these, don't do it with only one study. Lines 36 onwards, look for new research to add to your references to support line 37, 39 and 40... Let each assertion have more than one study behind it.
Response 2: In the introduction, in the statements where we had included only one reference, we have included other studies
Comments 3: Before moving on to Method, they should outline other literature reviews in the field of study. This will help you later to expand your conclusions and compare the results of those papers and yours. OK?
Response 3: We have also included other literature reviews, increasing the discussion and comparing with our results.
Comments 4: I must point out that some of the aspects marked as: Not applicable in the checklist need to be revised. For example the protocol, they have two options: to elaborate it and upload it to a repository such as figgshare, osf or similar, or to state in some section why they do not elaborate it. In this sense, they should review this and other sections of the checklist.
Response 4: Regarding the protocol or registration number, we appreciate and understand your request about it. In this regard, based on other Prisma guidelines (Rico-González et al. 2022), we didn´t include the registration number since publication deadlines may be excessively delayed. The search for our systematic review is very recent and we would like to publish it as soon as possible. We have taken into account other Prisma guidelines that consider that any systematic review may register their project in PROSPERO; however, it is not common. Therefore, according to Rico-González et al. (2022) although it may be suitable, it is not mandatory. The other “not applicable” are due to the fact that our study does not aim to perform a meta-analysis and therefore does not have statistical data.
Rico-González M, Pino-Ortega J, Clemente FM, Los Arcos A. (2022). Guidelines for performing systematic reviews in sports science. Biol Sport. 39(2):463–471.
Comment 5: I see new citations, although they should be added in MDPI format, not with the surnames in the text. The flowchart is correct. And the conclusions have been expanded.
Response 5: Regarding the citation with surnames, we have seen that in January 2025 this journal was going to require APA norms, and that is why we have already done it this way to avoid making later changes.
Comment 6: Finally, enhance your discussion section by relating your study to previous reviews, as well as identifying limitations and foresight.
Response 6: We have also included other literature reviews, increasing the discussion and comparing with our results. Also, we have expanded some limitations and foresight.
We hope that with these changes you will consider that the document has improved in quality. Thank you very much for all your help.
Best regards.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe systematic review article provides a good review of a significant subject of study. However, the authors may incorporate the following corrections/suggestions:
In the introduction, the authors in the statement, “This study will specifically concentrate on the Business Simulation Games (BSG) for Decision Making (DM) development because it has grown in importance recently and there is increasing demand in higher education.,” may specify/reiterate (in a separate sentence) what has gained prominence and has a greater demand. Furthermore, when the writers claim this, they may include supporting information or data.
The authors must provide brief background information on some of the prominent business simulation games used at universities, as well as their distinguishing traits, in order for the readers to correlate them with the development of DM or other skills and abilities among students. The writers may also provide a brief overview of how BSGs are implemented in universities, particularly the technology that supports them.
The authors must address the error pertaining to subject verb agreement in the sentence, “In contrast, Design and Choice necessitate that the decision-maker make (makes) use of the given data to generate possible strategies and then select which of them to implement.”
In the sentence, “Our research question will be: (1) what is the relation between the BSG learning experience and DM at university, (2) what elements can be developed by the BSG learning experience to promote DM.,” the authors may address a grammatical error (research questions, as there are two) and appropriate punctuation should be placed after the research questions. The authors must also use proper punctuation after the research questions in the discussion section.
In Table 3, a typo has to be addressed in the sentence, “Promotes DM and other skills such as Analytic Thinking, Strategic Thinking o Team Work.”
Discussion (not discussions) and Conclusion (not conclusions) are the appropriate headings to be used, as they give a cohesive analysis and interpretation of the findings as well as overarching overview of the primary findings respectively rather than multiple distinct discussions or conclusions.
In the discussion section, a redundant expression in the following sentence has to be addressed: Another element to consider is the different types of activities that can be carried out in the BSG learning experience, since the BSG is merely a part of the part of the learning process to meet the defined learning goals.
In the same section, a typing error must be addressed in the following sentences: Moreover, it us useful to make overall presentations giving great importance to communication (Zöbeley etal., 2011)
In the same section, the authors use BSGs as the plural form to denote Business Simulation Games in the sentence, “In addition, BSGs allow instructors to determine the limits of their students' comprehension, allowing them to teach knowledge more efficiently (Sakata etal., 2014), so they can establish a fluid communication contact and thus have a faster response.” However, throughout the article, BSG is used in both singular and plural forms. The authors must be consistent in their use of the abbreviation.
While the article explains the overall impact and benefits of BSG, it must also include an in-depth description or examples regarding the specific BSGs employed in the studies reviewed.
In the conclusion section, the first line may be rephrased by the authors. Additionally, beginning a new paragraph with "regarding" may appear informal. They may also consider rephrasing certain sentences in the section.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
The authors must address errors pertaining to subject verb agreement, punctuation etc. Colloquial or informal language/expressions must be avoided as well.
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
Thank you very much for the suggestions on the changes, as they have helped us to improve the document. We have updated the document taking into account all the suggestions, as we found all of them very appropriate.
Comments 1: In the introduction, the authors in the statement, “This study will specifically concentrate on the Business Simulation Games (BSG) for Decision Making (DM) development because it has grown in importance recently and there is increasing demand in higher education.,” may specify/reiterate (in a separate sentence) what has gained prominence and has a greater demand. Furthermore, when the writers claim this, they may include supporting information or data.
Response 1: In the introduction we have made two separate sentences, which include supporting information or data.
Comments 2: The authors must provide brief background information on some of the prominent business simulation games used at universities, as well as their distinguishing traits, in order for the readers to correlate them with the development of DM or other skills and abilities among students. The writers may also provide a brief overview of how BSGs are implemented in universities, particularly the technology that supports them.
Response 2: We have added Table 4, which is more extensive and provides more detailed information on each game, including background/traits, type of BSG, key elements of implementation and impact/benefits. This table 4 has helped us to improve the discussion and conclusion.
Comments 3: The authors must address the error pertaining to subject verb agreement in the sentence, “In contrast, Design and Choice necessitate that the decision-maker make (makes) use of the given data to generate possible strategies and then select which of them to implement.”
Response 3: We have corrected it.
Comments 4: In the sentence, “Our research question will be: (1) what is the relation between the BSG learning experience and DM at university, (2) what elements can be developed by the BSG learning experience to promote DM.,” the authors may address a grammatical error (research questions, as there are two) and appropriate punctuation should be placed after the research questions. The authors must also use proper punctuation after the research questions in the discussion section.
Response 4: We have corrected it.
Comments 5: In Table 3, a typo has to be addressed in the sentence, “Promotes DM and other skills such as Analytic Thinking, Strategic Thinking o Team Work.”
Response 5: We have corrected it.
Comments 6: Discussion (not discussions) and Conclusion (not conclusions) are the appropriate headings to be used, as they give a cohesive analysis and interpretation of the findings as well as overarching overview of the primary findings respectively rather than multiple distinct discussions or conclusions.
Response 6: We have corrected it.
Comments 7: In the discussion section, a redundant expression in the following sentence has to be addressed: Another element to consider is the different types of activities that can be carried out in the BSG learning experience, since the BSG is merely a part of the part of the learning process to meet the defined learning goals.
Response 7: We have corrected it.
Comments 8: In the same section, a typing error must be addressed in the following sentences: Moreover, it us useful to make overall presentations giving great importance to communication (Zöbeley etal., 2011)
Response 8: We have corrected it.
Comments 9: In the same section, the authors use BSGs as the plural form to denote Business Simulation Games in the sentence, “In addition, BSGs allow instructors to determine the limits of their students' comprehension, allowing them to teach knowledge more efficiently (Sakata etal., 2014), so they can establish a fluid communication contact and thus have a faster response.” However, throughout the article, BSG is used in both singular and plural forms. The authors must be consistent in their use of the abbreviation.
Response 9: In the end we decided to put them all in the singular to maintain coherence.
Comments 10: While the article explains the overall impact and benefits of BSG, it must also include an in-depth description or examples regarding the specific BSGs employed in the studies reviewed.
Response 10: We have added Table 4, which is more extensive and provides more detailed information on impact/benefits of BSG.
Comments 11: In the conclusion section, the first line may be rephrased by the authors. Additionally, beginning a new paragraph with "regarding" may appear informal. They may also consider rephrasing certain sentences in the section.
Response 11: The specific grammatical and spelling errors you told us about have been corrected, and the document has been sent for review by a certified professional translator to improve the English wording.
We hope that with these changes you will consider that the document has improved in quality. Thank you very much for all your help.
Best regards.
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsDear Authors
I welcome the changes made. I leave it to the editor and the other colleagues to make the final decision.
Best regards
