TVD Simulation Game: Tracing the Journey and Moving Forward
2025
Download PDFDOI: https://doi.org/10.60164/9oa76nyz5
Authors: Ganesh Devkar, Zofia Rybkowski
Citation:
Devkar, G. and Rybkowski, Z. K. (2024). “TVD Simulation Game: Tracing the Journey and Moving Forward.” Lean Construction Journal 2025 pp 82-103 https://doi.org/10.60164/9oa76nyz5 www.leanconstructionjournal.org
Abstract:
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to offer an aspirational framework for future lean simulation development that will maximize the benefits to those in industry as well as to those in academia. By way of example, the paper reviews the evolution of the TVD Marshmallow Tower Simulation Game as developed by multiple researchers to understand the strengths and weaknesses of variants of this simulation game and to suggest opportunities for continuous improvement. The aim is to challenge simulation developers to aspire to Conditions of Satisfaction that maximize a simulation’s effectiveness and impact for stakeholders of the built environment.
Research Method: As a case study, the authors investigated peer-reviewed literature describing recent variants of the TVD Marshmallow Tower Simulation Game and identified opportunities for further continuous improvement by envisioning aspirational criteria and evaluating recent TVD simulation games against the criteria. This case study was used to help build a recommended simulation framework.
Findings: Although digital versions of the TVD simulation game offer scalability and geographic outreach benefits—and can reduce product waste—the in-person physical version of the TVD simulation appears to be more accessible to participants who are less comfortable with digital and VR headset gaming. The in-person physical format arguably also offers the opportunity to build greater levels of trust among stakeholders. The challenge is to create a digital version that offers the benefits of scalability, geographic outreach, and waste reduction, but that is also easy to use across multiple age groups and that has the capacity to incentivize collaboration and create trust among members of a stakeholder team.
Limitations: The authors’ evaluation is based on their observations and perceptions after playing various versions of the published TVD simulations. While this is not a limitation, per se, it does represent a first step in the scientific inquiry process (e.g., hypothesis generation) with the expectation that further exploration is necessary.
Implications: The intent of this paper is to challenge researchers to develop digital versions of lean simulation games, such as the TVD Marshmallow Tower Game, that harness the benefits of digital and virtual simulations while also maintaining the benefits of physical format versions.
Keywords: Target Value Design, TVD, lean simulation games, digital and VR lean gaming
Paper Type: Full paper