FREE for Professors

Your Students Will Make Real Data-Driven Decisions. You'll Have the Evidence to Prove It.

Experiential MIS, BIS & business computing simulation

Students purchase datasets, analyze them in Excel or our Analysis Lab, submit strategic plans, and compete in teams, while you get rubrics, analytics, and assessment evidence automatically.

Pedagogical design: Students compete turn by turn in a campaign simulation: buy data, analyze it, submit a plan, and watch rivals move.

Traditional labs teach the how. Here students must justify the call with data and see competitors respond.

Pavel Platonov, Adjunct Professor of MIS, University of Manitoba

35+ universities · 14,000+ students · Peer-reviewed in JSDSE (2022) · IS2020 + AACSB alignment

35+ Universities
14,000+ Students
Peer-reviewed · JSDSE (2022)
Get Free Instructor Access Free instructor access See How It Works Watch the overview (90 sec)
Typically ~24h with institutional email, or instant via Google
I'm a student: join with a section or access code →
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Instructor Console Preview 20-min Syllabus Map
Sample cohort data
MIS 101 · Section B · Turn 2 / 6 AI Grading Active →
Action Plan Analysis Lab Rubrics & AoL
Urban millennials · 2,340 / 48,000 rows · L2 Developing
View Dataset →
Team 3 L2 · Lab linked
84 / 100
Plan: Segment B from Lab profile; Consumer Survey + Purchase Behavior linked; forecast +3–4 pt lift.
AI: Review / Override →
Segment B targeting matches linked purchase-behavior evidence; Lab artifact shows multi-condition filters. Forecast was realistic; execution aligned with the saved profile.
88
Strategic Approach
82
Expected Results
L2
Lab Depth
86
Execution
Team 1 No Lab filters 71
Team 5 Plan not linked 64
Team 2 Broad outreach flagged 58
Explore Live Console & Tour →
Compare to CAPSIM Chair approval template What's New
90-Second Executive Explainer

Stop Explaining Business Data. Start Competing With It.

Watch how MISsimulation wraps enterprise data analytics, customer segmentation, and capital allocation in an intuitive turn-based campaign - eliminating grading burnout with AI assessment.

01 · Analogy Decoder

Zero Onboarding Friction

Winning voters = Customer acquisition. Campaign budget = CapEx. Students immediately grasp the stakes while practicing authentic business concepts.

02 · Decision Loop

Data Depth & Accountability

Students join 13,000 multi-source records, analyze district profiles, and commit to written hypotheses and numeric forecasts before simultaneous turn resolution.

03 · Instructor Superpower

AI Pre-Grading & 10+ Hours Saved

The AI assessment engine audits student dataset choices, logic soundness, and forecast variance - pre-grading rubrics with complete faculty override control.

Want to see the instructor software walkthrough? View live console tour (3 min) →

One complete turn

From decision to assessment in one turn

A fictional election creates budget limits, incomplete information, and competing teams. The learning objectives are data analysis, resource allocation, and evidence-based decisions. Here is one complete turn:

1. Decision

A team must decide whether buying more information is worth the budget it cannot then spend on outreach.

2. Analysis

In the Analysis Lab or Excel, they filter the voter file, compare segments, and save a profile with the evidence behind the choice.

3. Commitment

They submit a structured Action Plan: target segment, linked evidence, strategic role, and a numeric forecast recorded before results exist.

4. Consequence

The action runs against rival teams. Results show what the forecast got right and what the next turn should change.

5. Instructor value

You review the reasoning feedback, can override scores with a required justification, and export grades and evidence for your gradebook.

Why a campaign simulation works for MIS and business information systems teaching

Students analyze real datasets, submit structured Action Plans, and compete turn-by-turn. You get process evidence and AI-supported feedback you can review before release.

→ Working with structured CSV datasets and inspecting raw data
→ Cost/reach tradeoffs, ROI thinking, and scarce-resource allocation
→ Evidence-based reasoning: explaining decisions with data, not intuition
→ Iterative strategy: measuring results and improving decisions turn over turn
→ Information-acquisition decisions: choosing which datasets to purchase, when to invest a turn in research, and how to manage intelligence costs against budget
→ Joining multiple data sources: combining voter, financial, and behavioral files into a single decision model - the integration work analysts actually do
See How It Works →
Product proof

What students and instructors actually use

A quick visual sense of the experience: competitive student work, strategy context, and the instructor role, before you dive into the full walkthrough.

Strategy view: map, budget & standings

See How It Works
Why adopt

Why instructors adopt MISsimulation

L0–L3 analytical maturity, filter logs, and CSV export map to direct measures for accreditation reviews.

Peer-reviewed research

Published in the Journal of Statistics and Data Science Education

A peer-reviewed article (DOI 10.1080/26939169.2022.2138799) describes teaching data analytics with MISsimulation, the skills students practice, and student feedback, cite-ready context for curriculum committees.

Read the Study →
Practice mode

Practice before the graded run

Students complete a full practice simulation first, fewer first-turn mistakes, cleaner debriefs, and fewer grade disputes when the real competition starts.

See How It Works
Analysis Lab

Guided data exploration & dataset workflow

Students filter multi-source datasets in the built-in Lab or spreadsheet exports, then link artifacts to Action Plans. Walk through Step 2 (Acquire & Analyze) with examples on the instructor overview.

See the Analysis Lab walkthrough →
SLO mapping

SLO mappings and AoL evidence, ready for review

Activities map to measurable learning outcomes with exportable depth scores, built to support syllabi, AoL binders, and accreditation self-studies. Faculty validate the interpretations.

Open the accreditation guide →
Semester logistics

Fits a 13–15 week semester without extra admin

No prerequisites, fast setup, flexible teams, and one instructor account across sections, details and kit materials on the instructor kit page.

Open the instructor kit →
Teaching in 8 Languages

Teaching in 8 Languages

Full UI in 8 languages, EN, FR, ES, RU, PT, AR (RTL), ZH, HI. Lock section language or let students choose.

See How It Works
Syllabus fit

One Simulation, Any Course

Adjust complexity to match your students. From a streamlined intro for freshmen to a full-featured capstone-you control the experience from one dashboard.

Streamlined · Beginner-friendly

Introductory

Freshman / Sophomore

Streamlined experience focused on core data analysis and budgeting. Perfect for students' first exposure to business simulations.

  • Surveys enabled
  • Data sets available
  • Single player practice mode
Most popular

Standard

Junior / Senior · Most popular

Full-featured with social media, team collaboration, peer review, and multi-source data analysis. The core MIS experience.

  • Social media (Critter) enabled
  • Surveys and data sets
  • Group peer review enabled
All features · Maximum depth

Advanced & Capstone

Senior / Graduate

Every feature enabled. Maximum strategic depth with advanced competitive dynamics, external funding, and full data access.

  • All feature toggles enabled
  • Full data sets with pricing control
  • Negative campaigning allowed

Team sizes, budgets, turn schedules, feature toggles, data set pricing - configure it all from a single instructor dashboard. No technical setup is required.

MIS course

Used in MIS courses at the University of Manitoba

Classroom origin for the simulation, not a multi-school case study.

Data Justification Under Competition

Used in MIS courses so students must justify a decision with data under competition and incomplete information, not only complete isolated spreadsheet drills.

Pavel Platonov
Founder · Adjunct Professor of MIS
University of Manitoba (MB)
University of Manitoba
MB, Canada
Eastern Oregon University
OR, USA
Drexel University
PA, USA
Southeastern University
FL, USA
Lubbock Christian University
TX, USA
Samford University
AL, USA
Saint Mary's University
NS, Canada
Capilano University
BC, Canada
Sonoma State University
CA, USA
University of Manitoba
MB, Canada
Eastern Oregon University
OR, USA
Drexel University
PA, USA
Lubbock Christian University
TX, USA

...and many more leading institutions worldwide

First login

Your first login in 4 steps: from account to classroom

No setup wizard. One class section. You can see the student view and the instructor view from the same login.

See the first 15-minute walkthrough →
Step 1

Open the instructor view

A switch at the top of the screen takes you from the student experience to the instructor console, where you create the class, review reasoning, and export grades.

Step 2

Create one class section

Create a class section for your course. Practice is already included: students can try a full turn on their own before the graded competition starts. You do not need a second section for practice.

Step 3

Try a turn as a student

Open a team in the roster and play that team's turn. You see the same datasets, budget, and Action Plan your students will see, so you can walk the assignment before you assign it.

Step 4

Open the teaching materials

Inside the section, open Resources for the rules, scoring formulas, and slides you can share. Students see the same reference, so you are not writing a separate game manual.

One class section is enough

Students log into your section, practice on their own, then join the live competition when you open the first graded turn. No duplicate accounts, and no extra practice section to configure.

What you grade

AI Doesn't Replace Your Grading. It Handles the First Pass.

You are not grading a disconnected essay or an unverified spreadsheet file. The simulation generates three interlocking layers of process evidence, then you review, override, and release.

Layer 1

Analysis Lab & spreadsheets

Students analyze multi-source CSV datasets in the browser Analysis Lab or export to Excel/Sheets. Saved filters, segments, and purchases show the analytical work behind the decision.

  • 17+ named datasets across five layers
  • L0–L3 depth from the Lab trail
  • Optional Excel / Sheets export
Evidence: Filter logs, saved segments, and dataset purchases.
Layer 2

Structured Action Plans

Before a turn runs, teams submit a four-step plan: who they target, which data they cite, the strategic role, and a numeric forecast. The plan is locked before results appear.

  • Targeting from data fields or a Lab profile
  • Direct links to purchased datasets
  • Quantified forecasts submitted in advance
Evidence: Immutable plan submissions tied to the turn they executed.
Layer 3

AI first pass + your override

AI scores the plan against Lab depth, purchases, and execution, not writing style. You review, override, and export to the gradebook. Final authority stays with you.

  • Strategic Approach and Expected Results scores
  • Review and override before student release
  • CSV export for Canvas, Blackboard, D2L, or Moodle
Evidence: Scored plans, override notes, and AoL-ready CSV reports.

What the platform takes off your desk

  • First-pass scoring of every Action Plan against Lab evidence
  • Assembling a gradebook and AoL export by hand
  • Hunting for silent teammates after the fact

What you still do

  • Set due dates, weights, and scoring strictness
  • Review flagged teams and override scores
  • Run the debrief and handle exceptions

We do not publish a fixed hour savings. Time recovered is the first-pass read of every team's plan, the spreadsheet assembly for grades and AoL, and the hunt for inactive students. It scales with how many teams you would otherwise have graded by hand.

Academic Integrity

Assess the process, not an AI-written answer

Analysis Lab trails, structured Action Plans, and execution records make ChatGPT shortcuts visible. You still review the linked evidence rather than the prose alone.

Unique Island Environments
Every course section generates distinct population and demographic datasets. There is no shared answer key on Course Hero or Reddit.
Evolving Competitive State
Market conditions change dynamically based on competitor actions each turn. Static prompt templates fail immediately.
Process evidence, not prose
You can review the match between purchased data, filtered lists, and what actually ran. Generic AI output does not include that trail.
Faculty Review Authority
You inspect the full analytical trail, adjust rubric weights, and override scores before releasing results.
How academic integrity works →

Authentic Assessment Comparison

Traditional Case Study
Static prompts, reused across semesters. A generic AI answer can look complete with no data trail to inspect.
MISsimulation Simulation
Unique datasets, a live competitive state, structured Action Plans, and execution logs you can inspect before you release scores.
Transparent Model

Always 100% Free for Professors. Affordable for Students.

Adopt without departmental friction. Zero software licenses, zero LMS lock-in fees.

Option 1

Direct Student Card

$28.99
per student · full semester access

Students go to missimulation.com, enter your section code, and purchase individual semester access via card. Instant setup with no bookstore coordination required.

  • Instant access to team dashboard
  • No software installation needed
  • Full semester access on all devices
Direct Purchase Details →
Campus Bookstore Standard
Option 2

Bookstore & Inclusive Access

ISBN 978-0-9949984-0-8
Follett · Barnes & Noble · Slingshot

Order via your campus store adoption portal. Supports inclusive access programs, financial aid vouchers, and 100% returnable drip purchase orders.

ISBN-13: 978-0-9949984-0-8
ISBN-10: 9780994998408
Format: Digital Access Code Card
Bookstore Copy-Paste Box →
Option 3

Department Bulk Access

Single Institutional Invoice
Net 30 · PO · Credit Card

Your department or program covers student access centrally. We generate a batch of prepaid access codes or unlock the course section for seamless roster entry.

  • Zero student out-of-pocket barrier
  • Multi-section coordinator billing
  • $0 faculty or department license fee
Request Bulk Invoice →
See Bookstore & Inclusive Access details →
General Business Sim (CAPSIM, etc.)

MISsimulation Is the IS Layer They Don't Have.

General business sims teach supply chain, marketing, and finance. None of them teach your students how information systems drive those decisions. That's the gap MISsimulation fills. And it's the gap your SLOs require you to close.

Capability General Business Sim (CAPSIM, etc.) MISsimulation
IS-Specific Curriculum ❌ Business strategy only ✅ Data analysis, IT decision-making, system selection
Dataset Purchase & Filtering ❌ Not applicable ✅ Students buy, filter, and interpret real data sets each turn
AoL Evidence Generated ⚠️ Manual export / external rubric required ✅ Exportable depth scores for your AoL binder or review
Decision Traceability ❌ Outcome-only scoring ✅ Every decision step logged. Process graded, not just result.
Process evidence, not prose ❌ Outcome can be AI-generated ✅ Lab trail, Action Plan, and execution records. Review the evidence, not the prose.

MISsimulation complements general business simulations or replaces them entirely in IS courses. Many instructors run both in the same program.

Compare to CAPSIM →
For Colleagues and Faculty

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Frequently Asked Questions

Questions from Instructors Like You

Quick answers to help you decide if MISSimulation is right for your course

Can I try it myself before committing to my class?

Preview the instructor overview at /instructor-overview to see the student and instructor workflow before committing. Or, your free instructor account gives you full live access - all screens, all data, all AI feedback - with no credit card required.

Preview the instructor overview - no account needed →

What do students actually do each week?

Each turn, students access CSV datasets, analyze them in Excel or Google Sheets or in the built-in Analysis Lab, allocate resources across target segments, attach a saved Lab profile or upload a filtered list for targeted outreach, and complete a structured Action Plan. After the deadline closes, you release results and AI-supported feedback. Weekly time typically ranges from 15 minutes to over an hour depending on depth and your section settings.

How much class time does this require?

As much or as little as you choose. Many instructors run a 15–20 minute debrief discussion after each turn - students arrive with their results and the conversation writes itself. Others let the simulation run entirely asynchronously with no required class time. It's fully up to you.

How does grading work in a competitive format?

A team's grade is determined by the quality of their analysis, the rigor of their decision rationale, and their use of data-not by whether they won the simulation. The included grading rubrics assess data interpretation, strategic reasoning, and budget justification independently of competitive outcome. One team winning does not reduce another team's grade. You can also weight participation, improvement over turns, and individual contribution scores however fits your course.

What does "LMS-ready" actually mean?

Students open the simulation via an embeddable link or course code you share in Canvas, Blackboard, D2L, or Moodle, not a full LTI grade passback. The Instructor Kit includes setup guides for each LMS. After each turn, export a grade CSV and import it into your gradebook. Automatic gradebook sync is on our roadmap. No IT admin ticket required to get started.

Can I customize the difficulty level?

Control game length (4-13 turns), dataset complexity, required analysis depth, and grading rubrics. Perfect for both undergraduate and graduate courses.

What if students have technical issues?

Students get direct support access, and instructors have a dedicated support channel with 24-hour response time. Plus, there's a private instructor community to share best practices.

What spreadsheet skill level should students have going in?

Basic spreadsheet comfort is enough for the export path, open a CSV, filter, simple arithmetic. Students who use Analysis Lab can build segments in-platform with guided steps. Advanced students can go deeper with pivots, joins, or multi-dataset Lab profiles.

Ready to Inspect the Full Simulation with Your Own Login?

A free instructor account gives you the full platform: all datasets, all screens, and AI feedback, with zero obligation or software to install.

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