A gamified approach to teaching project portfolio management

Managing multiple projects, commonly referred to as Project Portfolio Management (PPM), poses complex challenges due to the need for intricate decision-making in project prioritisation, resource allocation, and risk management. As project environments become increasingly dynamic with larger portfolios, there is a growing demand in Management Science education for innovative pedagogical strategies that equip students with advanced analytical and managerial skills. This paper presents a gamified pedagogical approach for teaching PPM to postgraduate students in business education through a PPM simulation game. The simulation integrates real-world scenarios and team dynamics into iterative, while challenging students to apply core PPM methodologies — such as Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, the Delphi method, and PERT — to make strategic decisions on project selection, prioritisation, and resource allocation. The simulation employs Werbach & Hunter’s 6D framework to specifically target authentic learning objectives and player engagement dynamics. Evaluation with a cohort of 45 students suggests improved engagement, motivation, and conceptual understanding, with participants highlighting the authenticity of the scenarios and the value of collaborative problem-solving as key benefits. Findings support the broader adoption of gamification to enhance experiential learning and competency development in project management education.