work in a company for a short period, for example during a one week “stage”, they will not
have the opportunity to understand the complex network of personal relationships that influ-
ence how an organization really works. In school, success is a function of how well you do
on exams and those who do well get rewarded. This is not true once you get to the working
world, and it can take a long time to realize that business is about personal relationships^2.
The EIS Simulation can help bridge the gap between school and the world of work by help-
ing students develop their interpersonal skills^3 and social competences in group contexts,
becoming aware of the importance of individuals, networks and organizational culture via a
fun, and sometimes frustrating, “learning-by-doing” experience.
2 This is particularly true in France where there are hardly any part-time jobs for young
people (so they leave school with no work experience at all), where school is heavily focused on
academic competition, and where there are few extra-curricular activities at school which promote
teamwork.
3 For example, decision making skills (as individuals and in groups), presentation skills,
social skills, communication skills, personal skills and cultural adaptation skills.