Food item inventory instructional simulation using microcomputers

The purpose of this study was to teach the management concepts of perpetual and periodic inventory systems to university students through a food item inventory instructional simulation using microcomputers. The objective of the study was to determine the simulation's effectiveness in enhancing students' understanding of inventory systems management. The participants were senior and graduate students enrolled in a foodservice procurement and inventory systems course at Oregon State University, Corvallis. The population consisted of 68 students, with 34 in the experimental group and 34 in the control group. All the participants completed a pretest to measure existing knowledge of inventory management concepts. This was followed by two classroom lectures, each 50 minutes long, on inventory systems management in foodservice facilities. Members of the experimental group participated in using the food item inventory simulation and study guide after attending both classroom lectures. All the participants of the experimental and control groups completed a post-test 3 weeks after the pretest. The difference in post-test adjusted mean scores between the experimental and control groups was significant (p less than or equal to .05) as determined by analysis of covariance. Therefore, the food item inventory instructional simulation using microcomputers was effective in enhancing students' understanding of the management of perpetual and periodic inventory systems.