Using Dungeons and Dragons to Creatively Evaluate What It Takes to Be a Successful Entrepreneur: A Role-Playing Exercise

Abstract

In this manuscript, we introduce the creation of content-specific fictional characters as a role-playing activity where students build and creatively write about their own character—their ‘Ideal Entrepreneur’. The exercise allows students to meaningfully engage with course material and consider their preconceived notions of what an entrepreneur needs to “be” to be successful. Using the character creation outline from the role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons, students role-play their created entrepreneur as a character with chosen attributes through storytelling. This encourages outside-the-box thinking and the allowance for creativity in a novel and interesting way, all while engaging with the course content. We highlight not only the activity but also how this is a useful exercise for students in practicing entrepreneurial scenarios and considering the relationship between entrepreneurial attributes and outcomes. We additionally provide student feedback regarding the benefits they received by participating.