Abstract

Cold Stone Creamery (Cold Stone), an American ice cream parlor chain, had been using video game as a training tool since 2005. Through the custom-made video game Stone City, the company aimed to train its frontline employees on customer service and sensitize them to ice-cream portions, inventory wastage, and their effect on profitability. As more and more companies used video games as a training tool considering the demographics of their entry-level workers, experts were divided on whether video games were an effective training tool.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Training and Development
• Training design
• Computer-based training
• E-learning
• and Functional training – Sales training

Keywords

Training, computer-based training, person-to-person instruction, class-room training, computer simulations, animated training modules, custom online training game, simulation, learning management, experiential learning, innovative training tools, training methods, demographics, Generation Y, customer service, inventory, retail, ice cream parlor chain, in-store experience, Cold Stone Creamery, Persuasive Games