TaBLE Based AI-Assisted Project Negotiation Case Design: A Project Management Course Study

Abstract

The number of university graduates in China has risen steadily in recent years, placing considerable pressure on the highly competitive labour market. Consequently, many students struggle to find suitable employment after graduation, highlighting a significant gap between academic preparation and industry expectations. Employers increasingly value practical knowledge application and essential soft skills, such as effective communication, critical thinking, and adaptability. Yet, most traditional classroom instruction remains predominantly lecture-based, offering limited opportunities for students to develop the dynamic competences required in the modern workplace. To address this critical educational gap, this study designs an innovative case simulation grounded in the Team-Based Learning and Evaluation (TaBLE) framework, seamlessly integrating core project management concepts and advanced negotiation principles. The proposed simulation is systematically organised into five distinct stages following the rigorous TaBLE structure, ensuring comprehensive student engagement. Throughout the intervention, students work collaboratively in groups through a realistic project bidding and negotiation exercise. By actively participating in this immersive environment, learners are compelled to apply the theoretical knowledge they have acquired to solve complex, real-world problems. This experiential learning approach is designed to significantly strengthen both their practical application skills and their interpersonal communication and negotiation abilities. Ultimately, the findings suggest that incorporating AI-assisted, TaBLE-based simulations into higher education curricula can effectively bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical execution, thereby enhancing overall student employability and readiness for the professional project management landscape.