Posted on June 4, 2026 by Rebekah Alegria
In Jeffrey Kropp’s management courses at the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, students don’t just learn what good workplace communication looks like — they practice it.
AI-simulated presentation environment
Kropp, assistant professor of practice in management, has integrated AI-driven simulations into select courses to help students build the skills hiring managers expect early: navigating conflict, asking the right questions, staying professional under pressure and guiding challenging conversations toward a productive outcome.
“I don’t want students to leave this institution without some confidence in handling workplace situations like these,” Kropp said. “The more experience I can equip them with, the better.”
Kropp uses a simulation platform called Ovation, which allows him to build interactive workplace scenarios and adjust factors that shape the conversation. This allows students the chance to think intentionally about how they prepare to communicate and adapt in real time.
“Although students may initially doubt the AI scenario or their own communication skills, repeated practice with Ovation strengthens their questioning, professionalism, emotional awareness and application of workplace policy,” said Kropp. “From the first experience early in the term to the end, it is amazing to see their confidence build in managing sometimes challenging discussions.”
AI in Action
Students in Kropp’s Employee & Labor Relations course this spring completed a workplace investigation simulation centered on conflict between an employee and a manager. Students step into the role of an HR leader and guide the conversation with an AI-simulated employee, applying concepts tied to workplace policy and employment practices — an invaluable experiential learning opportunity.
Nicole Fernandez, a senior business management major with a concentration in human resources, said the experience stood out because it felt closer to workplace reality than traditional coursework alone.
“There is a level of interaction and exposure to different situations we will inevitably face in our future careers that we aren’t able to achieve through textbooks, homework assignments, projects or exams,” Fernandez said.
Students receive materials tied to their scenario, then complete the simulation, review feedback and reflect on their approach. The platform also generates a report with a transcript of the interaction — giving students a clear record of what they said, how the scenario progressed and what they might change next time.
Kropp reviews transcripts to provide targeted feedback and to reinforce specific learning goals across multiple rounds — such as whether students addressed appropriate workplace policy, maintained professionalism and used strategies that reduce tension and move a conversation forward.
“What really stood out to me when doing the AI role-playing simulation was that fact that it is like having a real conversation with someone,” said Aryana Jazmin King, a senior majoring in human resources management. “At first I didn’t know if it could boost my confidence since it was AI, rather than a person, but honestly it made it easier because I felt more comfortable making mistakes.”
Rather than “one-and-done,” Kropp emphasizes repetition and improvement — helping students get more comfortable handling the kinds of conversations they’ll face in the workplace.
“It doesn’t matter if you trip over your tongue,” Kropp said. “You’re going to be able to come back and review the conversation, then attempt the discussion again.”
Kropp feels that the use of simulations also help expand experiential learning in courses where class size and time constraints can make repeated in-class role-play difficult.
“It can be very hard to do in-class demonstrations in a class of 125,” he said. “The simulations help us deal with some of the logistics while still providing the interactions.”
As Alvarez continues preparing students for a fast-changing workforce, Kropp sees AI-driven simulations as one way to help students graduate not only with knowledge, but with practiced, hire-ready capability — developed through experience, coaching and realistic workplace application.
— Rebekah Alegria
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