Educational objective. An instructional supplement for courses dealing with strategic management and business policy, both domestically and internationally. Formulation of mission, objectives and strategy are emphasized, with opportunity to implement strategies and policies that will lead to the realization of objectives. A premium is placed on successful integration of functional area concepts. The model is challenging to upper-division undergraduate and graduate business students.
The simulation. A computer-based simulation of a manufacturing firm with domestic and international subsidiaries. Student teams compete with each other as members of the management of simulated companies producing and selling a consumer durable good. Includes marketing, production and finance and HRM decisions. The model is interactive so that marketing decisions, for example, may influence the sales of competitors as well as the sales of the firm making the decision.
Course use. Strategic management and business policy at the upper-level undergraduate or graduate level; suitable for use independently or as supplementary material. Seminars for management development. Variations of the model have been used successfully in the classroom and in intercollegiate competition for over three decades.
Number of participants. Twelve or more. A world may contain from three to eight firms (student teams), with each firm's management consisting of four to eight participants. For more than eight teams, separate worlds may be run concurrently.
Time required. Sixteen to twenty sessions of about fifty minutes each (later sessions typically may require less time). Outside preparation will reduce the time required in group sessions. Initial preparation by participants may require six to eight hours each.
Space required. Ideally, each company might have a separate "board room" for decision-making sessions. Grouping of teams in different parts of a large room works satisfactorily.
Materials and equipment needed. A copy of The Business Policy Game: Player's Manual for each participant and The Business Policy Game: Instructor's Manual for the administrator. The administrator should arrange to have the computer programs and history files installed on a personal computer system or local area network. Access to a computer system by players is recommended, but not required. A spreadsheet program is useful for student analysis and a decision support system.
Administrator's role. To provide an environment which maximizes the learning experience; and to arrange for materials, physical facilities and computer processing of student decisions. Instructions and suggestions for classroom use and for all phases of the simulation are provided in the Instructor's Manual.