Sight Joining Sound Unlimited 2008 MBA Team Awards: Outstanding Performance and Outstanding Reports

Sight Joining Sound Unlimited was one of two teams representing the San José State College of Business in the 2008 International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition. From among teams competing in their division, Sight Joining Sound Unlimited won the first place award in both available categories: financial performance and written reports. The team consisted of Charmy Ruparel: Chief Executive Officer Chad Webb: Chief Financial Officer Warinda Rijiranuwat: VP, Production & Chief Operating Officer Shannon Laoye: VP, Sales and Director of Human Resources Eric Wang: VP, Marketing Min Yan: Controller Their advisor was Prof. Joel West.

From left to right: Warinda Rijiranuwat, Shannon Laoye, Charmy Ruparel, Min Yan, Eric Wang, Chad Webb

Sight Joining Sound Unlimited, Inc. (often known by their initials) was a fictional company organized to provide a convenient solution for customers trying to cope with a plethora of home entertainment devices. Its Symphony™ product line provided the most advanced remote controls in the industry, promising that “your remote needs are no longer remote.” Their premium priced devices were quickly favored by couch potatoes in two countries.

SJSU competed in a graduate division that also include Cal Poly San Luis Obsipo, Sacramento State, University of the Pacific and host University of San Diego.

By the time the competition was over, SJSU had led wire-to-wire, topping its industry in key financial performance metrics in each year of the (4½) years of simulated business performance. Abrupt changes in demand conditions in year 5 depressed the sales and profits of the entire “industry”, but the SJSU management team used the opportuity to fine-tune their pricing and production strategies and widen the lead over their competitors. In the final two complete years (Y5 and Y6) of the competition, the SJSU net income exceeded that of the other four teams combined.

At the final awards banquet on April 19, SJSU won all available awards in its division — the top award for financial performance, and the other top award for realism and accuracy in its simulated annual report and 10-K. Second place went to the University of Pacific, whose graduate team narrowly defeated SJSU in 2007.
 

	(Clockwise from top left) Team members enjoy a relaxed lunch after the end of the competition; Prof. West talks with members of the SJSU and Cal Poly teams; the cruise on the Bahia Belle is time to celebrate; sunrise over Mission Bay from the hotel room; team members debrief after the awards with with judges Mitch Steller, Rick Appleby and John Primus. Photos by Min Yan.

Last updated October 2, 2008