Spring 2006: Business 294
Business Simulation
Last modified January 14, 2006

Links

• Class schedule
• Decision schedule

Overview

This course provides an integrated and intensive approach to understanding how to run a company, using a business simulation of a hypothetical manufacturing company operating in two countries. One or more student teams (either undergraduate or graduate) compete against teams from around the country to achieve the best financial performance. SJSU has amassed an impressive record of winning teams since first joining this competition in 1982.

Past students have described the course as the “single most rewarding experience in my entire college career”. The course provides hands-on experience equivalent to actually running a corporation, and allows each student to bring together functional academic concepts resulting in integrated, applied management.

However, almost all the results from this course come from building a strong, closely knit team of four to six students. The ideal team will have a balance of strong quantative and communication skills. Every student will need both strong competitive instincts, and the ability to work closely together. Thus, essential prerequisites to success include both individual collaborative skills, as well as the bonds built between the team members during (or before) the course. These collaboration skills will be tested during a 12-hour day on the final, intensive portion of the competition

Course Policies

See the course schedule for meetings and activities from November 30, 2005-April 9, 2006. After the mandatory orientation meeting on Nov. 30. there are a series of meetings in January, weekly meetings (day TBD) through February and March, culminating with a 4-day trip (basic expenses paid) to San Diego to participate in the conclusion of the simulation competition.

Registration Details

This course has effectively two sections:

• Bus 294: on-campus MBA class. This is 3 units of unrestricted elective. Students should have
  • completed Bus 230 (Marketing Management) and Bus 270 (Financial Management) by December 2005
  • a graduate GPA of 3.50
• Bus 189: undergraduate. The course content is the same as the MBA course, but students compete against other undergraduate teams. The course also substitutes for the required Bus 189 strategic management course.

We have budgetary authorization to field three teams (18 students) between the two sections. In both cases, preferences will be given to students who (realistically) are graduating in 2006, since other students can participate in Spring 2007.

While the course code is 20379, adding the course is by instructor permission only. To add the course, you need to

• Wed., Nov. 30: attend the orientation meeting, meet with potential teammates
• Indicate to Prof. West your decision to add the class and obtain an add code
• Sat., Dec. 17: attend the initial class session
• Xmas vacation: do background reading on the Business Policy Game
• Jan. 9-Jan. 30: meet regularly to prepare for the competition.

Textbook

The Business Policy Game: Player's Manual,5th edition. Available via online download to registered students. Supplemental materials will also be provided by the instructor.

Grading

The main focus of the course is preparing (and monitoring) student participation in the International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition.

• Most of your time is making quarterly spending and investment decisions for your hypothetical company. Your decisions are entered into a computer program, which then calculates sales, inventory and financial performance. The computer also calculates (and reports) the results for the four or five competing teams from other schools that are participating in your “world.”
• Teams are also assessed on a written business plan, annual reports and through a final oral presentation before a panel of judges.

The grade will be primarily (80%) determined by the team performance, as weighted by your teammates’ evaluation of your relative contribution. Two additional individual assignments (worth 20%) will determine the remainder of your grade.

Schedule

Due to the requirements of the simulation competition, the schedule of the course does not exactly match the SJSU semester. Below is the tentative schedule for the course meetings.

Date	Time	Activitiy	Location
Wed., Nov. 30	4:30 p.m.	Orientation meeting for interested students Guest speakers: former Bus 294 students If you are interested in taking the class, you must attend this meeting or make prior arrangements with the instructor.	BBC 102
December		Contact instructor to get add code
Sat., Dec. 17	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.	Kickoff meeting	BBC 021
Jan. 9-23		Practice simulation	BBC 003
42nd International Collegiate Business Simulation Competition
Jan. 31-March 31		“Remote” Phase of ICBSC Draft reports due	virtual
April 6-8		“Intensive” Phase of ICBSC Bahia Hotel, San Diego

Instructor (Team Advisor)

Prospective students need to speak with the instructor prior to receiving an enrollment code, both to answer any questions they may have and confirm that they are prepared for the intensive nature of the class.

Joel West, Ph.D.
BT 555, College of Business, San José State University, San José, CA 95192-0070
E-mail (preferred): west_j@cob.sjsu.edu
Phone: (408) 924-7069; Org & Mgmt Dept. phone: (408) 924-3550

For more about the instructor, read a brief biography.