COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to integrate and summarize MBA course work and provide students with interrelated cases for study and analysis. Through the case study/analysis method, students are able to practice various management roles. This practice method allows students a better understanding of the management function within a business enterprise.
Copyright Fontbonne University
ASSIGNMENTS to be completed before class
INDIVIDUAL
In addition to the assignments noted below, please complete everything on the Capstone Business Simulation Checklist (next page)
- Read the Student Guide MBA 516 (this document)
- Read the Supplemental statement for MBA 516 emailed to you
- Read the Capstone Simulation Strategy Guide (emailed to you). These articles will help you organize your team and choose the strategy for your company.
- Read and understand the Capstone Business Simulation Student Guide 2009 given to you with your text book. I recommend you read this first, before you do anything with the simulation. You will have to read it more than once to make sure you have understood everything.
- 25 Points- In the Capstone Business Simulation Student Guide 2009, pages 28-32 contain Forms 1-6. Please fill these out as part of your individual homework. You will need to use the Capstone Courier (year 0) in the simulation to complete these forms. I will check to see that you have completed this assignment in our first class.
- You can print the Capstone Courier (year 0) from the Capstone.xls spreadsheet. After you sign in with the Capstone.xls spreadsheet, go to the Add-Ins tab> Courier> Print Reports. After you print a copy of the Capstone Courier, bring it to class with you. You will need this for the first 2 classes. Instructions on how to download the Capstone.xls spreadsheet are on the next page.
- Complete Simulation Week 1 to do list on the next page
- Please bring the following to class:
- Printed copy of the class syllabus (attached to 1st email)
- Printed copy of the class deadlines (attached to 1st email)
- A printed copy of 11 spreadsheets (16 pages total) in the strategy and tactics Excel workbook. (attached to 1st email)
- A printed copy of 6 spreadsheets (11 pages total) in the competitive analysis Excel workbook. (attached to 1st email)
- A printed copy of the Capstone Courier Year 0 (attached to 1st email)
- Simulation Student Guide with forms 2-6 on pages 28-30 filled out.
- Your laptop computer
- A major portion of your grade will be an individual simulation and test done during the last two weeks of class in addition to the team simulation. You need to understand the simulation.
- Re read the Capstone Business Simulation Student Guide 2009 given to you with your text book.
STUDY TEAM
- Begin work on the Team Strategy and Tactics workbook (separate spreadsheet) due week 2.
- Discuss the 6 Basic strategies contained in the Capstone Simulation Strategy Guide (emailed to you) and chapter 10, pages 34-35 of the Capstone Business Simulation Student Guide 2009 Guide. You will need to choose one of these strategies for your company.
- Discuss how your company will be organized.
- I suggest that you organize your company by Product Manager or Segment Manager as described in the Capstone Simulation Strategy Guide emailed to you.
- Everyone will probably have to serve in 2 or more roles.
Capstone Business Simulation
Class One - TO DO CHECKLIST
- Register for the simulation.
- Log onto www.capsim.com
- Left side, click the "New Students - Click here"
- Read the welcome message, then click "I Agree"
- Enter the simulation ID number you have been assigned to. C31469
- Enter all the required fields
- At the last page, you will enter the pre-paid registration number provided to you. This number is either on or inside the front cover of your Capstone Student Guide. Every student must have his/her own account.
- You should also register for COMP-XM
- NOTE** If you have difficulties with the registration process, contact Customer Service at (888) 472-7554, or the Curriculum Coordinator at
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- Do not pay with a credit card. Registration numbers are included in the fee for this course. You will not be reimbursed for this expense.
- Homework
- This is 8-10 hours of work so please do not wait until the last minute to complete. Do not be concerned about being an expert right away; there is a lot of information to take in. This is just to start your training. You will get more proficient as you progress through the simulation.
- Log into your Capsim account at www.capsim.com
- Click on the Capstone®; logo
- On the left menu, click on the "Getting Started" menu option
- To the right of the left menu, go through the following tabs:
- View Introductory Lesson - Click "Audio Version" (if you have speakers) or "Silent Version" (if no speakers are available).
- 25 Points - There is a quiz at the end of the introductory lesson that you must also take. The quiz will not be graded but must be completed to receive credit. The video is about 15 minutes long.
- 30 Points - You must complete 8 rounds of the Rehearsal Simulation to get credit. I will be able to see how many rounds you have completed.
- On the "Rehearsal Simulation" tab - read and follow the instructions for the Rehearsal Simulation.
- Instructions on how to download capstone®;.xls are contained here.
- Go through and read the remaining tabs under "Getting Started" up to the "additional module documentation" tab.
- Also view the following tutorials and demos at www.capsim.com. The tutorials and demos are located under "Help" on the left side of the website.
- R&D Demonstration
- Product Invention
- Marketing Demo
- Production Demo
- Finance Demo
- Support for the Simulation
Please contact Capsim Management Simulations Inc. if you have any problems with the simulation, technical or business related. Send your questions by clicking the "Help" and "MSI Support" link from the left menu of your www.capsim.com account. Please allow 24 hour response time. You can also speak to a live person during office hours (below are USA, Central Time Zones):
Monday-Thursday 8:15 am to 11:00 pm
Friday 8:15 am to 8:00 pm
Sunday 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm
The toll-free number is 877-477-8787. The Capsim Foundation support group helps with specific questions but you must do the work. Support will not provide you with help on what decisions to make.
- Make sure you understand the simulation
INDIVIDUAL
- Read chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 of Strategic Management for the Capstone Business Simulation.
- 90 Points - Answer the 15 questions emailed to you over chapters 1-4
- Please bring to class;
- Your laptop computer
- A printed copy of the Capstone Courier Year 0
- A printed copy of the Capstone Courier practice round 2
- Simulation Student Guide
- The filled out strategy and tactics Excel workbook.
- The filled out competitive analysis Excel workbook.
STUDY TEAM
- 25 Points - Finalize and turn in the Team Strategy and Tactics Workbook.
- 25 Points - Answer Porter's 5 forces Industry analysis questions emailed to you (circle Significant, Moderate or Low).
- Business Simulation: Complete practice round 1 & 2 decisions as a team. See the simulation deadline schedule.
- Complete the competitive analysis workbook for practice rounds 1 & 2
- After all of your decisions have been finalized every round you will need to print all proformas from Capstone.xls to turn in at the last class. To print them press the second to last button (to the right) on the custom toolbar
- The Segment Ideal Spot locations are on Form 2 at the bottom of page 28 in the Capstone Business Simulation Student Guide 2009.
- After you upload your decisions, make sure to do a decision audit.
- Make sure when you save your decisions that you only save them for the product(s) you are working on. Failure to do this will result in you overwriting any decisions your teammates previously uploaded.
- When all of your decisions are final, remember to check the box and send an email to me. J
INDIVIDUAL
- Read chapters 5, 6 of Strategic Management for the Capstone Business Simulation.
- 90 Points - Answer the 15 questions emailed to you over chapters 5 & 6
- Read the HR & TQM handout emailed to you.
- 40 Points - Complete the 40 question quiz attached to the HR & TQM handout and turn it in to be graded.
- Please bring to class;
- Your laptop computer
- A printed copy of the Capstone Courier Year 2
- Simulation Student Guide
- The filled out strategy and tactics Excel workbook.
- The filled out competitive analysis Excel workbook.
STUDY TEAM
- 100 Points - Complete the financial analysis and the balanced scorecard assignment emailed to you.
- Receive the strategy implementation outline for rounds 1 & 2 of your strategy
- Review last week's individual assignment and correct answers as a group. Make sure everyone understands why the answer is correct and / or how to solve the problem. Questions and problems like these will be on the Comp-XM exam.
- Business Simulation: Complete live round 1 & 2 as a team. See the simulation deadline schedule.
- Complete the competitive analysis workbook for live rounds 1 & 2
- After all of your decisions have been finalized every round you will need to print all proformas from Capstone.xls to turn in at the last class.
- After you upload your decisions, make sure to do a decision audit.
- When all of your decisions are final, remember to check the box and send an email to me. J
INDIVIDUAL
- Read chapter 13 of Strategic Management for the Capstone Business Simulation.
- Read the COMP-XM Exam Guide
- 30 Points - Complete the Chapter 13 Comp-XM Board Inquiry questions emailed to you.
- 60 Points - Complete the Practice questions emailed to you.
- Please bring to class;
- Your laptop computer
- A printed copy of the Capstone Courier Year 4
- Simulation Student Guide
- The filled out strategy and tactics Excel workbook.
- The filled out competitive analysis Excel workbook.
STUDY TEAMS
- Business Simulation: Complete Live round 3 & 4 as a team. See the simulation deadline schedule.
- Complete the competitive analysis workbook for live rounds 3 & 4
- After all of your decisions have been finalized every round you will need to print all proformas from Capstone.xls to turn in at the last class.
- Human Resources decisions begin in Round 3.
- TQM decisions begin in round 4.
- Review last week's individual assignment and correct answers as a group. Make sure everyone understands why the answer is correct and / or how to solve the problem. Questions and problems like these will be on the Comp-XM exam.
- After you upload your decisions, make sure to do a decision audit.
- When all of your decisions are final, remember to check the box and send an email to me. J
INDIVIDUAL
- 100 Points - Begin COMP-XM. This will take 12-15 hours to complete. It can be completed in multiple sessions.
- Please bring to class;
- Your laptop computer
- A printed copy of the Capstone Courier Year 6
- Simulation Student Guide
- The filled out strategy and tactics Excel workbook.
- The filled out competitive analysis Excel workbook.
STUDY TEAM
- Business Simulation: Complete live round 5 & 6 as a team. See the simulation deadline schedule.
- Complete the competitive analysis workbook for live rounds 5 & 6
- After all of your decisions have been finalized every round you will need to print all proformas from Capstone.xls to turn in at the last class.
- Review last week's individual assignment and correct answers as a group. Make sure everyone understands why the answer is correct and / or how to solve the problem. Questions and problems like these will be on the Comp-XM exam.
- After you upload your decisions, make sure to do a decision audit.
- When all of your decisions are final, remember to check the box and send an email to me. J
INDIVIDUAL
- 50 Points - Complete the online peer evaluation after round 7.
- Complete COMP-XM before class begins
- COMP-XM deadline for completion is 6 PM
- Complete the instructor evaluation form.
STUDY TEAM
- Business Simulation: Complete live round 7 & 8 as a team. See the simulation deadline schedule.
- Complete the competitive analysis workbook for live rounds 7 & 8. Turn this in.
- After all of your decisions have been finalized every round you will need to print all proformas from Capstone.xls to turn in this week.
- End Gaming - Round 8 is to be played as if you are an ongoing concern preparing for years 9, 10, 11...Your simulation score will be reduced if you change your policies or sell off assets.
- Turn in proforma reports and decision summaries from each round
- Turn in your completed competitive analysis workbook
- 100 Points - Prepare a 30 minute verbal presentation on your simulation experiences.
- What was your planned strategy?
- Did a new strategy emerge?
- What market segments did you focus on?
- Marketing strategy and tactics - discuss Promotion, Sales budgets, AR, AP, Pricing Strategy by segment
- R&D strategy and tactics - discuss which products you repositioned and the new products you brought to market by segment
- Production strategy and tactics -Discuss plant capacity changes and automation for each product.
- Finance strategy and tactics - Review your capital structure (debt and equity) and your dividend policy
- How is your company organized?
- Who were our strongest competitors in each segment?
- What did your competitors do to achieve a competitive advantage?
- What were your most costly errors?
- What were your competitor's most costly errors?
- Presentations: All class presentations are to be made as if you are presenting to the Board of Directors of the Company you are analyzing. Professional, logical and easy to follow presentation is expected. Do not get caught up in so much detail that your analysis and recommendations are hard to follow.
- Weighted distribution of course requirements
|
Points |
Class |
Class 1 |
10 |
class 1 |
Class 2 |
10 |
class 2 |
Class 3 |
10 |
class 3 |
Class 4 |
10 |
class 4 |
Class 5 |
10 |
class 5 |
Class 6 |
10 |
class 6 |
|
|
|
Team Assignments |
|
|
Porter 5 Forces Assignment |
25 |
class 2 |
Financial analysis and Balanced scorecard assignment |
100 |
class 3 |
|
|
|
Individual Exams |
|
|
Individual Take Home Test on the Simulation |
40 |
class 3 |
COMP-XM - Individual Simulation and questions |
100 |
class 6 |
Quiz Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 |
90 |
class 2 |
Quiz Chapters 5, 6 |
90 |
class 3 |
Chapter 13 Board Inquiry Questions |
30 |
class 4 |
Practice questions |
60 |
class 4 |
|
|
|
Individual |
|
|
Situation Analysis complete |
25 |
class 1 |
Introductory quiz complete |
25 |
class 1 |
8 Rehearsal Rounds by deadline |
30 |
class 1 |
Peer Evaluation after round 7 |
50 |
class 6 |
|
|
|
Team |
|
|
Team Strategy and Tactics Worksheet |
25 |
class 2 |
Final Presentation on simulation |
50 |
class 6 |
Competitive Analysis Workbook |
50 |
class 6 |
Your team simulation will score - 3 points for each Star out of 40 stars on the Star Summary- BONUS POSSIBLE |
75 |
class 6 |
Your team will score 1 point for every 10 points out of 1000 on the Balanced Scorecard - BONUS POSSIBLE |
75 |
class 6 |
|
|
|
Total |
1000 |
|
- Final Grades will be determined by the following percentages:
A = 95 - 100%
A- = 90 - 94%
B+ = 87 - 89%
B = 83 - 86%
B - = 80 - 82%
C = 79 - 70%
F = 0 - 69%
