12 Capstone® Plans

The Capstone practice strategies include round-by-round decisions for each functional area. Participants entering these decisions will more easily understand the relationships between business strategy, tactics, functional alignment, and the Capstone simulation.

These plans are designed to work with the Standard scenario and no customization. See 2.3.1 Simulation Parameters and Customization. In running practice rounds, instructors have two choices:

  1. Allow teams to struggle through the decision process on their own, using the tutorials and other support materials available on the website and in the Guide.
  2. Use the practice round business plans below.

There are pros and cons to both strategies. Participants who struggle through on their own are more likely to retain lessons learned from the practice rounds. Plus they can test alternate tactics of their own making, as opposed to the more controlled process outlined in the exercise below. On the other hand, participants who follow the practice round business plans focus more on the decision entry without the added pressure of making tactical decisions (albeit practice decisions).

These practice round plans are used to illustrate strategies. Participants do not need to follow them once competition rounds begin.

As an option, you can print these practice round business plans and distribute them to your class at the beginning of the Capstone® simulation.

Andrews-Capstone® Cost Leader With A Product Lifecycle Focus PDF Version 
Baldwin-Capstone® Differentiation Strategy
    With A Product Lifecycle Focus
 PDF Version 
Chester-Capstone® Broad Cost Leader PDF Version 
Digby-Capstone® Broad Differentiation PDF Version 
Erie-Capstone® Niche Cost Leader PDF Version 
Ferris-Capstone® Niche Differentiation PDF Version