7 Comp-XM
The Comp-XM Competency Exam is built around a simulation similar to Capstone and Foundation.
In Comp-XM, participants work alone - they are no longer on a team.
The Comp-XM industry has four market segments. Each individual participant is the sole decision maker for the Andrews company. Andrews competes against three computer companies, Baldwin, Chester and Digby. The Comp-XM simulation runs four rounds.
Simulation performance is judged using a Balanced Scorecard. Each round, a score is generated based on performance measures in these categories:
At the end of Round 4, a fifth score is generated using a different set of measures that evaluate the cumulative performance for Rounds 1-4.
Participants also answer five sets of multiple choice questions, called Board Queries. The questions are common for each participant, and therefore exam performance can be compared class-wide, school-wide or even across all Comp-XM users. However, the answers are based on each individual simulation. This makes the questions comparable but the answers unique. Instructors can assign Comp-XM as they set up Capstone or Foundation simulations, or later after the simulations are underway.
It is not possible to assign Comp-XM without a simulation. Capstone and Foundation can be considered preparation for Comp-XM.
Industries can be assigned after the exam is created.
From the Professor Pages, click the My Comp-XM Exams link.
If instructors assign Comp-XM as they set up their Capstone or Foundation industries, they will still need to follow the Create New Exam procedure.
The Create New Exam area asks for a name for the test, a start time and a completion time. Instructors can also assign participants by associating their Capstone and Foundation sections with the exam.
If Comp-XM was not included when the Capstone or Foundation sections were created, and therefore participants were not asked to pay the additional cost, instructors are asked to follow the additional step of adding the exam to the participants Shopping Cart. Participants will be asked either to pay the additional cost or enter a Comp-XM registration number before being allowed to start the exam.
Upon clicking My Comp-XM Exams from the professor pages, professors are taken to the Exams page. This page lists all exams. Exams status falls into three categories:
Clicking the name of any exam on the Exams page opens that exam's Dashboard.
The Exam Dashboard is a central area from which instructors access the tools needed to administer and review the Comp-XM exam. The page includes a link to a sample of the Comp-XM participant environment, including Board Queries (see 7.4 The Comp-XM Participant Environment on page 42).
This area allows instructors to change whether results will be available to participants at the end of each round, when the exam is complete or not at all.
Comparative scoring methods can also be set. Participants can be compared against:
Time zone and date formats are also set via preferences.
Located in the center of the Dashboard, the Exam Editor allows quick access to exam elements.
Clicking any cell beneath the Scorecards tab allows instructors to review the current Balanced Scorecard criteria.
Clicking any cell beneath the Questions tab allows instructors to review the current set of Board Query questions.
Clicking any cell beneath the Deadlines tab allows instructors to review and update round start and stop times.
By default, all Comp-XM exams are self-paced, that is participants can progress at their individual speed through the four rounds of the simulation and the five sets of Board Queries. Instructors need only enter a Round 1 start time and a Final deadline by clicking the appropriate rows in the Deadlines column.
Instructors who prefer to schedule rounds will enter round start and stop times for all four rounds and a final deadline for answering the final set of Board Queries.
Self-Paced exams only require a Round 1 start time and a Final deadline.
The Students tab opens an area where you can add or subtract the Capstone or Foundation sections you want associated with the Comp-XM exam. All participants registered in those sections will be assigned to the exam.
Instructors can customize Pending Exams with their own set of Board Queries or Balanced Scorecard values.
Participant's results can be compared to their peers, for example, Graduate and Undergraduate or Capstone and Foundation. However, if the Balanced Scorecard is customized or if the Board Queries are customized by adding more than five questions or deleting more than five questions from the standard exam, comparative data will not be available.
While this option creates flexibility, most instructors use the default questions and Balanced Scorecard values. If the exam is Pending, clicking the Scorecard cell in each row allows instructors to customize the Scorecard for that round. Clicking the Scorecard cell in the Final row allows instructors to customize the cumulative measures for Rounds 1-4.
If the exam is Pending, clicking the Question cell in each row allows instructors to customize the Board Queries for that round or the Final Board Query.
Board Query and Balanced Scorecard values can be reviewed but cannot be changed for Active exams. Schedules for Active Exams can be adjusted.
If they are scheduled, essay questions are reviewed and graded from the Exam Editor: A pencil icon appears when essays are uploaded and ready for review. Essay questions have a default point value. When grading, professors assign a percentage to each response. For example, if a participant answers an essay question worth 50 points and the professor awards 50%, the participant would receive 50% of 50 points or 25 points.
Essay questions are not part of the Capsim default question sets.
This link allows instructors to review a facsimile of the participant's Comp-XM environment (see 7.4 The Comp-XM Participant Environment on page 42).
Instructors use a search form to open the Student Progress area. Selecting All displays every participant.
During the exam, Board Query answers and Balanced Scorecard results for each individual participant are available via Student Progress. At the conclusion of the exam, the Student Results area displays comprehensive results (see 7.3.4 Student Results below).
If Comp-XM is not set for self-paced, instructors have two methods to catch tardy participants up with rest of the class. Instructors can advance participants from the Student Progress area, or opt to have those participants proceed in Self-Paced mode. Instructors can also undo simulation rounds and their associated Board Queries for individual participants.
If instructors undo a round for a participant, that participant will not receive a percentile rank in the 7.3.4 Student Results area, however the Raw Score will remain available (see 7.3.4 Student Results below).
When Comp-XM completes, the links in the Student Results area become active.
Prior to exam completion, instructors can review participant Board Query answers and Balanced Scorecard results via the Student Progress area (see 7.3.3 Student Progress above).
Comp-XM Student Scores show the exact results for the Balanced Scorecard and the Board Queries. The page also provides links to a breakdown of each participant's Balanced Scorecard results and Board Query answers for each round.
Comp-XM Comparative Scores include a graphic display of each participants' percentiles based upon the performance of comparable groups (for example, other undergraduates).
The Class Standings link allows instructors to compare their participants' standings against the performance of comparable groups (for example, other undergraduates).
The Assurance of Learning area generates reports designed to assist in the evaluation of specific learning goals. The reports can be used as supporting documentation (in conjunction with other methods and measures) for learning assessment puroposes.
CSV files, which can be imported into a Microsoft® Excel® spreadsheet, are available from the Student Results area. CSV files are a great way to archive results.
The Getting Started area displays the first time participants enter the Comp-XM simulation. Participants should review the information. They can return to it at any time by clicking the Getting Started link.
Each subsequent login opens the Comp-XM Dashboard. The Dashboard is a central area for all participant activities.
Some Comp-XM simulations progress on a set schedule. The start and stop times for each round will display in this area.
Most Comp-XM simulations are set for self- paced. When Comp-XM is set for self-paced, participants have the ability to move on to the next round whenever they feel they are ready. Once they have finalized their decisions using the Com-XM Spreadsheet and have answered all of the round's Board Queries in the website's Board Query area, participants click the Advance button to proceed to the next round. Participants will not be able to go back - they need to be sure their decisions and answers are final.
Instructors can return participants to a previous round via the 7.3.3 Student Progress area of the instructor's Dashboard (see page 41), however at the conclusion of the exam, that participant will only receive a raw score - a percentile score will not be calculated. See 7.3.4 Student Results on page 41.
The Downloads area includes links to the Comp-XM Excel® and Web Spreadsheets, plus the PDF version of the Comp-XM booklet. Participants use the Comp-XM Spreadsheet to determine and upload decisions. Participants can download this file to as many locations as they need.
As they launch the Comp-XM Spreadsheet, a login form immediately opens. Participants use the same user ID and password that they used in their previous simulation.
The Comp-XM Spreadsheet is very similar to Capstone and Foundation Spreadsheets, however, there are differences. The Perceptual Map has four segments, plus in Round 1 the segment positions are in the middle of the map. This is because participants assume control of an ongoing company in an evolved market. The participants' Comp-XM Help page includes an animation of the Comp-XM segment drift.
Unlike Capstone and Foundation, in Round 1 of Comp-XM all companies have different product locations and financial results.
The Comp-XM sensor industry has four competitors. Participants run the Andrews company. They compete against Baldwin, Chester and Digby.
Individual participants are the sole decision makers - Comp-XM is not a team activity. Therefore, each save uploads all decisions.
All Comp-XM simulations use the Human Resources and TQM (Total Quality Management)/Sustainability Modules. If participants are not familiar with the HR and TQM/Sustainability modules, they can look at the documentation, which is available from the Comp-XM Help page on the website.
Unlike Foundation, HR decisions in Comp-XM are made in two places. Workforce Complement is still entered in the Production area, however Recruiting Spend and Training Hours are entered in the Human Resources area (click Decisions|Human Resources in the Comp-XM Spreadsheet menu).
Industry results are available in the Comp-XM Inquirer, which participants can view from the spreadsheet or on the website.
Unlike the Capstone Courier and Foundation FastTrack, Comp-XM Inquirers for previous rounds are not available.
When participants click the Answer Board Query link, a new window will open.
Participants confirm they are the authorized user by clicking the I Agree button. The next page includes instructions on the right and a list of questions on the left. Participants select a question to begin.
The selected question opens and displays on the right. Almost all questions require the Comp-XM Inquirer. Links to the Inquirer are available from the Board Query area.
Unlike the Capstone Courier and Foundation FastTrack, the Comp-XM Inquirer includes Annual Reports for all four companies. This is because many Board Query answers require access to the opposing companies' reports.
If participants select the wrong answer they can change their answers as often as needed.
Participants can stop work and return later as long as they do not advance to the next round (if Comp-XM is in Self-Paced mode) or the round deadline does not pass.