Computer Simulation Game: Business Policy Game Rules & Procedures Dr. Laura L. Whitcomb BUS 4970

World Numbers Each BUS 4970 section is a separately run simulation world Each team is a company competing against other companies in this world Do NOT forget your world and team number for the next 15 weeks!

Company Products Simulated world: consumer durable, $10 Two Year Plan & Final Reports: Do NOT need to choose a product Assume all competitors are in the same industry.

Quarterly Decisions Each decision is for one quarter (4 decisions per year) Two years of history (labeled years 1 and 2) should be reviewed before making first decision The game runs for 4 years (Years 3 – 6), or 16 quarterly decisions

Criteria Weighting Factors Game performance is graded based on ROA, ROE, MS ($, not units), SP, UPC, TNI Weighting factors indicate how your team prioritizes these objectives Allows your team to influence how you will be graded Preliminary: trial run, may be changed Final: set in concrete; basis for grade

Geographic Home Areas Area 1: Eastern Merica – Teams 1 and 4 Area 2: Southern Merica – Teams 2 and 5 Area 3: Western Merica – Teams 3 and 6 Area 4: Nystok/Pandau/Sereno – all teams have international sales offices; none have headquarters or plants here

Decision Input Form

Marketing: Price & Advertising

HR: Salespeople

Finance

Product R&D & Training

New Models: Warning New models do not come into effect until the quarter AFTER manufacturing starts. Any “new” models sold before the second quarter of their manufacture will be perceived by consumers as “old” models, even though they have the “new” higher costs.

Production Scheduling

Production Capacity

Decision Input Form

Decision Outputs Sample output results are in BPG manual appendices; actual historical reports can be downloaded after your decision file is installed. Market research is not instant: will be printed out with your results Level playing field to start Industry rankings clear with each simulation run

GAME PROCEDURES Internet Integrated Mode Each team receives a startup zip file by or flash drive during the first week of classes (Co_151.zip). Do NOT open the file: Save to Downloads. Opening the file may corrupt it! If you opened the file, delete it & start over. Input decisions using the Players Program available on the bpg website.  The Players Program will access the file.

Get the Players Program BPG website: Go to Players Area Get the 7 th edition Download copy of the manual, if you wish Download the Players Program onto your PC or laptop User name = player Password = swb30oss Install the program

BPG

Player’s Login

Player’s Area:

Player’s Program – Download / Install Download and install the Player’s Program in your computer (PC only, NO Mac) from Then view the Tutorial From Website directly OR From Player’s Program Help Menu

Player’s Program - Setup Select Internet mode Install the startup zip file (from game instructor) Download the Y2Q4 Results Upload the Y3Q1 decisions

Player’s Program

Player ’ s Program Menu Frequently Used Buttons File Save reports Decisions New decision set Open decision set Reports View Print Graph

Upload Confirmation

Report Viewer All reports since the competition began saved on your PC (old reports NOT saved on the server) View reports on screen Print individual reports Make sure each team member gets a copy of each report to review before team meetings

Disseminating Results to Team 1. Use only ONE computer to upload decisions and download results. Problems tend to occur when more than one team member accesses the simulation. 2. When you click Print reports in the Players Program, it asks if you want to save. If you save, it creates a pdf file of the report. Designate one person to deal with simulation decisions and have that person send pdf's to everyone else on the team to distribute the results.

Reports

Income Statement

Pay the Simulation Licensing Fee On the bpg website, use a credit card to pay the $100 licensing fee for your team Make sure you input the correct World # and Team # Send the license to your own address and save it with your game folder (Tool) Send a copy of your license to Game account:

Contact Person for Game Decision Provide the and cell phone for your team’s contact person to the grad assistants before first Make sure the contact person’s computer could download the report and upload the team’s decision

Screen Image of Game Decision Provide a screen image to Game with all decisions

Proof of Game Decision Upload Provide a screen image of upload to Game with every

The Game Will Not be Rerun!! Get Your Inputs Correct the First Time!! [HINT: If you really want to FAIL BUS 4970, change your team’s decision before uploading it.]

Decisions are Due by 1:00 P.M. Monday and Thursday (First decision due Week 3, Thursday September 8) If your decision disk is not received on time, your previous quarter’s decision will be used 

BPG Quiz on Moodle Read the BPG manual in Week 1: review end of chapter summaries Week 2: Moodle Quiz. Twenty true-false questions; best score out of two attempts.

Simulation Support Mr. Vallabh Naik, Game Administrator Office Hr : Decision Days 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM Office: Simpson Tower F805 Dr. Kern Kwong Office: Simpson Tower F805

Protocol When ing simulation support, always include your World # and Team # in the subject heading. Be kind to Game Administrator: if there is a problem you cannot resolve, contact Dr. Kwong and your instructor.