ScaterBoys What it’s all about in 5 min… Simulation What it’s all about in 5 min… ____________ _______ _________ © Dr Phil KellyVersion 0.1

About This business simulation and associated activities will provide a Team work experience helping to improve your verbal and Interpersonal communication, problem solving and presentation skills. Participating in the simulation, through role play, you will be able to put management and business theory into practice whilst enhancing your real world understanding. You will have the opportunity to engage in day-to-day operations, seeing how decisions affect outcomes whilst also gaining experience of planning ahead.

What you will do… In groups you will individually adopt a management role and run a company – Scaters – for a few days. Through interaction with their enterprise system you will gain appreciation of business processes, structure, integrated roles and responsibilities and other management theories whilst conducting business. This rich experience will then provide opportunity for reflection and an appreciation of management theory.

Scaters Simulation Proprietary software developed by Dr Phil Kelly © 2018 Core simulation will take 2-5 hours Utilises group work and role play Suitable for business courses Of particular benefit to courses with multidisciplinary and cross functional goals

Simulation Task The MD has asked your team to analyse the current business and make recommendations for efficiency improvements that could take immediate or short-term effect. You should also consider the new organisation in the context of its emerging internationalisation strategy, and in recognition of the concept of globalisation, put forward ideas for the future.

PC with Outlook installed & open System Requirements Scaters Software PC with Outlook installed & open MS Access ____________ _______ _________

Set-up step 1: Group attributes After entering the activation code and setting up the system you will then enter information about your group Enter from the drop down <6 6 7

Set-up step 2 Group Information You MUST Enter your group number (allocated by tutor earlier in semester) each group member, student number and email

Set-up step 3 The clock starts when you press start

You can have a practice before starting the simulation… Practice Mode You can have a practice before starting the simulation…

Practice Mode User guides will be made available by the system when you click the practice button Practice simple or more complex sales orders based on scenarios Return to the simulation by clicking the ‘start simulation’ button

System Scenarios & Role play Exercise Sales | Production | Warehouse | Accounts | Production | Office Manager ____________ _______ _________

Log on First log on as Procurement and check stock levels, Or log on as Sales Select your name from the drop down

Simulation clock The clock is visible when the home form is loaded Progress…. Simulated time The clock is visible when the home form is loaded Simulation time runs much faster than real time

Home Form This is the main form Click here to add a new customer order The system routinely checks for the users simulated emails Help is available Menu Access simulated emails

Sales Add a new order… Use the tab key in this area Some fields are populated automatically… (You may not have the priviliges for each activity… First select the customer, add their order, Calculate shipping costs and then create an invoice (if goods in stock)… Note the order status Use the tab key in this area

Produce to Order Double click to open Planned Orders Scaters home produced products (stock) Production status: Read Only

Procurement: Maintain / reorder stock Stock may take days to arrive and can delay fulfilment/ production! Procurement: Maintain / reorder stock Double click purchase orders, check and authorise Manage the Inventory

Warehouse fulfil orders, receive procured goods, supply parts for production!

Receive and make payments Accounts

emails 2. Real 1. Scenario Simulated to trigger processes e.g. orders Role specific Can re-open through the outlook icon on the home form The system will automatically email progress reports to your tutor; you may receive copies Please click the “Allow” button when this happens

Help Remember – you’re managers try to act autonomously Problems: Don’t panic – completion is not mandatory – the primary purpose of the simulation is to provide a hands on experience of the system. You can complete the follow up activities even if you do not complete the simulation. Use the help buttons Email it@scaters.com If all else fails, there is a diagnostic tool: Log-in as IT assistant You will see “Run Diagnostics” in red font appear on the home form – click it and follow instructions In most cases, you will not have properly completed a task From the home form, left menu, check the orders, all should now be closed

End When the simulation (stage 1) ends following a data processing stage, two emails will be sent to the tutor . Data processing may take several minutes

Post Simulation Activities

End You can use the analytics form to download data from the system – this can then be analysed; this form will also show performance on core processes

Meetings Following the simulation you will need to meet as a group on a number of occasions. ____________ _______ _________

Stage 2 Your tutor will advise as to whether you will need to enter stage 2 and if so what tasks you may be required to do

Stage 2 In stage 2 you make management decisions There are two key parts: Creating a master budget as a context for investment and Identifying and evaluating investment opportunities for business improvement

Tasks Upon entering stage 2 a briefing document will be made available identifying what you are required to do. In some cases you will be asked to enter data and analysis whilst in other cases it will be provided for you to use as a context for investment decision making.

Ensure you read the user guides… More information See scaters.com END