SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT Root Beer Game V2 Andrew Christensen and Heide Abelli April 22, 2017

Supply Chain Management: Root Beer Game V2 Based on: The Classic Beer Game by Jay Forrester at MIT Multi-player Simulation with 4 roles Factory, Distributor, Wholesaler, Retailer Single-player option: Retailer only Seat Time: 60 minutes plus time to debrief Used in 1st Year Required Operations Management course at Harvard Business School Academic Price = $12.50 / Exec Ed = $37.50

Learning Objectives: Root Beer Game V2 Understand the “Bullwhip” effect Understand demand forecasting, required lead times, and the effects of batch ordering Explore techniques for controlling the Bullwhip effect Reduce uncertainty and demand variability Understand the role of centralized information

New in V2 Student interface and animation Better notifications of missing chain members Administrative Changes New graph: Compare Roles All players can be single player Debrief slides with class data Works on an iPad

Students play one of 4 roles Setting the Stage Students play one of 4 roles Cases Shipped Factory Distributor Wholesaler Retailer Orders

Famous Bullwhips Zorro’s Black Whip is a 1944 movie that tried to capture the fame of the successful Tyrone Power movie called the Mark of Zorro. In this one, however, Zorro does not appear. The heroine is a Zorro-like character who goes by the name The Black Whip. Indiana Jones is perhaps the most famous bull-whip carrying movie celebrity. But who can forget Catwoman? – Shown are Halle Barry and Michelle Pfeiffer. There’s a great scene where she uses a bullwhip to snap the heads off mannequins. Something the actress did in a single take.

The Bullwhip Effect

The Bullwhip Effect Factory Distributor Wholesaler Retailer Order Quantities Factory Distributor Wholesaler Retailer Time

How to Play

Ready to Play Go to: hbsp.harvard.edu User name = First initial + Last name @ hbpsales.com Password = simulation Example: achristensen@hbpsales.com