Time and hardware recommendations

Whether using the online text or your current text, you will need at least one week early in the semester to allow student teams to make a set of trial decisions. Firms in the Introduction to Business Simulation have the option to run 2 trial sessions before beginning active competition. Ideally, one of the class periods each of those two weeks should be in a computer laboratory. Whether or not you have a lab component tied to your existing course, the students must have access to the Web from a site on your campus. It may be in your business labs or in the library. The business-to-business, real time negotiations require that teams respond to other firms in a timely manner. The team will most likely enter into online chats and numerous WebCT e-communications with other teams located around the world. Once the non-trial decisions begin teams make one set of decisions per week.

Once students move past trial participation into active competition, they will be on-line several times a week Monday through Thursday on their own time, on or off campus. This self directed time varies from team to team. The simulation is highly motivating and some teams may find they are at their computer every night looking for the best deal on product and chatting with French or Dutch suppliers.

Ideally, introduction to business students should continue to have one class period a week to discuss the experiences they are encountering within the simulation. The focus of this lecture/discussion session may be directed by the instructor, may evolve from student questions or may follow text book priciples and concepts. The simulation news which involves both political and economic trends affecting teams directly may also present interesting options for thought provoking discussion.