Business SimulationLaajuus (5 cr)

Learning objectives

During the course students will simulate a copy machine company in which they have the full responsibility as board members. Teams have to take both operative and strategic decisions for every period based on the provided business information and its’ analysis. Teams are expected to be able to justify their strategies and decisions fact based.
Developing marketing strategies and implementing them, building a financial strategy and braking it down to day to day operations as well as using management accounting tools like product costing will be your daily business. Managing and motivating your workforce at an efficient level and keeping the production capacities in mind will complement your managerial tasks. The combination and alignment of those individual functional strategies to an overarching corporate strategy under time pressure will be your masterpiece. Your shareholders expect rising share prices and want to be updated on development after every period.

Contents

In TOPSIM -business simulation teams must take decisions on several fields:
• Corporate objectives and strategies
• Sales: Competition analysis, marketing mix, product life cycles, product re-launches, new product launches, entering a new market, costing of special transactions, contribution margin accounting and market research reports as a basis of information for marketing decisions
• R&D: Technology, ecology, value analysis
• Procurement/ warehousing: Optimum order quantity
• Manufacturing: Investment, disinvestment, in-house production or external procurement, capacity planning, ecological production, rationalisation, learning curve
• HR: HR planning, qualification, productivity, absences, fluctuation
• Finance and accounting: Cost type, cost centre, cost object accounting, gradual contribution margin accounting, financial planning, balance sheet recognition and income statement, cash flow, share price and company value, portfolio

Lähtötaso ja sidonnaisuudet muihin opintojaksoihin

Before completing this course, the student must have completed the key studies common to Haaga-Helia.

Implementation methods, demonstration and Work&Study

Business simulation (TOPSIM) will be done intensively during one week. Participation to additional activities (familiarizing with the simulation, trial periods of the simulation etc.) might be required.

Business simulation is arranged in Heilbronn, Germany in autumn semester (Intensive week 42, October) and in spring at Haaga-Helia Pasila Campus. Students will enroll to either of the implementations. Implementation in autumn semester requires traveling to Germany (Haaga-Helia travel compensation 70 euros/travel day might apply) according to the given schedule for the implementation.

1) Implementation methods of the course: contact, online and blended
2) If you already know the competence objectives of this course, you can show your competence. Ask the teacher of the course for more information. More information on the identification of skills: https://www.haaga-helia.fi/fi/osaamisen-tunstämaminen-ja-work-study.

Assessment criteria - grade 1

When the implementation type of the course is CONTACT, ONLINE or BLENDED it is required that the student is present during those teaching hours that are marked in the study schedule. If you are absent more than 25 %, your grade will be lowered by one. If you are absent more than 50 %, the course is failed.

The functions of the organization appear detached to the student, the process and the whole are only partially perceived. Decision-making is based on unilateral or occasional use of data. Students need a lot of support for their activities.

Assessment criteria - grade 3

The student perceives the connections between the business as a whole and different functions. The decisions taken are justified. The student works well as part of their group.

Assessment criteria - grade 5

Students demonstrate an excellent understanding of business, processes, and cause-and-effect relationships. Decision-making is based on diverse analyses. The student is active in the work of his or her own group and clearly adds value to the joint work.

Learning materials

Materials for the business simulation to be used and other suitable material provided by the teacher.

Further information

The implementation will be carried out in conjunction with the Hochschule Heilbronn.

https://cloud.topsim.com/index.php?id=10&L=1