Business Game (4 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

In this course students operate as a management team of a global company. Management teams come up with a company strategy and make decisions to maximize the profits and company value. Company operations are carried out in a business simulation game in a competitive team environment.

After completing the course, the students will be able to:

Utilize the role of strategy as a key success factor.
Learn the interdependence between the different company operations.
Develop their knowledge and skills in financial review, company analysis, and strategy formulation.
Develop tools for their entrepreneurial thinking.

Content (course unit)

What is a role of a strategy to manage a company?
How does product portfolio, pricing, marketing and product features impact the demand of the product?
How to analyze company's financial performance and how to impact it?
How to work as a successful team utilizing each team players' strengths?

Location and time

TAMK Kuntokatu Campus

Exam schedules

The game has several game rounds. The schedule of the rounds will be presented in the first lecture. The course will end with the final presentation.

Assessment methods and criteria

* Quality of written tasks and ranking and performance in the game (grade 0-5), 50% weight
* Final presentation (0-5), 50% weight
* Quiz and company audit (pass/fail)
ATTENDANCE and activity impact the grade:
*2 absences; impact on grade -1, 3 absences; impact on grade -2, 4 or more absences; impact on grade -3

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Learning simulation, lectures, quiz, coaching

Learning materials

Material available in Tabula (lectures and business simulation guide)

Student workload

4 credit points (27 hours per credit point)

Further information

The detailled schedule will be presented in the first lecture. THE FIRST HALF OF THE COURSE REQUIRES A LOT OF PRESENCE. During the latter half of the course the teams can work also out of the class if the team follows the course deadlines. The last Business Game meeting is reserved for the teams' final presentation (mandatory participation).

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student does not participate to the team work or does not do the mandatory course tasks.

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student is participating to the team work but has great trouble to read the market and company information and utilize that data in decision making. The student is struggling to see the link between the decisions in different company functions and the financial outcome. The student has done all the required course tasks but the quality of those tasks is inadequate.

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student actively participates to the teamwork and returns all the required tasks with good quality. The student is able to analyze the market and company information in order to form a company strategy. The student shows progress in decision making so that the company's financial status will improve. The student understands the link between the various company functions. The student is able to give a presentation about the company strategy and value and answer to the questions relating those topics.

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student is actively participating to the teamwork and is demonstrating a problem-solving attitude. The student successfully analyzes the market and company information in order to form a rational company strategy and is able to make decisions aligned with the chosen strategy. The student understands the link between the various company functions. The student is able to give a clear and justified presentation about the company strategy and the company value. The student is able to answer to various questions about the market situation and the company's value proposal.