Outcomes
One Level Up The Fine List Getting Started SWOT Guidelines Outcomes Running The Game Thinking Strategically Performance Measure Peer Evaluation KSF Case Analysis

BUSA 4980

J "Lets go shopping for some BMWs!" Your team is in a top position. Beware! Short-term results do not always indicate a well thought out long-term strategy. Particularly in the early going large changes in competitive rankings occur often. Make sure your decisions will keep you at the top in the end. Remember, all the other teams are now shooting at you. Some will start to copy your strategy, others will try to undercut its effectiveness. Further, industry-wide changes will occur over our "decade" of competition. Will you be flexible enough to win? The BSG is never the same twice. The outcomes are dependent on other firms’ decisions as well.

K "We're stuck in the middle." Your team is doing "OK". You have to determine what this means. Are you pursuing a long-term strategy that has just not yet borne its fruit? Or did the law of averages just dump you here. You must work to retain even an average position. Remember, it is much easier for teams in the nether regions of the industry to catch and pass you rather than the leaders. You have to play both defense and offense at the same time. Check to see if too many other firms in the industry seem to be following the same strategy as you. Should you try another one? Or are you better off waiting until others change? Above all do not "sit back," falling a little more behind each decision leaves you way out of the game in the end.

L "We stink!" Clearly early in the game a low competitive position, including last place, is "recoverable." Worst-to-first performances are common. First, try to understand why you are here. You may be able to determine some of your shortcomings by looking at the strategies of the leaders. Particularly, look for inconsistencies among your decisions. Next, spend some time thinking about your general plan. Are we learning things in class that can provide insight into your team's situation that were not incorporated into prior decisions? Where are there openings in the industry that are underserved?

In ALL cases it is anticipated that your ability to understand and formulate "good" strategy, and to make integrated functional decisions consistent with that strategy, will improve as the quarter progresses. Thus, if Team X starts out poorly, but applies what it learned during the course to refine and improve its competitive position, then they can score very well when the instructor grades the team's performance. Conversely, if Team Y starts well and just flounders all year, never refining or developing a sharper understanding of how they are competing, then they can score quite low, by the end of the simulation. Dumb luck does not a long-term strategy make.

AG00109_.gif (1220 bytes) Remember, the point of the simulation is to improve your integrated, multi-functional thinking and decision making abilities. It is what your strategic posture and decision making during the quarter illustrate about what you are learning in this regard that is most important.