GlobalDNA (GDNA) Business Simulation
Individual Competition Instructions
To assess your learning regarding strategy design, execution, and interaction of core business functional areas (R&D, Marketing, Production, HR, Process Improvement, and Finance); to assess your ability to function and make decisions in a global environment; , and to further help you prepare for the Comp-XM exam, you will have the opportunity (required for grade) to complete eight (8) individual competition rounds running Andrews Company. You will compete against five computer teams, each with their own unique strategy. There are key differences from the practice rounds:
· Unlike the practice rounds, there is no “Undo Last Round” button in the competition. Once your round processes, it is final.
· Each round is tied to a specific timeline, and automatically processes (you do not have a Process Round button). Your decisions must be uploaded before the deadline for each round, or you will receive a 12.5% penalty for that round and you will be at a severe disadvantage in future rounds due to incomplete decision making.
You can use all of your resources available to complete this assignment, including working in small groups if you choose. However, all work is submitted and graded individually.
Here are your instructions:
1. Using the GDNA Manager’s Guide and course materials as your guide, select one of the basic global strategies (niche or broad, cost leader or differentiator, regional or global) for your company’s strategy. All of your decisions after practice round 1 should be focused on executing this strategy as best you can. Your constraints:
· Your strategy must include at least two regions (America, and/or Europe, and/or Asia-Pacific)
· Your execution must include a minimum of two (2) products by Round 4, and three (3) products by Round 8
2. As part of the Getting Started activity, you should have walked through Practice Round (PR) 1 and processed it.
· Analyze the results of your initial PR 1, and determine where you can make improvements in your decision making
· Undo PR 1 and revise your decisions based on your analysis and additional learning
3. On your own, complete a total of eight (8) competition rounds, as you execute the decision-making process in pursuit of your company’s strategy. Your overall goal for each round is to maximize your performance on the Debrief Scorecard each round.
· There are up to 19 Key Process Indicators (KPIs), each with unique targets, tied to your company performance relative to your competition
· Use your pro forma reports to monitor your decision making and maximize your company’s performance
4. Remember that each time a round processes, your company advances one year, and you will receive new Globe report. You will need the new report to make decisions for the new round. NOTE: There is no undo feature in the competition rounds.
· You can use your pro forma reports to monitor and evaluate your decisions during a round, and you can make decision changes up to the due date/ time
· Once the round processes, you cannot go back. You must work with your results and advance your company toward the future
5. You must complete a total of eight (8) competition rounds according to the assignment due dates (see syllabus schedule).
· Your company must have completed and processed Round 8 decisions, or you will lose 12.5% for each round you do not complete.
· Save your work frequently!
· At the end of the simulation, save your historical decisions so you can use them as starting points for the competition (everything in Capsim is deleted when the simulation is reset from practice to competition).
6. A summary of class performance relative to each other will be posted in D2L approximately one day after a round is due, so you can see how you are doing against your classmates.
Grading:
Your grade will be based on your Debrief performance. Your score will be calculated as follows:
So, if the assignment is worth 150 points and you score 400 / 480 total Debrief points and turn in all rounds on time, your score will be 150*(400+25)/480*8/8 = 150*0.885*1 = 133 points.
If the assignment is worth 150 points and you score 400/480 total Debrief points and turn in two rounds late, your score will be 150*(400+25)/480*(8-2)/8 = 150*0.885*.75 = 99.6 points. In this example, two late rounds nearly make the difference between an A and a D on the assignment. So, turn in all work on time!
GlobalDNA – Some Final Helpful Hints
1. If you get into trouble early (inventory problems, cash flow problems, poor margins, poor profits, low revenue, etc.), look at your competitors! See what they are doing right that you are not doing right, and adjust your decisions.
2. Refer to the Helpful Hints documents posted in D2L, and incorporate the advice into your decision making.
3. Do not give up on, or change, your strategy! There is no strategy that is weaker or stronger than the others. The differences reside in execution, which is up to you.