Global Business Strategies, an Adams State University business capstone course taught by Zena Buser, Ph.D., professor of business, earned a Global Top 100 ranking for their company’s Business Strategy Game (BSG) performance several times over the course of the spring 2022 semester.
Running a simulated corporation, School of Business students had the opportunity to virtually run a professional business. “This class brings together all they’ve learned over the past few years and provides a simulated experience that aligns with all aspects of managing a real-world company.”
Throughout the semester two groups in Buser’s class, Company E and Company F, scored in the Global Top 100 ranking in the weekly competitions, where they competed with other colleges worldwide.
Company E tied for 24th best Overall Score the week of March 14 through March 20. Adams State co-managers were Josh Bechaver, Manassa Colo.; Laura Gutierrez, Rio Rancho, N.M.; and Noah Jiles, Monte Vista, Colo.
Company F tied for the best Overall Score on three different occasions: 38th place, the week of April 22 through May 1; 41st place, the week of April 18 through April 24; and 88th place, the week of March 28 through April 3. They tied for 84th place, on Best Return on Average Equity the week of Feb. 28 through March 6.
Adams State co-managers of Company F were Brennan Grass, Golden, Colo.; Jolene Carrica, Rocky Ford, Colo.; and Michael Bathauer, Kingman, Ariz.
“There are many larger and more prestigious universities in the competition,” said Bathauer, a junior from Kingman, Ariz. “We are putting into practice all the knowledge we learned about business in previous classes like accounting, finance, production and operation.”
The class had six other companies besides Companies E and F, and competed against other colleges and universities across the globe. “Placing in the top 100 on any metric is a fantastic accomplishment,” Buser added.
During the Adams State 2022 Spring Commencement Ceremony, Bechaver, business administration/banking and finance; Carrica, business administration/marketing; and Grass, business administration/marketing; received their Bachelor of Science degrees.
Grass is pursuing an internship in sales for Daktronics. “Until I had to apply my skills, I didn’t realize how much I actually learned in my business classes. I feel well-prepared for my chosen profession.”
Carrica began working as an administrative assistant for the chief executive at Valley Wide Health Services as a student and is remaining with the organization. “At Adams State there is a close personal connection with your teachers and their support and encouragement definitely added to my success.”
BSG, marketed by McGraw-Hill Education, Inc., is designed to give students in higher education the opportunity to compete in a global marketplace through the simulated environment.
“The simulation engages students to learn how real-life businesses achieve goals,” Buser added. BSG authors including Art Thompson, Greg Stappenbeck and Mark Reidenbach, said the performances, by Adams State companies E and F, reflect quite well on Buser and the caliber of instruction the students receive at Adams State.
“Adams State provides so many opportunities and because of its small size has the ability to connect with each student,” Bathauer said. “Professors here really care about their students’ success. If a student wants to better themselves, this is the place to do it.”
Each week was a year in the virtual BSG marketplace. Every Monday, BSG compiled lists of the prior week’s best-performing companies worldwide based on four measures: Overall Score (current year), Earnings Per Share, Return on Average Equity, and Stock Price.
