The Adams State University business capstone students had another successful semester in the Business Strategy Game (BSG).
Two teams, Fresh Fusion: Marco Polo Tello Hernandez, Keaton Heyneman, Devin Hines; and Elite Footwear: Kiersten Bohler, Kayne Boyer, Esteban Tavira; were tough competitors in the Global Business Strategies course, taught by Zena Buser, Ph.D., professor of business. Fresh Fusion and Elite Footwear were strong competitors. Fresh Fusion took the lead early and held it much of the semester, but Elite Footwear worked strategically to overtake them for first place in the class during the last decision round.
The BSG game is a simulation that shows the nature of a company, from its distribution and production to the financials of a company. “It was entertaining as well as educative to make decisions that would impact your company in a competitive environment,” Hernandez said. “The game was an interactive review of the importance of production efficiency, the logistics behind warehousing and distributing, the company’s finances, the trends in an industry, the price elasticity of demand, etc. To be honest, I never thought to be so immersed and interested in a game of this kind. I just loved it.”
Bohler learned the complexities of running a business. “It opened my eyes to why big companies move their production facilities to other countries, and the process that entails. So many aspects go into running big companies and smart decision-making is crucial.”
Throughout the semester the two Adams State teams scored in the Global Top 100 ranking on overall game-to-date score. “The experience gave me a perspective of what being a CEO looks like and how some sections of a company impact other sectors and the overall health and performance of a company,” Hernandez added. “Also, it was a nice review of the financial ratios and their significance for a company. Finally, it was a great way to practice making informed decisions that had repercussions on our company.”
BSG, marketed by McGraw-Hill Education, Inc., is designed to give students in higher education, throughout the world, the opportunity to compete in a global marketplace through a simulated environment. Each week represents a year. 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.
The idea of the BSG Simulation is to deploy a shoe company sourcing inputs/manufacturing as well as marketing a product internationally. Students make financial, marketing, management, economic, and labor decisions with each round (20) offering new conditions to which they must adjust weekly.
“The best part of the collaboration was getting out of my comfort zone and working with people I had never talked to,” Bohler said. The simulation was crucial in preparing the students for future careers. “Every decision makes a difference, make decisions as you can afford them, and being patient pays off in the long run.”
