Overview: Lightening fast change. . . overcrowded markets. . . competitors who force slim margins. . . cash flow problems. These are the types of challenges participants need to manage in the exciting board-based business simulation called Decision Base. They go through the simulation in teams of four and each team functions as a separate company competing against five other companies who are operating in the same marketplace.
Each team develops strategies related to sales and marketing, production, research and development, and finance. At the beginning everyone is at the same level but the competition is closing in and tough decisions need to be made in order to be a leader in the marketplace: invest now or later; pursue all markets or just a few; take the lead or follow; efficient assembly lines or flexible flow shops; borrow money or earn it first; stick to the basics or pursue cutting edge. Over a ten-year period participants experience the impact of their strategies and related decisions on the company's profitability.
Clients: General Electric Data General DST Output Fleet Bank Sara Lee Oracle Glaxo IBM
Objectives:
» Illustrates the "big picture" of how a company runs in order to broaden perspectives and increase the level of business thinking.
» Helps participants to focus on their customer's business issues and challenges and identify "value-added" services.
» Provides a solid understanding of: cash flow, financial indicators (profit margins, return on assets, cost of capital, investment pay-offs, etc.), financial statements, and the types of decisions and actions that impact profitability so that better business decisions can be made.
» Sets up an opportunity for participants to experience how functioning as effective teams and pulling in the same direction impact the company's overall performance.
» Provides an exciting "hands-on" experience that results in an understanding of the circulation of capital.
» Increases understanding of key business concepts, business strategies, and business planning and control.
Decision Base