What’s unique about this course

The course consists of three components that are supported by a solid theoretical foundation:

• Virtual global business simulation
• Adaptive business plan assignment
• Real-life company cases

A combination of theoretical and functional approaches to different virtual, as well as real-life settings are offered in this course format. Foundations in theory, practical relevance, as well as hands-on experiences will be provided. What is more, focused assignments assure an interaction of these cornerstones. One example is a business plan assignment that corresponds to the success or failure of student’s business simulation performance.

Knowledge is key: Business planning theory

The first (self-study) part of the course sets the theoretical background for the subsequent business simulation. This theoretical content consists of textbook literature on general business administration, as well as business planning theory and approaches. A written exam will be held on the content.

Apply your knowledge: The business plan

Based on the theory, students will have to create and adapt a business plan of their virtual company. Depending on their development within the business simulation, students have to adapt their strategy to the new market conditions. Hence, the formation and development of their virtual company forms the backbone of their business plan assignment. A range of accessible online material will provide best practice examples for this task.

Compete and show your skills: The business simulation

Students have to combine their knowledge of various economic fields and compete in a realistic business simulation. Through Cesim’s Global Challenge, participants manage a global technology company. The companies start at the same initial position. Therefore, only the combination of the right strategy and accurate operational business management creates competitive advantages. The teams have to make decisions in various business fields or functional areas on a regular basis. During each meeting, the groups will discuss their strategy and company performance with the lecturers individually.

To avoid free riding, students will have the possibility to review their team members.

Learn from practice: Company cases & guest speakers

Management representatives provide real-life company cases in addition to the course content to emphasize practical relevancy. These assignments can be either strategy-based or related to a specific management discipline.

Confirmed partners for 2021:

• Austrian Airlines AG/Lufthansa AG
• Mercedes Benz/Daimler AG

Confirmed guestspeakers/jury members for 2021:

• Fabian Brunner (Head of Businessplan Competitions BayStartUp GmbH)
• Jörg Heinermann, MBA (Head of Project Retail of the Future Daimler AG)
• Lukas Lovrek (Executive Partner Basenbox Ernährung GmbH)
• Martin Rohla (Entrepreneur & Investor)

Impress decision makers: Jury presentation

Finally, students have to present their decisions in front of a supervisory board. Members of the supervisory board will be external business partners with a high reputation. The final supervisory board will be announced in the first lecture.

Further details will be provided during the introductory session.

Important dates:

Exam: March 23rd, 2021

Final Presentation: June 2nd, 2021

BYOD - Students are required to bring their own laptop to class.

There are NO additional course costs for students (costs for CESIM licenses are covered).

After completing this course, students will have the ability to:

• deal with theoretical frameworks of various business fields
• develop a strategic business plan
• cope with ambiguity structure complex and ill-defined problems
• have the ability to evaluate the market environment and react in a real business situation
• justify their business decisions in front of an experienced jury

Apart from that, completing this course will contribute to student's ability to:

• efficiently work and communicate in a team
• improve their oral and written communication and presentation skills
• learn to give and receive constructive feedback
• manage complexity by completing different parallel tasks during the course

Participants should be present at all modules.

Further information on course participation will be explained in the intro session.

The course will combine various learning methods to deliver the different topics. Including readings, open class discussions, online meetings, teamwork, individual team coaching and presentations in front of practitioners.

Individual Performance (32%):

• Quiz results:
  • 25% - Exam Business Planning Theory
• Individual participation:
  • 5% - Peer Grading
  • 2% - Course Reflection

Team Performance (68%):

• Company Case Performance:
  • 16% - Company Case A (presentation + seminar paper)
  • 10% - Company Case B (presentation + slides)
• Business Plan Performance:
  • 7% - Initial Business Plan
  • 7% - Adapted Business Plan
• Business Simulation Performance:
  • 16% - Jury presentation + final student report
  • 8% - Competitive result
  • 4% - Strategy paper

Attached, you will find the grading scale:

Students need to complete all courses of the 1st semester of the SIMC Program.

The business simulation bases on an online cloud system, so no pre-installation is necessary.

Further details will be published on learn@WU after registration.