Business Management Games

P O Box 64-506

Manukau City

Auckland 2163

New Zealand

Tel

(64)-9-533-9092

Mobile

021-254-0350

Each version has taken approximately one year to develop and consists of around 500 interlocking programs.

Bill Porter BA MPhil (Hons)

The “Games” are really simulations with students managing businesses within a simulated environment.

They are real-time and multiplayer, so the decisions of each student quickly affect the market and other players. Students get a feel for the way markets work, and how to manage a business. No prior knowledge is required but by playing the game students will learn essential business principles.

I am very excited about the next generation which I have just created. In addition to factories there are now shops which buy on the wholesale market and sell to the public. The factories and shops are controlled by the Production Manager and Retail Manager.

In overall charge of the company is the General Manager who controls  the money, and there is also an Owner who receives income from the company and invests it in a virtual share market consisting of all the companies in the game. All four players make up the Board of Directors, who must collaborate in creating and executing a coordinated company strategy.

The program simulates one month’s activity every 60 seconds, so the pace is very fast, and each player needs to contribute their best for the company to succeed. Because of this pace it is impossible for any one player to make all of the decisions or to dominate the game, as so often happens in management simulation team games. Companies are ranked in order every 60 seconds, as are the performances of the individual players, so there is always a high level of excitement. Students are always totally engrossed so the classes are a joy to run, and teachers are free to interact with the students on a one-to-one basis, helping them with advice. The game can be paused to explain various aspects of business or to give teams the chance to discuss strategies. Play can even be suspended until the next lesson!  

As you can see, this version of the game is very strong on Team Building. Each player has the ability to either selfishly pursue their own strategy or to work together for the good of the team. To this end it is recommended that the game be paused regularly to allow brief “Board Meetings” to formulate new strategies or “Business Plans”.

 Without such plans being formulated and executed, the company will be akin to a rowing boat going around in circles because the rowers are not rowing together.

The Progam:

We will come to your institution and run a Business Management Day. This will consist of instruction in how to play the game, and short seminars on such things as break even points, elasticity of demand, and the business cycle.

Morning:

1/ Introduction to the game.

2/ Students will play version 2.0 , which is an introductory retail game they play individually.

Afternoon:

1/ Introduction to version 3.0. Students will organize themselves into teams of four players each.

2/ Students will play Version 3.0, which is a team game involving both wholesale and retail markets.

3/ Short lecture relating actual business experiences to what has been learnt in the game

4/ Prize giving

"All in all I thought it was excellent. One boy reached millionaire status by simply trading shares (after selling his factory).  All the boys were eager to play, rushed to class and all the banter/talk was on task.  They definitely like it.  This is a top stream class and it shows in both their enthusiasm and game play."

 John Wilson - Business Studies teacher at Auckland Grammar School

Please email enquiries to admin@billsphones.com  

Bill Porter

Business Management Games

Phone  64-9-533-9092

Mobile 021-254-0350