In November 2009, the second annual Canadian Colleges’ MikesBikes competition took place. Only this year, the competition expanded across the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand. The competing students were not only from Canada’s two prestigious colleges – Red Deer College and Selkirk College; but also from New Zealand’s leading university, the University of Auckland.

MikesBikes allowed students to formulate their own strategy and business plan, and implement decisions to operate an online manufacturing firm. Each decision year (rollover), reports were analysed and decisions made to grow the firm into a long term sustainable enterprise. It was a very successful event and the competitors enjoyed making decisions as much as the instructors and Smartsims’ team enjoyed watching the competition progress. At the end of it, the top three teams were recognised and awarded for their efforts. Such was the level of competition among the three institutions that the top three were each from a different university:

• The Kiwiland industry was dominated by the firm Great Bug Bikes managed by University of Auckland
• The Lotusland industry was maximised by the firm Columbia Bikes managed by Selkirk College
• The Oilatopia industry was captured by the firm Super 5 Corp. managed by Red Deer College

Students used their knowledge, skills and business know-how, backed with prior experience using MikesBikes as a part of their courses, to be tough competition to other firms’ managers. The level of competition was commendably high. Following the recommendation of the college instructors, we hope to make this event a permanent fixture in our calendar.

“Looks to me like we each have a world with a winning team. It was a great competition this year, and my students really enjoyed playing with some out of province and out of country competition. Hopefully we can make this an annual tradition.”

Dustin Quirk
Red Deer College

“This has been a great experience, and we’ve loved it.”

Vicki Little
University of Auckland

Scoreboard

Overview

Business Simulations like MikesBikes provide an excellent environment for students to learn and practice team work. Steven Gain from Smartsims went along to help out at the Quinnipiac University School of Business Team Day event.

Video of Quinnipiac Team Day including MikesBikes presentation

Faculty, students spend Saturday on teamwork

Reproduced from the Fall 2009 Business Magazine from Quinnipiac University

The business world is not all fun and games, but it’s a different story when it comes to the activities that were part of Quinnipiac University’s School of Business Team Day event.

In what has become a school tradition, all freshmen enrolled in the Introduction to Business course gather on campus on a September Saturday morning to build bonds and foster the concept of teamwork in an atypical classroom setting. The students are guided not only by faculty members but upperclassmen involved in the student team consultants group and other student clubs.

“In this class, we prepare them for the idea that there are a lot of teams used in business,” said Patrice Luoma, associate professor of management. “They work on a significant project for the entire semester with the same people, so the teambuilding activities on Team Day are to help them get to know each other better.”

“You have to break down these barriers of formality. This is a fine way of doing that,” added Surya Chelikani, a first-year finance professor.

A question-and-answer session with Steven Gain, the senior account manager for Smartsims, highlighted the morning session. Gain’s company produces the “MikesBikes” software that students use to run a simulated bike manufacturing company.

“Every business decision that would be covered in an intro-to-business textbook has an application within the simulation,” said Sean Reid, associate professor of finance. He also serves as the coordinator of freshman business programs.

After lunch, teams of students went to various stations throughout the afternoon to engage in activities such as a trust walk in which students guided blindfolded teammates around Alumni Hall and “human checkers,” a game that taught the value of both communication and the importance of sacrifice for the good of the group.

“As a freshman, I didn’t really realize it, but (Team Day) helps because if you’re in the School of Business, you’re going to be in teams for the next four years, so it definitely gives you a good start,” said Quanita Jones, a junior accounting major who ran the checkers station.

While watching his team compete in human checkers, team leader Andrew Merrick, a junior finance major, thought back to what he learned when he––like Jones––wore the shoes of a freshman.

Merrick said, “I really didn’t realize then that it was beneficial,” he said, “but especially looking at them now, I can see the struggles I went through.”

by Stephen P. Schmidt

Smartsims India is located in Indore and is headed by Pranav Sanghvi, who’s experience includes the role of Vice President at the Sanghvi Institute of Management and Science. Pranav has first-hand experience with our simulations and is passionate about introducing experiential learning to schools throughout India.

The team are currently located in a temporary premises as they have a large Smartsims Center being developed in Indore ready for an official opening in January 2010.

If you are located in India and would like more information on using Smartsims Business Simulations within your course, Pranav would love to hear to from you.

Pranav Sanghvi
pranav@smartsims.in
+91-99935-86671

Smartsims India
15 Jawahar Marg,
4th Floor, Old IDA Building
Indore, M.P., India 452007
Email: sales@smartsims.in
Sales: +91-99935-86671
Support: +91-93007-77121
Fax: +91-731-3912040

We are pleased to announce the opening of a third Smartsims Office.

The latest addition to our Auckland Office is Danny Master, who comes to us fresh from being involved in one of our foundation courses at the University of Auckland. Danny has experienced MikesBikes-Intro within the annual MikesBikes competition held by the Auckland Management Consulting Club, as well as using MikesBikes-Advanced within one of our longest running courses MGMT301 at the University of Auckland. As you can see Danny has become a real fan of our simulations and is now working with Professors to integrate and setup these within their courses.

Danny brings with him strengths in Management and Finance, as well as experience in Customer Support. He also enjoys participating in his local Karate Club and hopes to make black belt later this year. Danny looks forward to working with all.

Danny Master from Smartsims with Brendon Potter of MCC
The Winners – Meritocratic Society – Sava Mihic, Yingtong Ma, and Nikitha Kariyawasam
3rd Place – Bradford Says Smack – Charles Lu, Zhixiang John He, with Brook Aspden of MCC

The 2nd of October saw the University of Auckland’s Business School play host to the Management Consultancy Club’s 2009 awards ceremony, where the winners of the annual MCC MikesBikes Challenge were crowned.

MCC is the brainchild of Brendon Potter, and is active throughout the year running Open Case Competitions, Stock Market Challenges, and an annual MikesBikes Competition. Having run the MikesBikes competition for three years now, Smartsims have followed the competitors’ performance with great interest. Every year, the challenge increases to a whole new level with better strategies, calculated risks, and of course fiercer competition.

The top two teams, Meritocratic Society and OGC, managed not only to pull away from the competition, but also shatter previous top shareholder value records with $92.41 and $86.50 respectively. John and Charles of Bradford Says Smack, the team that ranked third, have been participating in this competition for a couple of years now. In fact, the two paired up not only expecting to be in the top three, but had also made plans of how and where they’d be spending their prize money.

Meritocratic Society were strong competitors throughout the competition and were awarded the coveted first place prize. Meritocratic Society were truly deserving winners, our congratulations to Sava Mihic, Yingtong Ma, and Nikitha Kariyawasam.