Smartsims provides Business Simulations which run in a web-browser and are used for teaching in tertiary or higher education courses.
These are period or turn based simulations where you make decisions for an entire year, and then the simulation performs a ‘rollover’ to calculate the results of your decisions. You will then analyze the reports to see how well your company performed, make new decisions, and then the simulation rolls over again.
What are the accessibility features in the Smartsims’ Simulations?
We have developed a guide to explain our accessibility features for users with visual, hearing or mobility impairments and how these interact with assistive technologies such as screen readers (JAWS and NVDA) and pointing devices.
If you have a physical or learning disability and require additional assistance please contact us. Our team will work with you to provide any additional support or just be there to answer any questions you may have. We can also arrange a phone call to answer your questions if that is easier for you.
Our VPAT / WCAG Documentation
Contact us to obtain our VPAT documentation which summarize our compliance with WCAG 2.0 and the revised Section 508 standards for the MikesBikes Introduction to Business Simulation, Music2Go Marketing Simulation and the AdSim Advertising Simulation.
The inclusion of Corporate Social Responsibility decisions and a company CSR rating will be an optional release for all courses using the MikesBikes Introduction to Business Simulation from January 2023.
New Sustainable Manufacturing Decisions
From year three students can invest in sustainable manufacturing options to become an ethical player in the market.
Students can choose more than one option with their total investment feeding into a new company CSR Rating.
Updating Corporate Branding to Brand Promotion
Instead of a single Corporate Branding expenditure, from year two students are provided with options to promote their brand through Event Sponsorship, Brand Ambassadors and Socially Responsible promotions.
The screens below are multi-select, so they can choose more than one option. Their total Brand Ambassador and Event Sponsorship expenditure feeds into a Brand Awareness rating. Social Responsibility expenditure affects both Brand Awareness and CSR Ratings.
How do I include these decisions in my course?
If you would like to include these updates in your 2023 course let us know.
This has been a long-term project focused on modernizing the interface and decisions, making the user experience more intuitive, and improving student’s access to relevant information as they are making decisions. The new release also includes new corporate social responsibility decisions.
A New Intuitive & Informative User Interface
The new interface and navigation experience features onboarding, a company dashboard, as well as responsive and informative decision screens. We believe these changes will expedite students becoming power users, and therefore, accelerate learning outcomes.
New Onboarding Experience
When students first log in, and after each rollover, they are provided with key results and information for the year ahead.
New Company Home Page
The new Home page is their company dashboard with its focus being key financial, market and operational performance indicators in the form of a balanced scorecard. This includes the new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rating.
In addition, the Home page features a product carousel, company alerts, and quick links to key reports and help videos.
Top Menu Navigation
A modern top-menu navigation system groups decisions into functional decision areas. Select menu items, such as Marketing, feature a drop-down to access a sub-menu:
Intuitive Decision Screens
Our improved decision screens feature information, results and reports all relevant to the decisions they are making on that specific screen.
The New Live Forecast Widget
You will see a new Live Forecast widget at the top-right of all decision screens. This displays two key financial metrics; Forecast Profit and Forecast Available Cash. These figures are based on currently entered decisions and update in real-time whenever decision changes are saved.
Students no longer need to go to a separate Offline Mode application to forecast results and then transfer decisions. Instead, the Live Forecast combined with the decision-specific on-screen indicators provide students with all the feedback required to guide their decision-making.
The New Help Widget
The new Help widget includes a search feature, screen-specific FAQs and videos, and links to updated articles, Player’s Manual and access to the Smartsims Support Team.
Improved Report Menu
An easier to use approach to the Reports menu, sorted by functional area and each features a description:
Scenario & Decision Changes for the 2023 Release
New Brand Promotion Screens
The previous single dollar spend on Branding will be replaced with multi-select Brand Promotion decisions. Here students get to decide on Event Sponsorships, Brand Ambassadors and Social Responsibility decisions.
Event Sponsorship and Brand Ambassador expenditure feed into their company’s Brand Awareness rating:
Their expenditure in Social Responsibility boosts Brand Awareness but also feeds into their company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rating:
Addition of Sustainable Manufacturing
In Year 2 a new Sustainable Manufacturing decision screen under Operations is made available to students. These options enable students to really set themselves apart as an ethical supplier:
Product Development
From Year 2 students will be able to make detailed product development decisions to improve their product’s specifications and/or reduce its cost of production:
Note: There is no longer a year delay for product development and new product launches.
Updated Market Segments
The Market Segments have been updated to more contemporary choices: Mountain, Kids, Road, Electric, and Cruiser.
Updated Product Advertising
Previously students allocated their advertising budget across three possible media channels, as well as allocating a public relations budget across the same three channels. We have now increased the number of media channels to five which include digital media options; Social Media, Digital Video and Internet Search. With the increased number of advertising channels we have retired the public relations decision.
Addition of Sales Forecasts
Students will now make a Sales Forecast decision for each of their products. Once they calculate their Sales Forecast for the year ahead, they then determine Required Production.
Updated Start Year
Students will start the simulation making decisions for the 2024 year.
The new MikesBikes Advanced is available now!
The above is an optional release for existing customers. For those not ready to make the move, don’t worry, the existing interface and scenario we be maintained for all of 2023. Just let us know if you need more time to learn about the new features in the latest release of MikesBikes.
If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions please contact me.
If you have any feedback on this new screen please let us know.
2. Optional CSR Module for MikesBikes Introduction
This fall a select course will be testing our new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) decision screens for MikesBikes Introduction. Implementation is through expansion of the Branding and Operations decisions.
Updating Corporate Branding to Brand Promotion
Instead of a single Corporate Branding expenditure, from year two students are provided with options to promote their brand through Event Sponsorship, Brand Ambassadors and Socially Responsible promotions.
Inclusion of Sustainable Manufacturing Decisions
From year three students can invest in sustainable manufacturing options to position themselves as an ethical player in the market.
Once available as a final release in 2023, these decisions would be an optional module which can be added at the instructor’s discretion.
If you would like to try the screens out for yourself and/or use these in your 2023 course just let us know.
3. MikesBikes Advanced Updates Available in 2023
We are in the process of finalizing the screens and resources for the new top-menu version of MikesBikes Advanced. This has been a long-term project focused on modernizing the interface and decisions, making the user experience more intuitive, and improving student’s access to relevant information.
A) New Onboarding Experience & Screen Tips
The new interface features a new onboarding pop-up which provides students with key information on first log-in and after each rollover.
In addition, when students first view a new screen they are offered a helpful tip on what the new screen is and how to use it:
B) New Home Page
Students will have a new company home page. This Home Page features company info, a balanced scorecard of key performance indicators, quick links to product decisions, key reports, and relevant videos.
Below is an example of the KPI dashboard which will feature on the Home Page:
C) Top Menu Navigation
A modern top-menu navigation system groups decisions into logical, functional decision areas:
D) Intuitive Decision Screens
Our improved decision screens feature information, results and reports all relevant to the decisions they are making on that specific screen. Also, our integrated Live Forecast at the top-right.
E) Updated Product Advertising
Additional advertising decisions to include modern digital media options; Social Media, Digital Video, Search. This replaces public relations decisions.
F) New Brand Promotion Screens
The previous dollar spend on Corporate Branding will be replaced with multi-select Brand Promotion decisions. Here students will have the option to select Event Sponsorships, Brand Ambassadors and Social Responsibility decisions.
G) Addition of Sales Forecast
Students will make both Sales Forecast and Required Production decisions within the Product screen.
H) Inclusion of CSR Decisions
The addition of Corporate Social Responsibility decisions and a CSR specific KPI.
I) Updated Start Year
The updated scenario will have a starting Year Ahead of 2024.
The above will be an optional release from January 2023. For those not ready to make the move, don’t worry, the existing interface and scenario we be maintained for all of 2023.
Contact us if you would like access to a development release to try out from November 2022.
If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions please contact me.
The new Student Activity screen, within the instructor’s Administrator application, makes it easy to see what your students have been doing in the simulation:
For each student you can see how much time they have been active in the simulation, how many screens/reports viewed and decisions saved.
Sorting
Click on any of the headings to sort by student name, world/industry, firm, total time, etc.
Filters
At the top of screen you can select to view All Activity or only for a specific Rollover / Decision Period:
Filter by Time Range applies to the Multi-Player Administrator only.
You can also filter by keyword, export the data to save as a CSV/XLS file, or copy and paste to another location:
Individual Student Activity
Click on any student to view all activity for only that student:
We have introduced a number of exciting updates to three of our simulations, including a new interface and scenario updates.
New Interface for MikesBikes Introduction, Music2Go Marketing & AdSim Advertising
Our new simulation interface is now available to all new courses. This has been a long-term project focused on modernizing the interface and decisions, making the user experience more intuitive and improving student’s access to relevant information.
The new interface and navigation experience is built around a new onboarding process, a new company dashboard and decision screens which provide students with relevant information when they need it. We believe these changes will expedite students becoming power users, and therefore, accelerate learning outcomes.
A New Onboarding Experience
When students first log in, and after each rollover, they are provided with information for the year ahead and a short explainer video to help them get started.
And after a rollover key results are displayed:
The New Company Home Page
Students now have a new company dashboard as the default start page:
The Home Page features company info, KPIs, quick links to product decisions and new decisions, key reports and relevant videos for the year ahead.
Top Menu Navigation
A modern top-menu navigation system groups decisions into logical, functional decision areas.
Select menu items feature a drop-down to access a sub-menu:
Intuitive Decision Screens
Our improved decision screens feature information, results and reports all relevant to the decisions they are making on that specific screen. Also, our integrated Live Forecast at the top-right.
Our New Help Widget
The new Help widget includes a search feature, screen-specific FAQs and videos, and links to updated articles, Player’s Manual and access to the Smartsims Support Team.
Improved Report Menu & Reports
An easier to use approach to the Reports menu, sorted by functional area and each includes a description to help students Updated reports and a new search feature.
Scenario Changes for 2021
MikesBikes Introduction
Additional advertising decisions to include modern digital media options; Social Media, Digital Video, Search. This replaces public relations decisions.
Integrating Sales Forecast and Production within the Product screen to eliminate making these decisions in separate screens.
Starting Year Ahead 2022.
Music2Go Marketing
Students will now be working in the Headphones industry.
Updated advertising decisions to include Social and Digital Media options.
Purchasable reports (additional market research) are now integrated into the relevant decision screens.
Starting Year Ahead 2022.
AdSim Advertising
Students are promoting Smartphones.
Updated decisions to include detailed Social Media, Digital Media and Social Influencers options.
Purchasable reports (additional market research) are now integrated into the relevant decision screens.
Starting Year Ahead 2022.
What about MikesBikes Advanced?
Our MikesBikes Advanced Strategic Management Simulation has additional complexities and just far greater number of decisions and reports than our other simulation. As such, the new interface and scenario updates for MikesBikes Advanced will be rolled out from 1 December 2022.
Corporate Social Responsibility (Coming Soon)
We are passionate about introducing an ethical component to MikesBikes as we want to emphasize the importance of students being good corporate citizens. This is planned to be part of the December 2022 release.
If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions please contact me.
Some students miss out on saving their decisions when they move onto a different screen or click away. So we have now added a new on-screen warning to notify students if a decision they have entered has been left unsaved.
On-Screen Warnings on Decision Screens (MikesBikes Introduction)
Forecast Sales and Planned Production Warning
Students will now receive a warning when they have entered a high Sales Forecast, but their Production Quantity is lower.
They will also receive a warning when their Planned Production Units is higher than their Sales Forecast.
Launching a Second Product in the Same Market Segment
This warning message should not discourage students from launching a second product if they wish, but it just informs them of what this decision entails.
Missed our previous Product Update articles? You can check these out here:
The decision screens which enable students to modify an existing product and launching new products now feature additional information to help students make more informed decisions.
Launching a new product
Previously students would need to navigate to the Market Information and Market Summary Report for this key information, but we have now placed it directly within the screen.
Modifying an existing product
Students will now see a short description of each option with the corresponding cost and benefit.
Missed our previous Product Update articles? You can check these out here:
The following are Smartsims product updates available from August 2018. Where product names are noted in the heading, that update only applies to these products.
This live resource enables users to find instant answers to their questions, as well as browse a wide range of help topics. The current articles available range from getting started, help with logging in and registration, through to guiding students on how to make decisions.
These figures on the Live Forecast update in real-time as students click “Apply” on any decision screen. This enables students to easily see the impact of individual decision changes on overall performance.
The figures can then be clicked to bring up the relevant forecast report in full. Previous figures remain in small font below.
The new Live Forecast feature will help students make more informed decisions and provide an immediate warning if they have made poor decisions.
Performance Star Ratings (MikesBikes Introduction & MikesBikes Advanced)
The bottom-left of the simulation interface now features a new gold star rating system:
The star rating students receive is based on their results from the previous year. A jump in Shareholder Value will result in an additional gold star achieved and vice-versa.
We hope this will further motivate students to improve their performance each year of the simulation.
Editing Product Names (All MikesBikes & Music2Go)
Previously, the name for the initial product has been computer generated (Adv1, Adv2, etc). Now through the Product screen students can edit their product’s name in the first year of the simulation:
Additionally, when students launch a new product, they can now edit the new product’s name at any time prior to the next rollover.
This live resource enables our simulation users to receive instant answers to their questions, as well as browse a wide range of help topics to guide them through their learning journey.
The Smartsims Support Center works on any device:
Browse decision areas such as Marketing, Operations, Finance; or specific decision periods:
And users can share their feedback on the help articles, enabling us to continue to improve content available through the knowledge-base:
