Every semester students from Concord University participate in a competitive on-line business simulation called Capstone, provided by Capsim. Capstone simulates the management decision processes in a true-to-life, competitive environment. Concord requires participation in the simulation as part of the business program capstone experience for students nearing graduation.
Each Concord student assumes the role of CEO of a simulated company. They are expected to assess the situation of a simulated business vis-à-vis other competitor firms managed by other students and then develop a sophisticated competitive strategy to position up to eight distinct products in five market segments and deliver desired results to shareholders as reflected by a balanced scorecard. Strategies must address decisions related to product specifications, pricing, marketing spend, sales forecasts, R&D budgeting and scheduling, production scheduling, management of direct costs and contribution margins, purchase or sale of production capacity and automation, inventory management, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable management, Human Resource investments in staffing, recruiting and training, 10 distinct Total Quality Management investments, and funding of business cash flow needs through equity and debt issuance. Students execute their strategies in competition with the strategies of other students in a simulated market over a simulated eight-year period.
The Capstone business simulation is utilized by leading business schools in the United States and around the world. Capsim tracks the performance of participants using a balanced scorecard, and reports on participants with balanced scorecard results that are in the top ten percent of all simulated companies that have participated in the simulation in the last six months.
The Strategic Management class at Concord University placed students in the top ten percent of all competitors worldwide for at least one round of the competition. Those students are: Cody Sizemore (Lewisburg, WV), and Morgan Carmichael (Jacksonville, FL). In addition, Concord also had five students who achieved top ten percent overall for the entire competition. Those students were Nathan Steiding (Beckley, WV), Ryan Kosut (Beckley, WV), Makayla Wikle (Peterstown, WV), Shawn Meadows (Beckley, WV) and Mohamed Mohamed (Alexandria, Egypt).
“Over half of the class placed in the top 10 worldwide, this was such a competitive group. They seemed to do well right from the start. I am so proud of their accomplishments and can only imagine what their futures will hold. I am certain we will see great things from every one of them,” stated Dr. Angela Addair, Assistant Professor of Management. “We celebrated on the last day of class with an awards ceremony to recognize their outstanding achievements.”
