Capsim board query answers

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Welcome to Comp-XM

Table of Contents

1 Introduction . . . . . . 1

2 Scoring . . . . . . . 2

2.1 Board Queries . . . . . 2

2.2 Balanced Scorecard . . . . 2

3 Decision Summaries . . . . 2

3.1 Research & Development . . . 2

3.2 Marketing . . . . . . 3

3.3 Production . . . . . 3

3.4 Finance . . . . . . 3

3.5 Human Resources . . . . 3

3.6 Human Resources Entries . . . 4

3.7 TQM/Sustainability . . . . 4

Your Registration Number

If your instructor or school did not give you a Registration Number, you will need to register online using a credit card or checking account.

Welcome to Comp-XM®, an integrated evaluation tool that will allow you to demonstrate your business skills. Comp-XM has two sections: 1. A business simulation similar to the one you just completed and 2. A series of quizzes, called Board Queries, that ask questions related to your simulation environment.

The Simulation

You are the CEO of a new company, the Andrews Corporation. You will make four sets of decisions. Your competition, Baldwin, Chester and Digby, are run by computers. ������� ��� ���������������� ��������������� all participants go up against a standard set of competitors. As with your previous simulation, the quality of your decisions directly affects the position of your company. Performance is evaluated using a Balanced Scorecard, an analysis technique that gauges results across four areas. � ����������� � ������������ ��� ������ � ��� ����� � ������������������!��

Board Queries

Board Queries are web-based quizzes that relate directly to the results of your simulation. As CEO, you will report to the Board of Directors. The Board �� ���� "� ��������� �� ��#�$ � ���� %�������& ���� %� that are based on the results of your previous rounds. �����'�� ��%�����(�������������$ ������ �������� ��� a break-even analysis on an increase in production automation or calculate the effect additional (����!����!�������������� ����������������� )����� questions use standard true-false, multiple choice and essay formats.

All the information needed to answer the queries appears within the pages of The Comp-XM Inquirer, an industry newsletter similar to The Capstone®

�� �������������� �������®��� �����")������� *+/� you work as an individual, which means all success will be attributed to your efforts. This is your chance to show your strategic vision, tactical abilities and business knowledge. Best of luck!

4 Industry Conditions Report . . 5

4.1 Market Segments . . . . 5

4.2 Growth Rates . . . . . 6

4.3 Rough Cut / Fine Cut . . . 6

4.4 Seller’s Market . . . . . 8

5 Reports . . . . . . . 8

6 Website Instructions . . . . 8

6.1 The Comp-XM Spreadsheet . . 8

6.2 Dashboard . . . . . 8

6.3 Answering Board Queries . . . 9

6.4 Round Schedules . . . . 9

6.5 Self-Paced Exams . . . . 10

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Final

Differences From Your Previous Simulation

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1 Introduction

You have just been recruited to head the Andrews Corporation’s newest spin-off, the Andrews Comp-XM Corporation. The unit concentrates Andrews’ biometric sensor efforts into a new, publicly traded company.

1.1 What Is Comp-XM?

Comp-XM is familiar, yet different from your experience in Capstone or Foundation. You are the CEO. You will be making decisions on your own; you will not be a member of a team. Like Capstone or Foundation, Comp-XM uses a spreadsheet and a web interface. “6 Website Instructions” discusses the mechanics.

There are two parts to Comp-XM: A four-round simulation, and a series of web-based quizzes called Board Queries. Board Queries are questions posed by your Board of Directors. They are drawn from the unique results of your simulation. You could appear before the Board up to five times to answer their questions about your company.

Comp-XM Inquirer and Industry Conditions All the information needed to answer the questions appears within the pages of The Comp-XM Inquirer, an industry newsletter that is similar to The Capstone Courier or The Foundation FastTrack. “4 Industry Conditions Report” summarizes the current state of the biometric market.

1.2 Workflow

Comp-XM has four decision rounds. Each round, you will enter a set of decisions via the Comp-XM Spreadsheet.

In the standard Comp-XM setup, each round you will also answer the Board Queries posed by the board of directors. At the end of the simulation, you will answer a fifth set of Board Queries, but no

decisions will be required (Table 1.1). Decisions and Board Queries require the Comp-XM Inquirer.

Table 1.1 Standard Comp-XM Schedule

Round Activities Material Needed

1 Round 1 Decisions Board Query 1

Round 0 Comp-XM Inquirer

2 Round 2 Decisions Board Query 2

Round 1 Comp-XM Inquirer

3 Round 3 Decisions Board Query 3

Round 2 Comp-XM Inquirer

4 Round 4 Decisions Board Query 4

Round 3 Comp-XM Inquirer

Final No Decisions Final Board Query

Round 4 Comp-XM Inquirer

Your instructor can configure Comp-XM to have fewer

Board Queries.

1.3 Differences From Your Previous Simulation

Comp-XM has four market segments:

• Thrift • Core • Nano • Elite

Comp-XM TQM (Total Quality Management)/Sustainability and Human Resources Modules are active in Round 1.

The segment circles start the simulation in the middle of the Perceptual Map before drifting to the lower right (Figure 1.1 - Figure 1.3).

Figure 1.1 Segment Positions at the End of Round 0 and the Beginning of Round 1

Figure 1.2 Segment Positions at the End of Round 2 and the Beginning of Round 3

Figure 1.3 Segment Positions at the End of Round 4

Example! See your Industry Conditions Report for exact segment locations.

Board Queries

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3 Decision Summaries

Decision entries are made with the Comp-XM Spreadsheet, which is similar to the Capstone Spreadsheet and the Foundation Spreadsheet. Please refer to your Capstone or Foundation Team Member Guide for general information.

All Comp-XM simulations utilize the Human Resources and TQM (Total Quality Management)/Sustainability modules. Decisions made in these modules can have wide ranging effects, including influencing product demand, R&D cycle times, productivity, material costs, labor costs and administrative costs.

TQM and Human Resource drive the Learning and Growth section of the Balanced Scorecard.

Human Resources decisions are made in two locations:

• The Workforce Complement is entered at the bottom of the Production area;

• Recruit Spend and Training decisions are made in the Human Resources area.

All TQM/Sustainability decisions are made in the TQM/ Sustainability area.

3.1 Research & Development

3.1.1 Positioning Costs Material costs are also driven by positioning (Figure 3.1). The higher the technology, the higher the cost. At the beginning of the simulation, the trailing edge of the Thrift segment has the lowest cost, at $1.00; the leading edge of the Nano and Elite segments have the

2 Scoring

Scoring occurs in two parts, the results of your Board Queries, and the results of your simulation, which are assessed via a Balanced Scorecard.

Comp-XM has 1000 possible points, 500 for your Board Query results and 500 for your Balanced Scorecard.