In the seminar “Business Simulation”, students form groups to represent companies, which compete in a business simulation. In total, five competing companies act in an enclosed market. The companies all produce the same product: solar cells. 2-3 of the five companies are managed by students, the other companies are simulated by a computer.

Students incorporate different roles (e.g., HR, production, marketing, procurement, research & development, finances, etc.) and act according to them. The companies’ market behavior is influenced by the students’ decisions, which are synchronized by the computer network and set the companies in direct competition. The dependencies between the elements are displayed transparently (“open rule simulation”).

In the seminar we simulate 5-7 business years. After an introduction into the simulation and before completion and reflection, each business year includes: 1) theoretical input on selected topics, 2) strategy meeting in the student group, 3) simulation of one business year in which the students take quarterly decisions to manage their company.

To attend the course / exercise, registration via e-learning platform OLAT is required. Registration is possible from 16 - 26 August 2024. The students themselves are responsible for checking the creditability of the course to their course of study.

Direct link to OLAT course: https://lms.uzh.ch/url/RepositoryEntry/17577443402