Country Manager Simulation

Instructions
Regardless of our age, playing with simulations and games always puts us on the path to learning and experiencing new things. That is because if our objective is to “win” the game, then we need to explore and learn the “system” in order to beat it. That is exactly what Simulation-Based Learning is all about. The right type of simulations and games can challenge and engage a learner into actually comprehending and then practicing new skills. Unlike traditional lectures, games push the learner to get actively involved in the learning process.

Now that the semester, and game, is over, I would like for you to reflect on your experience. You don’t need to make this into a flowing paper, just answer the questions asked and use the same subheadings that I used.

Understanding international marketing concepts
The intention for this part of the assignment is to make sure you understand the marketing concepts used in international business, and how they played out in the game.
Tariffs and Shipping Costs

1. Explain, in detail, the role of tariffs and shipping in international marketing. Note that I said to explain the concept in depth. I want to be able to really see that you understand it.
2. What role did tariffs and shipping play in the CountryManager game? Be very specific, give details, and provide examples.
   Exchange Rates
3. Explain, in detail, the role of exchange rates in international marketing. Note that I said to explain the concept in depth. I want to be able to really see that you understand it.
4. What role did exchange rates play in the Country Manager game? Be very specific, give details, and provide examples.
   Channels of Distribution
5. Explain, in detail, the role of channel of distributions in international marketing. How is it different internationally than in the U.S.? Note that I said to explain the concept in depth. I want to be able to really see that you understand it.
6. What role did the channel of distributions play in the CountryManager game? Be very specific, give details, and provide examples.

Reflection on the game

1. What decisions did your team make in the game that you think had the most impact on success? Give examples.
2. How successful was your company? Provide data from the game to support your answer
3. Which country was most successful for you and why? Be detailed in your answer.
4. Discuss your pricing strategy throughout the game. Do not give a play-by-play of each decision made. I want you to tell me about your pricing “strategy” and how it changed as you learned more about international business and the game. What was the hardest part of finding the right price to charge?
5. Discuss your promotion and advertising strategy throughout the game. Do not give a play-by-play of each decision made. I want you to tell me about your promotion/advertising “strategy” and how it changed as you learned more about international business and the game. What was the hardest part of promoting your products in the game?
6. Discuss your distribution coverage strategy throughout the game. Do not give a play-by-play of each decision made. I want you to tell me about your distribution “strategy” and how it changed as you learned more about international business and the game.
7. When did you add a plant? Why did you choose the country you chose to build a plant? Was it a good decision? If so, explain why. If not, explain why.
8. How important was benchmarking in the game? Explain your answer.
9. Discuss the “AH-HA” moments you had (i.e., times when the “light bulb went off”, so to speak, and you finally understood a part of the game or a marketing strategy).
10. What parts of the simulation did you find to be the most difficult? Why?
11. Discuss important “take-aways” or lessons learned about international marketing from the simulation experience.

Questions about the administration of the game

1. Tell me what you did (and/or didn’t) like about this type of learning.
2. Was the Zoom meetings helpful? Should I do that again in future courses?
3. What suggestions for improvements do you have? Is there something that I could do to make the experience more meaningful or easier?
4. You may or may not have figured out that the assignments were designed to help with decisions that were made throughout the game. I tried to strategically place them just prior to an important decision. I tried to ask questions in the assignments that would make you think about things a little deeper or differently to help with the decision-making process during the game. Did the assignments achieve this goal? Explain your thoughts.