The 46th Annual International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition ended with a gala banquet in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Diego</st1:place></st1:city> on 17 April. The remote phase of the competition had begun on 2 February. The intensive phase started 15 April when students had the opportunity to meet and interact with other students from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>, Europe, the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United Arab Emirates</st1:country-region>, and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
Participating in The Business Policy Game simulation, all simulated companies were home based in a Merica area and sold their products in three Merica areas and one foreign area, either an Eastern European, a Latin American or a Southeast Asian country. They could build production facilities in any area including the foreign area. The teams worked at their home institutions for two simulated years attempting to gain a competitive advantage. Along the way their board dictated that they build a child care facility for their employees. In <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Diego</st1:place></st1:city> they had to deal with health care questions focusing upon providing fair and competitive coverage for their employees while attempting to control escalating costs.
Some companies saw their strategies blossom, yielding significant benefits to their stockholders. It is always interesting to watch some teams turn around a mediocre performance after they arrive in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Diego</st1:place></st1:city>, and others take the opposite turn. It should be noted that students often learn more from their mistakes than their successes and this learning may come days after they return home and have time to reflect upon their simulation experience.
Make plans to join us for the 47th annual event to be held in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Long Beach</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place>, on April 7-9, 2011 hosted by California State University, Long Beach. We will be using the new edition of The Business Policy Game which is an Internet integrated simulation. The remote phase of the competition will begin on 1 February. Look for our announcement later this spring. For more information go to www.ICBSC.org and click on Competition. We hope to see you next year. -- David J. Fritzsche Professor, Penn State, retired Voice: 253-848-1699 E-mail: support@BPG-BusinessPolicyGame.com The Business Policy Game: www.BPG-BusinessPolicyGame.com International Bus. Strategy Competition: www.ICBSC.org