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Faculty
Thomas Temme, Fachhochschule Osnabrück

Course Coordinator
ISUP Secretariat

Prerequisite/progression of the course

Understanding of basic marketing principles.

Course content, structure and teaching

The course will be centred around the Management Simulation Topsim Marketing. In groups of 3 – 5 the participants of the course take on the role of managers of a virtual company which produces mobile phones. Student managers will be mainly responsible for strategic and operational marketing, for the production process and for customer-driven Research & Development.

Their mobile phone industry will consist of several student-run companies which all will compete against each other. For eight business periods students must take a series of in-depth marketing decisions to successfully run their virtual businesses. After each business period they receive an immediate feedback on their success.

By managing this business students may apply what they have learnt in theory in their previous studies. Besides aspects of marketing this refers to result-oriented teamwork, to management methods, to the use of information in decision making and to handling uncertainty and time restrictions.

Students will experience how marketing works. The simulation is dynamic and realistic and therefore it conveys an experience of dealing with “real-life situations” under very competitive market conditions. Participating in the simulation is fun and has a lasting learning impact.

The course's development of personal competences

Dealing with uncertainty, taking decisions under time pressure, teamwork, presentation skills.

Learning Objectives

Students will have to analyse the market situation, competitors and the internal situation of their company. Based on that, they will have to develop objectives, strategies and a plan of tactical action. They will also have to develop management processes and implement control procedures.

Teaching methods

Computer based ongoing interactive case study, lectures, exercises, discussions, project work.

Examination

Mandatory mid-term feedback assignment: In order to be allowed to present the final assignment, each student team must have given a mid-term group presentation. The presentation's content will be based on the simulation run and it will last about 10 minutes per team.

Final exam: Project/home assignment (written individually), 10 A4 pages.

Re-take exam: Project/home assignment (written individually), 10 A4 pages.

Recommended literature

Kotler et.al., Principles of Marketing, 2009

Participant’s Handbook Topsim Marketing

Sidst opdateret af ISUP Secretariat 29.01.2010