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Exercises & Simulations

This section provides information about interactive exercises, games and simulations created to enrich the classroom experience. Each listing is also accompanied by the format of the exercise or simulation; software, web-based, role-playing, or other. The exercise needs to have a substantial international component to qualify for inclusion The listings are sorted alphabetically by publishing company.

A Journey to Sharahad - Phil Darg: In this exercise (in PDF) the participants role-play American business persons who journey to Sharahad looking for distributors. Even though both Americans and Sharahadans want to do business with each other, there are some substantial barriers present based on their cultural behaviors and communication barriers. The author, Phil Darg, has generously agreed to globalEDGE making this exercise available for download at no charge (for educational purposes only).
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: International Business, International Business

A Trip to Mintana - Phil Darg: This exercise (in PDF) simulates a business meeting of Americans who have traveled to the fictional country of Mintana. The intercultural exercise allows participants to experience and adjust to different cultural communication patterns and to recognize some of the intercultural barriers in today's global business environment. The author, Phil Darg, has generously agreed to globalEDGE making this exercise available for download at no charge (for educational purposes only).
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: International Business, International Business

A Visit with the Amberana - Phil Darg: This exercise (in PDF) simulates a meeting of American botanists who travel to the fictional country of Maranã. The Americans, ignorant of the host culture, must communicate with the Amberanans in an acceptable manner to succeed in their quest. An intercultural exercise that explores verbal and non-verbal differences, as well as cultural values. The author, Phil Darg, has generously agreed to globalEDGE making this exercise available for download at no charge (for educational purposes only).
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: International Business, International Business

Albion in China - Duke CIBER: The topic of this cross-cultural negotiation simulation is the fictional Albion Corporation, a high-tech multi-corporation, that is planning to invest in China. The Chinese and American negotiators have already agreed to pursue a joint venture. This simulation takes your students through the next round of negotiations. There are 5 specific points that must be agreed upon before the project can move forward.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: International Business, International Business

An Alien Among Us - Intercultural Press: Using an interplanetary mission as its topic, the simulation focuses on how selection processes are influenced by stereotypes, leading to biased judgments. It is designed to be flexible so that facilitators can substitute real-life situations for the interplanetary mission. For example, participants could select six junior executives for a company's overseas training program.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: International Business, International Business

Annamay in Mexico - Cultures Crossing: An American toy company is considering expanding to a Mexican Maquiladora. Three company executives travel to Tijuana, Mexico to investigate the possibility of outsourcing some or all the manufacturing to a maquiladora.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: , International Business

BaFa 'BaFa' - Simulation Training Systems: BaFa 'BaFa' is an intercultural simulator created to educate participants on the effects that culture plays in every person's life. It is especially useful to prepare participants for living and/or working in another culture or to learn how to work with people from different backgrounds. It requires a minimum of 12 players.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: International Business, International Business

Barnga - Intercultural Press: Using a simple card game, Barnga aims to communicate that despite many similarities, people of differing cultures perceive things differently or play by different rules.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: International Business, International Business

Bridging Cultures - Park Li: Bridging Cultures is an interactive computer-based assessment program designed to help global professionals understand how they might interact in another country's culture. It helps participants learn how cultural differences impact doing business and how personal characteristics frequently influence their behavior in cross-cultural situations.
Format: Software
Focus: International Business, International Business

CESIM Global Challenge - CE-Simulations Oy: An online business simulation game where teams representing mobile telecommunication companies compete by making international business strategy decisions in different areas of international business management.
Format: Web Based
Focus: International Business, Management, Management

Corporation - Prentice Hall: An interactive computer based exercise marketed to practicing managers and college students. It includes decision making and feedback at the strategic management level and involves the takeover and continuing operation of a multi-divisional, multinational corporation. Additional information available on the Prentice Hall site.
Format: Software
Focus: International Business, Management, Management

Country Manager - Interpretive: Country Manager is designed for students taking courses in international marketing or business. The simulation is based on deciding the best way to enter the Latin American market with a toothpaste brand management team. Participants must decide which country to enter, which channels to motivate, how to communicate best with the customer, and which SKUs to offer. After building operations in one country, expansion into additional countries is the next step.
Format: Software
Focus: International Business, Marketing, Marketing

Cultural Detective - Cultural Detective: A dynamic, situation- and values-based series of training tools, Cultural Detective encourages participants to develop intercultural competence in themselves and their organizations. Cultural Detective participants identify and explore a culture using key values as "clues" to solve cross-cultural "incidents" or mysteries and develop practical strategies for enhancing intercultural collaboration. Around thirty culture versions are available in online store.
Format: Software
Focus: , International Business

Diversophy - George Simons International: Diversophy is a set of intercultural training games, designed for teams of 3 to 8 people playing simultaneously. Players are tested on cultural facts and appropriate behavioral choices, share their own background and experiences with diversity or intercultural challenges, get advice about the culture they are exploring, and explore the risks of living or working in a new environment or with people different from themselves. Diversophy is now also available in a mobile phone version.
Format: Other
Focus: International Business, International Business

Don't Gross Out the World - Family Education Network: A small Macromedia Flash animation that goes through eleven questions on dining etiquette in different countries. A short but fun animation that can be used to introduce students to the topic of cultural differences. Requires Shockwave Player to run.
Format: Web Based
Focus: , International Business

Ecotonos - Intercultural Press: Ecotonos is a tool for engaging in problem solving and decision making in diverse groups. Methods and processes of decision making are examined in four contexts: monocultural groups, multicultural groups, groups where one culture is in the majority, and groups evenly balanced in cultural representation. Participants enhance their understanding of the impact of culture on communication, decision making and problem solving, and they develop skills in interacting effectively in multicultural teams.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: International Business, International Business

Exploring Culture - Intercultural Press: A training book containing numerous exercises, dialogues, stories and simulations that put Geert Hofstede's five dimensions of culture into action. Authored by Gert Jan Hofstede, Paul B. Pedersen, and Geert Hofstede.
Format: Other
Focus: International Business, International Business

Export-Import Management System Online - Janavaras & Associates International: EIMSO enables a user to systematically conduct a company situation analysis, identify and select best markets, determine the company's readiness to export, develop export-import strategies and prepare all the necessary documents online.
Format: Web Based
Focus: , International Business, Marketing

Food for Thought - Gert Jan Hofstede: A behavioral simulation game about intercultural business that lasts for about one hour with up to half a day for evaluation. It enacts an international supply chain for fruit salads with approximately 100 participants. The material allows you to organize your own variations of the game.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: International Business, International Business

Forad - INSEAD: FORAD is a computer-based learning experience designed to help corporate executives and bankers better understand what it takes to manage the financial position of a multinational industrial corporation. It is based on the issues and challenges which confront such a company operating in today's international markets.
Format: Software
Focus: International Business, Finance, Finance

Frost in France - Cultures Crossing: A role-play simulation designed to teach cross-cultural negotiation strategies. Frost is one of the world's largest electronic recycling firms. It is planning to enter France through a joint venture with a French company. The case covers the negotiations phase.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: International Business, International Business, Management

GEO III - Precha Thavikulwat, Towson University: GEO is a network-based gaming simulation that involves participants in a global economy of four nations, five industries, and eight roles. Users are divided among the nations, and can vote on the fiscal, monetary, and trade policies of their nations. GEO is part of four computerized simulations developed by the author.
Format: Software
Focus: International Business, International Business, Entrepreneurship

Global Market Potential System Online - Janavaras & Associates International: The GMPSO is a tool designed to help the user identify high potential country markets for selected products or services. The GMPSO takes the user through three steps: conduct a company situation analysis, identify global market opportunities, and to select the best country market based on key macro, micro, and accessibility criteria.
Format: Web Based
Focus: , International Business

Global Marketing Management System Online - Janavaras & Associates International: GMMSO is a global strategic management planning tool enabling the user to conduct a company situation analysis, identify countries with highest market potential for the company's products and services, conduct a competitive analysis, select the best country market, determine best entry mode strategy for the target country, and develop the marketing plan.
Format: Web Based
Focus: , International Business, Marketing

Global Operations - Hall Marketing: A generic, one-day strategy simulation involving developing a world wide presence and product offering. Participants launch a new product in direct competition with several other teams and set up a factory to produce it. Liquidity will force them to decide between new product development, expanding capacity or build their world coverage. The "Downloads" section of the website also features a participant briefing document with additional information.
Format: Software
Focus: International Business, Management, Management, Operations & Supply Chain Management

Global View Advanced Business Simulation - AGV: Global View provides a team-based business simulation where participants compete with other students around the world. They build a company from the ground up, making decisions on all aspects of business while negotiating via e-mail, chat rooms, and posting boards to buy and sell products. There are some international components to the simulation as well, although it is primarily designed for a capstone business course.
Format: Web Based
Focus: International Business, Management, Management

Globalization and Nigerian Oil - ICONS Project: The simulation explores the effects of globalization through the case of Nigeria. Participants take on the role of one of the parties involved in the political economy of the Niger River delta region of Nigeria -- either the government, an NGO, an MNC, or an ethnic group within Nigeria -- and participate in negotiations about the future shape of the petroleum industry. Part of a series of simulations by University of Maryland based ICONS Project.
Format: Web Based
Focus: International Business, International Business, Economics

GLO-BUS - McGraw-Hill/Irwin: GLO-BUS is an online exercise where teams of students run a digital camera company in head-to-head competition against companies run by other class members. Companies compete in a global market arena, selling digital cameras in four geographic regions. Students must make decisions relating to all aspects of operations including R&D, product line selections, production, outsourcing, pricing, marketing, and finance.
Format: Web Based
Focus: , International Business, Management

Intercomp - INSEAD: The simulation takes the participants through the various phases of the international marketing process such as direct exports, contractual entry (licensing) and foreign production and investment (joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries). Several international marketing issues are covered: global segmentation, product adaptation and standardization, marketing standardization issues, international product life cycles, entry strategies, foreign production and R&D location decisions.
Format: Software
Focus: International Business, Marketing, Marketing

International Operations Simulation (INTOPIA) - Intopia, Inc: Intopia focuses on IB strategy, and the consequent challenges to integrate functional, regional/cultural, and product areas of the MNC. Key features include negotiation and networking, in- and outsourcing, the value chain, logistical and currency issues. The setting is hi-tech products (chips and PC) in both the consumer and industrial markets of Brazil, EU, and the US. Special features include entrepreneurship and global events scenarios. The game can be customized through flexible parameters.
Format: Software
Focus: International Business, Management, Management, Entrepreneurship

Intex - Hall Marketing: Participants take over an overseas subsidiary currently selling imported products. They have to decide whether to expand this range and set up local manufacturing for a parallel range of products. Additionally, they must decide how and when to replace expatriate management with locals. Optionally, the simulation can involve currency management.
Format: Software
Focus: International Business, Management, Management, Marketing

Jeneryn in India - Cultures Crossing: JENERYN IN INDIA creates a complex international negotiation scenario. Participants play the roles of executives of a U.S. medical transcription company contemplating growth through offshore outsourcing. Other participants play executives of an Indian company in Chennai interested in acquiring American business. All participants must act within company, country, and cultural constraints while working toward specific business objectives.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: , International Business, Management

Magnatel in Chile - Duke CIBER: In this cross-cultural negotiation simulation a team from a U.S. telecommunications company wants to expand into the Chilean wireless market. The Chilean team, including a representative from the government, will play host to the Americans. The Americans are on a very tight travel schedule, one not necessarily well suited to Chilean social and business cultures. See "Laser Image Corporate Publishing" near the top of the page for information on ordering the simulation packet.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: International Business, International Business

Marketplace - Innovative Learning Solutions, Inc.: Marketplace is designed as a learning tool that allows participants to build an entrepreneurial firm and compete with others in a virtual business world. Players are forced to use business fundamentals and interplay various facets of business. The simulation has a variety of levels of difficulty incorporating various areas of decision-making.
Format: Web Based
Focus: International Business, Finance, Management, Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship

Multinational Management Game - Micro Business Publications: MMG is a game of global strategy designed for use by students in business policy and strategic management courses, providing students with experience in both domestic and international strategic management and opportunities for developing global environmental analysis skills.
Format: Software
Focus: International Business, Management, Management

Oil Producers' Microworld - Strategy Dynamics: Based in both scenario planning and systems thinking, the Oil Producers' Microworld may be used in teaching these popular and powerful approaches. At the heart of the Oil Producers' Microworld is a dynamic simulation model of the global oil industry. Users take the part of the world's independent oil producers and can experiment with policies that change the future.
Format: Software
Focus: International Business, International Business, Economics, Management

Olin Life In China - Cultures Crossing: In this cross-cultural negotiation simulation, a fictional insurance company is looking to expand into China. Three top officers will need to go to Shanghai to begin a negotiation process with the China Insurance Regulatory Commission.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: , International Business

Randomia Balloon Factory - Intercultural Press: In this simulation, a group of trainers representing a toy and game company from a Western Country travel to Randomia, a traditional non-Western country, to train the Randomians in techniques for improving product quality and productivity. The simulation provides important insights on cross-cultural differences.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: International Business, International Business

Redundancia - Nipporica: A foreign language simulation where participants experience speaking a language non-fluently: how it affects one's ability to stay focused and connected with the listener, and one's feelings of competence and confidence.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: , International Business

Representative Templates and Methodology for Stodder's Comparative Advantage Experiments - Classroom Expernomics: An experiment designed to introduce students to the ramifications of comparative advantage theory. Students are paired up to take on the roles of two countries that must make production and consumption choices under a situation of autarky and then under a situation involving the possibility of trade.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: International Business, Economics, Economics

Stalwart in Japan - Duke CIBER: This simulation allows students to play roles representing American automobile companies to negotiate and build business relationships with Japanese auto firms. Culture learning and effective manners to deal with Japanese business persons are expected. See "Laser Image Corporate Publishing" near the top of the page for information on ordering the simulation packet.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: , International Business

The Business Policy Game - Prentice Hall: The Business Policy Game is a total enterprise simulation and targets an audience looking for a dynamic process to integrate the business disciplines and provide experience in strategy development. The software also provides the competitive environment for the annual International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition. Additional information available on the Prentice Hall site.
Format: Software
Focus: International Business, Management, Management

The Business Strategy Game - McGraw-Hill/Irwin: The Business Strategy Game is a web-based simulation in the athletic footwear industry, and each company is managed by a team of players competing against other companies. The simulation tries to mirror the real athletic footwear industry to a large extent, and requires the players to make decisions on all operational aspects of business, including sales, marketing, finance, web sales, warehousing, and distribution. Companies can sell their products in four regional markets.
Format: Web Based
Focus: International Business, Management, Management

The Global Business Game - Innovative Learning Solutions Inc.: Global Business Game is a web-based simulation that is focused on international business and strategic management. It is designed primarily to complement undergraduate and graduate classes in those areas. Participants manage a company that is present in either the NAFTA or APEC markets, allowing them to experience the various aspects and challenges of globalization. Instructors will also be able to customize options within the simulation to meet the needs of their courses.
Format: Web Based
Focus: , International Business, Business (General)

The Global Economics Game - Economics Education Products: The Global Economics Game is an educational software game that simulates economic activity in a global setting. Each player is in charge of their nation's economic policy. The object of the game is to promote balanced economic growth without excessive pollution, while maintaining full employment without too much inflation. Fiscal, trade, and monetary policies are used to avoid undesirable situations such as depression, stagflation, and hyperinflation.
Format: Software
Focus: Economics, Economics

The Strawberry Chain - Gert Jan Hofstede: The Strawberry Chain simulation is about a supply chain in an international context with competing teams of wholesalers, bakers and retailers, the end product being fruit patisserie. The game is designed so as to simulate a number of chain problems that occur in international food industry chains, from a cultural standpoint.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: International Business, International Business, Operations & Supply Chain Management

The Windmills of our Minds - Gert Jan Hofstede: A business simulation game that is about designing a communication architecture for a multinational company, with 12-50 participants. The game is intended for all those involved in international cooperation who wish to improve their awareness of the pervasiveness of differences in culture.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: International Business, International Business

Trade Balance and Exchange Rate Simulation - Biz/ed: A simple, web-based exercise that explains how a change in exchange rate influences the trade balance. Information and practice questions to help with the trade balance concept are supplied.
Format: Web Based
Focus: International Business, Economics, Economics

Vagabonds in Vietnam - Cultures Crossing: An American computer game company is trying to decide whether or not to outsource their programming to foreign countries. Countries under consideration include Vietnam as well as Ireland, Canada, and India.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: , International Business

Virtual Developing Country - Biz/ed: Virtual Developing Country takes users on web-based, virtual tours of Zambia, and its journey as a developing African nation. The exercise is conducted in a manner similar to a guided field trip. It also provides background information about the nation, as well as resources for both teachers and students.
Format: Web Based
Focus:

Virtual Developing Country: Zambia - Biz/ed: Virtual Developing Country takes users on web-based, virtual tours of Zambia, and its journey as a developing African nation. The exercise is conducted in a manner similar to a guided field trip. It also provides background information about the nation, as well as resources for both teachers and students.
Format: Web Based
Focus: , Economics

Voyage Beijing - Michigan State University Games for Entertainment and Learning (GEL) Lab: Voyage Beijing is a digital game using engagement, motivation and interactivity to teach crucial information about business travel to China. Simulating a first business trip to Beijing, the mission of the game is to arrange a business deal with a potential Chinese partner. You build or loose impression points by making choices in the interactions you have with the Chinese hosts. You can also earn knowledge points by exploring the game world, which is based on Beijing.
Format: Web Based
Focus: , International Business

WestAir in France - Duke CIBER: In this cross-cultural negotiations simulation, WestAir, a fictional US based airline company, has a code-sharing agreement with a French company that operates three airlines. WestAir is about to purchase a 49% ownership in the French company. Students role-play in the negotiations process where four issues will be discussed, by representing the two companies. See "Laser Image Corporate Publishing" near the top of the page for information on ordering the simulation packet.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: , International Business

World Energy Corp. in the Netherlands - Duke CIBER: World Energy Corporation (WEC), based in the United States, is a fictional multinational energy company specializing in the wholesale marketing of commodity energy products. The simulation takes students through the negotiation of four specific "fine points" of the proposed contract. See "Laser Image Corporate Publishing" near the top of the page for information on ordering the simulation packet.
Format: Role-Playing
Focus: , International Business, Finance

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