The 3^rd Semester MBA students finally reached their long-awaited Business Management Simulation course with Prof. Dr. Eckart Liesegang.

The students were broken up into 3 competing teams. The company they represented was called Xeltronics, a globally active high-tech company who designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of electronic components and complete system solutions centered around GPS systems. The content was provided by TOPSIM, a leading business management simulation company based in Germany.

Each team consisted of 7 students split into 4 departments: Research & Development, Production, Sales & Marketing, and Finance. The students then had to run through five quarters of the business simulation to see who could provide the best business results by the end of the 5^th quarter. The first week of the simulation focused on testing the TOPSIM software to see what different aspects of the business they could influence. The second week involved developing a Strategy Map and Balanced Score Card to base their business on. Prof. Liesegang was incredibly helpful to the students with his good-humored approach to business management and his highly developed insights into the management simulation.

During all this time, the MBA students shared lots of coffees, lunches and laughs together as they planned their business strategy. The 3^rd and final week of the business simulation finally had all 3 teams input their results into TOPSIM program and the students presented their results in a shareholder’s meeting as to what actions they took to reach their level of performance. Afterwards  Prof. Liesegang presented awards to teams who managed to get the highest scores on different KPIs.  Regardless of who won the simulation, everybody learned a lot during the process, with one team using the Nelson Mandela quote, “I never lose. I either win or I learn.”

This Business Management Simulation happened to be Prof. Liesegang’s final official course. We wish him the best during his retirement!

The course concluded with handshakes and hugs between the 3^rd semester students, with one last photo being taken of the group before they begin their theses during the 4^th semester.

This course was an excellent capstone to the program and one that helps Pforzheim’s MBA program standout from the rest. We are excited to see next year’s results when the current 1^st year MBA students will be in the same position!

Text: Rupert Rivera III, Class of 2020

Photos: Rupert Rivera