Running a business in real life is laced with risk. Fortunately, students in Southern Oregon University’s online MBA program can gain real-world intel with no hit to their net worth. By playing the Business Strategy Game (BSG) online, students take charge of operations for a simulated footwear company.
This spring, a trio from SOU took the top spot two weeks in a row. Calling themselves Team Dynamic, Jesus Rosales, Erin Reynolds and Paul Tanner played the game as part of the MBA 590: Capstone course under the direction of adjunct professor Dr. Peter Angstadt.
“There were 3,869 teams from 178 different colleges or universities internationally, so to get in the top spot — it’s pretty amazing,” said Reynolds.
Staying the Course
While Team Dynamic won for its overall score, the students were also judged and ranked on individual aspects of the game such as earnings per share, return on investment, credit rating and stock price appreciation.
“We started with a good strategy and kept to it. We really spent time and communicated on every decision. What I’ve learned is that there is no single secret for success. It’s about putting energy into your business and building a good foundation,” Reynolds said.
Dr. Angstadt explained that sticking with a strategy and making modifications as needed is key. Past student comments on the game showed scores trended lower for those who panicked or made sweeping changes to their strategies.
“Look at what your customers are asking for, look at what your competitors are doing, and analyze the findings to make modifications as needed,” Dr. Angstadt advised his students. “Remember, Amazon didn’t become successful overnight. Neither did Nike. Keep your net revenues, earnings per share and your return on equity positive.”
Diversity for the Win
All members of Team Dynamic agreed they had the perfect mix of work experience and diversity to formulate a winning strategy. They practiced the principles of good collaboration to pull in the same direction.
“We made sure that people were heard, opinions were validated and everyone was able to speak their mind,” said Rosales, a Marine veteran who serves as a policy analyst for an Oregon hospital.
Tanner works as a project manager for a builder, having owned a construction and home inspection company in the past. Reynolds, who is launching a hand-dyed clothing business, brought corporate and retail buying skills to the team, as well as international experience working in Cambodia and Ireland.
The Pacific Northwest is home to Reynolds, Rosales and Tanner, but they have never met in person. Zoom meetings and Google Hangouts helped close the distance in SOU’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.
“We all have children, so I feel proud of how well we all juggled that during our lengthy Zoom sessions. We were able to always have kids in the background during our weekly calls,” Reynolds said.
Keeping Score
Team Dynamic could absorb valuable lessons in a no-risk environment. All they had to do was apply what they were studying in the online MBA program to the BSG simulation of a real-world experience.
“The BSG brought together everything we had learned from running production to determining salaries to coordinating distribution and shipping to managing annual finances alongside a strategic vision. It was a fun challenge,” said Rosales. “It provided just a good summarization of my entire MBA experience.”
“I found it to be so much more than a game. It is really like being in charge of a global company,” Reynolds said.
Tanner enjoyed the predictive modeling and said he would apply his newly fine-tuned business skills to the workplace. “Getting to practice the theories and run numbers and see how they actually affect one another in the results as those decisions are finalized is amazing,” he said.
Mission accomplished for Dr. Angstadt, who has paired the capstone course with the competition for the third year running.
“The Business Strategy Game tests the students’ ability to put into practice their knowledge in finance and marketing, in organizational development, all those areas,” he said.
A point of pride for Dr. Angstadt is that Team Dynamic was one of six teams worldwide tying for first place, with competition coming from countries like Australia, England, Canada and France. His students do well year after year, which is impressive for a small school.
Upper Hand
Winning the Business Strategy Game culminated the online MBA experience for Reynolds, Rosales and Tanner.
“It’s a high-quality program, very affordable, and it’s convenient for practicing professionals — people who don’t have a lot of time to devote. You have plenty of time to complete the degree at your own pace,” said Tanner.
Rosales liked the ability to connect with other students and faculty. “SOU was small enough that I got to know most of the professors. They have taken the time to get to know me and help me become a better person through education,” he said.
Reynolds believes the online MBA program will give her career a boost.
“It’s been good to have something positive and productive to work on that I know is going to serve me in my future,” she said. “In fact, I think the online MBA program at SOU was the best way that I could invest in a better future for myself, my daughter and my family.”
For Dr. Angstadt, it’s all about equipping students for the real world.
“Our goal is to add value to students through the SOU online MBA program so that they can take that value and add it to whatever they choose to do.”
Learn more about SOU’s online MBA program.
