Learn the Complexities of Global Business Management in a Live Business Simulation

What if you could experience business in real time, making decisions as an owner in a risk-free environment and seeing how they impact your profitability?  

On our MSc International Business Management programme, you’ll get to do this as part of an exciting International Business Strategy with Simulation module that will expand your technical skills and theoretical knowledge, preparing you for global business environments. 

What is a business simulation? 

When you enter the evolving world of international business, you’ll need to be able to navigate complex global business environments and make data-driven decisions across different regions and markets.  

The business simulation part of our International Business Strategy with Simulation module is designed to give you practical experience of this: you’ll get to work with other students and make decisions in real time, while competing against other teams. 

Learn business strategy: The Cesim Global Challenge 

The live business simulation, The Cesim Global Challenge, is designed to teach international business strategy by immersing you in the role of managing a multinational company. 

In this simulation, you’ll be placed in groups, competing against one another by running a technology-oriented company with operations across multiple countries. 

How does the business simulation support your learning? 

The business simulation is designed to improve your capabilities within four main areas of business:  

• Awareness – Increase your awareness of the complexities of strategic and management operations within an international business organisation 

• Identify and analyse – Develop capabilities to identify and analyse performance-influencing variables across national markets 

• Decision making – Improve fact-based and data-driven decision-making skills and understand their importance in relation to bottom line performance and cash flow 

• Practical experience – Gain vital experience in problem solving, teamwork, and business management in an evolving and competitive global marketplace 

What key elements does the business simulation cover? 

The global challenge business simulation incorporates multiple real-world business concepts to ensure that you are developing highly relevant skills that you can apply directly to a career in international business management. 

As part of the business simulation, you will cover and make important decisions about essential business functions such as: 

• Market conditions 

• Production 

• Investments 

• Research and development 

• Marketing 

• Logistics 

• Tax planning 

• Finances and budgets 

How does the business simulation work? 

Each round of the simulation will be tutor-guided, taking part during your weekly seminars. Using your own online account, you will work on your own scenarios and make decisions independent of the rest of your team before combining your results during the decision-making stage. 

Before you begin the simulation 

At the start of the module, students studying our International Business Management Masters degree will be split into teams, competing against one another. All teams will begin from the same starting position, in terms of current profits and market share, and will face the same market conditions, with each team’s decisions influencing the overall market development and other teams’ results. 

Practice makes perfect 

All teams will be introduced to the Cesim Global Challenge, including the software; the challenge they face; and the objectives of the simulation. The practice round will have no effect on final results and is an opportunity for you to familiarise yourself with the software, the processes you’ll be using, and your industry. 

Compete in a real-time simulation  

After the practice round, the business simulation will officially begin. Each team will formulate their own business strategy and objectives to achieve sustainable profitable growth. This is typically measured by a ratio called “cumulative total return to shareholders”, which will combine the development of share prices and dividends paid and indicate the total return to shareholders. 

Once your team has outlined your strategy and objectives, the decision-making process will begin, consisting of multiple decision-making rounds, where each round represents one fiscal year. 

Throughout the simulation, you will need to analyse data and make important decisions to meet your business goals. The decisions you make will affect and be affected by a variety of factors, all of which will need to be considered carefully to be successful. 

MSc International Business Management prepares you for your future as a global business leader 

The Cesim Global Challenge business simulation is a powerful tool that not only makes the learning experience for our MSc International Business Management more enjoyable but also allows you to apply your theoretical knowledge in a live, practical, risk-free setting. 

The skills developed throughout the process (strategic thinking, leadership, financial acumen, global market awareness, decision making) are essential for success in the complex and competitive world of international business management. 

Dr. Julian Barnes, Programme Lead for MSc International Business Management, says: 

“The International Business Strategy with Simulation module allows students to apply first-hand theoretical concepts of business strategy to a real-life situation. This enables students to see the consequences of their strategic decision-making over a series of simulation rounds. Students will then present the impact and outcome of their strategic decision-making to the company board, as they would in the real world.”

By taking part in the business simulation as part of the MSc International Business Management, you’ll gain practical experience of running a global business in a competitive market that you can apply throughout your career. 

Learn more about MSc International Business Management and apply online. 

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