Prospects
Cup - An Overview
It
is hoped the following few paragraphs, which provide a brief summary of
the Prospects Cup, will be of help in giving a clearer understanding of
the nature of the competition and the time allocation required.
It will be helpful if you also read the sections 'tailored for trainees'
and 'the structure'.
The
Prospects Cup Business Game enables trainees to take on the role of managing a
manufacturing business in competitive trading conditions and of managing a
worldwide portfolio of investments to maximise profits by shrewd dealing.
Up
to five individuals form a "company" (team) to take part in the Game.
Each company competes against a group of four others in manufacturing its
consumer durable product (ie CD player, mobile phone etc) for a number of
markets. Decisions must be taken
weekly on such issues as pricing policy, marketing strategy, production volumes,
raising of loans, transport policy and use of consultants with the aim of
maximising profit.
Initially
participants will require about 2-2.5 hours to familiarise themselves with the
information in the game pack we send them at the start of the competition.
We suggest about 1.5 hours are allowed for the Practice Decision and for
the first couple of decisions in the game proper.
Thereafter we believe it is likely to be counter-productive if
participants meet for longer than about 45 minutes to make their weekly business
decisions.
The
company's decisions are recorded on a form and sent by fax or mail to the
organisers for computer processing. A
management report with full data on market and production performance and
investment gains and losses, together with associated changes in the company's
balance sheet, is returned the same day by the Prospects Cup organisers to show
its revised trading position.
It
is our intention that all participants should have fun in the competition while
learning something of business management.
We look forward to receiving your entries, there are discounts for
multiple entries from the same address. Please
do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further queries.
Colin
Rymill
Administrator
Prospects Cup Competition