BA458: International Collegiate Business School Competition
Spring 2016
San Diego State University
College of Business Administration
COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Robert Judge
Class Days/Time: By apt.
Office Hours Times (and by appointment): Wed 1 – 3:00pm
Office Hours Location: SSE-3114
Email: rjudge@mail.sdsu.edu
Phone: 760-505-7075
Course Overview
This competition course provides an integrated approach to understanding how to run a company using a business simulation
of a hypothetical manufacturing company operating in two countries. Student teams compete against teams from other US and
international schools in the annual International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition, in hopes of achieving the best
overall performance. Team members assume roles as the firm's top executives, responsible for key strategic and operational
decisions in marketing, finance, and operations over a period of five simulated years (twenty quarters). The simulated company
has operations in three domestic markets and one international market with separate economies and market characteristics.
During the competition, each team is responsible for a strategic business plan, an annual report, and one formal oral
presentation to judges (who are senior business executives) sitting as the firm's Board of Directors.
Program Learning Goals
MSIS students will graduate being able to:
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Design and use technology-supported solutions to improve decision making and create value
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Create value through the development of data, information or knowledge (DIK) strategies and the management of
processes and projects

Demonstrate business professional skills
Course Learning Objectives:
Each year students say that the competition has been the most rewarding experience of their college career. Some have said
the greatest benefit was the realistic opportunity to apply academic concepts; others said the greatest benefit was being an
integral part of a closely knit, finely honed team. In this course, the following learning goals will receive emphasis:
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The ability to think critically through the use of both quantitative and qualitative data to identify and analyze
strategic issues and problems, establish corporate and business-level goals and objectives, and develop realistic
programs of action.
An increased understanding of how the various business functions need to be integrated into company-wide
problem-solving and decision-making.
An increased understanding of the complexities of managing a company with operations in two different countries
with different demand structures, product requirements, and economies. Inflation in the foreign country and its
effects on currency fluctuation and company profitability are potential problems with which the company may have
to grapple.
The ability to work successfully in teams to solve business problems that arise in competitive environments.
The strengthening of both oral and written communication skills through individual and team written and verbal
assignments.
Enrollment Information
Prerequisites: None
Adding/Dropping Procedures: Adding classes will follow the “wait list procedure” and Dropping of the class will follow the rules
stated by the university.
Course Materials
1. The Business Policy Game: An International Simulation Player’s Software and Manual, by Richard V. Cotter and David J.
Fritzsche, 6th Edition.
2. Access to Personal Computers. A laptop is preferable but not necessary. For the on-site, each team must have at least one
laptop and one low-volume portable printer to bring with them.
Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact
Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact
Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations
based upon disability cannot be provided until you have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student
Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Assessments and Grading
Grading:
Students chosen to participate in this course are presumed to be highly motivated and eager to do well in representing their
university. Assigned grades will be based on actual work performed and will be on a letter grade basis. Student assessment will
be based on both team and individual performance. Team assignments are established by the competition. In addition, there
will be one short individual paper worth 10% of your grade that each student must prepare at the end of the competition. The
assignments and their value are listed below. A detailed description of student assessment follows later in the syllabus.
GRADE COMPONENTS
Students are graded on the following components of the course found in table 1. You are responsible to monitor your grades.
If something is not correct, you need to bring it to my attention immediately, not days or weeks later. I will have sympathy early
but not later.
Table 1: Grade components
Assignments
Team Performance in the Competition
Assigned
Points
500
CLASS ASSIGNMENTS
Team Year 3 (four quarters) Planning Documents
50
Economic and sales forecasting, production plans, and pro forma financial statements
Team Written Business Plan
50
Team Presentation of Business Plan
50
Team Written Annual Report
50
Team Practice Presentation
50
Individual Final Paper
100
Peer Evaluations: three @50 points each.
150
Tentative Course Schedule
INTRODUCTION AND PREPARATION
January
Practice and Preparation
January 25
Work on Economic Forecast, Decision Forms, Sales Forecasts, Production
Plans, Pro-forma Income Statements, Cash Flow Statements, and Capital
Budgets for Year 3.
Bring preliminary team decisions to class for review.
THE COMPETITION BEGINS: Note: all decisions are due at 6:00 AM PST. It is highly
recommended that teams submit their decisions on the night before. Note: there will be
decisions due during spring break and on two Fridays. Decisions days are highlighted.
February 1
FIRST DECISIONS: Decisions for Y3Q1
DUE: Economic Forecast, Decision Forms, Sales Forecasts, Production Plans,
Pro-forma Income Statements, Balance Sheet Statements, Cash flow
Statements, and Capital Budget for Year 3 (four quarters).
February 2
Tuesday
Submit Decisions (Y3Q1). Due at 6:00 AM PST
February 8
Review first round (Y3Q1) results. Students must bring a printed copy of all
reports – company and industry – to the professor.
Discussion of Business Plans
Finalize Y3Q2 Decisions
February 9
Tuesday
Submit Decisions for Y3Q2. Due at 6:00 AM PST
February 15
Review of Y3Q2 Results. Students must bring a printed copy of all reports –
company and industry – to the professor.
Finalize Decisions for Y3Q3
February 16
Tuesday
Submit Decisions for Y3Q3 Due at 6:00 AM PST
February 22
Review of Y3Q3 Results. Students must bring a printed copy of all reports –
company and industry – to the professor.
Finalize Decisions for Y3Q4
Work on Business Plans.
February 23
Tuesday
Submit Decisions for Y3Q4. Due at 6:00 AM PST
March 1
Review of Y3Q4 Results. Students must bring a printed copy of all reports –
company and industry – to the professor. Annual Reports from the
competition must also be printed and brought to your professor.
DUE: Preliminary Strategic Business Plan and Goal Attainment Report.
Bring one black and white paper copy of the plan and submit one copy
electronically to your professor. You will make a 15 minute presentation of
your plan to your fellow students and professor in class.
March 2
No Decisions are Due. You will be finalizing your Strategic Business Plans
Tuesday
during the week.
March 7
DUE: Revised Final Business Plan with Goal Attainment Report is Due at
beginning of class.
PEER EVALUATION #1 is DUE.
Finalize Y4Q1 Decisions (should be consistent with Business Plan)
March 8
Tuesday
Submit Decisions for Y4Q1.
March 14
Review Y4Q1 Results. Students must bring a printed copy of all reports –
company and industry – to the professor.
Finalize Decisions for Y4Q2
March 15
Tuesday
Submit Decisions for Y4Q2. Due at 6:00 AM PST
March 21
Review Y4Q2. Students must bring a printed copy of all reports – company
and industry – to the professor.
Finalize Decisions for Y4Q3
Y4Q4 Decisions (preliminary to discuss with professor)
March 22
Tuesday
Submit Decisions for Y4Q3. Due at 6:00 AM PST
March 26
Saturday
Submit Decisions for Y4Q4. Due at 6:00 AM PST
We will have a brief meeting on Saturday morning with each team after Y4Q4
decisions results are available. Students must bring a printed copy of all reports
for Y4Q3 and Y4Q4 – company and industry – to the professor.
Monday, March 28
SPRING BREAK NO CLASS – note that decisions are still due twice during the
week.
March 29 – Spring Break
Tuesday
Submit Decisions for Y5Q1. Due at 6:00 AM PST
April 2 – Spring Break
Saturday
Submit Decisions for Y5Q2. Due at 6:00 AM PST
April 4
Review Y5Q1 and Y5Q2 Students must bring a printed copy of all reports –
company and industry – to the professor.
Finalize Y5Q3 decisions.
April 5
Tuesday
Submit Decisions for Y5Q3. Due at 6:00 AM PST
April 9
Saturday
Submit Decisions for Y5Q4. Due at 6:00 AM PST
April 11
Students must bring a printed copy of all reports for Y5Q3 andY5Q4 –
company and industry (including annual) – to the professor.
Work on Annual Reports.
PEER EVALUATION #2 is DUE.
April 16
Saturday
Send an e-copy of your annual report for Year 5 to your professor by 9:00
PM. Your professor will provide feedback to you via email by Sunday night.
April 18
Presentation of Management Report covering Year 5. This is a practice run
for your presentation at the on-site.
Student teams will make a 15 minute presentation and receive evaluations from
the other students in the class.
The remainder of the time will be spent revising the Annual Reports after your
professor’s comments.
April 21-23
Thursday – Saturday
The on-site in Anaheim. Registration/check-in with the competition by no
later than 3:30 on Thursday at the hotel.
DUE: FINAL ANNUAL REPORT. Four copies regular and one marked
“SAMPLE”. All must be marked per instructions from the competition and
turned in at registration.
April 25
No Class
May 2
No Class
Final individual “reflection” papers due at 7:00 PM (beginning of scheduled
class time). You may turn it in early.
FINAL PEER EVALUATION #3 is DUE.
TBD
Lunch or dinner with Dean Solt.
Changes to the course schedule, if any, will be announced thru emails.
Written Assignments
The competition will be providing students with instructions for preparing the Business Plan and Annual Report. In addition,
your instructor may provide additional guidance for these reports based on her prior experience with the competition. Each
written assignment will be graded by the competition judges and by your professor according to how well the ideas in the
paper were developed, how clearly and completely the ideas were presented (including the use of good grammar, spelling,
organization, etc.), and how well the ideas are tied together.
Before these documents are due at the competition, they will be due in class where they will be presented and evaluated by
your professor and fellow students. Your team’s grade for the business plan and annual report will be based on the documents
submitted PRIOR to being submitted to the competition.
Different fonts vary widely in their sizes. In preparing papers, it is strongly recommended that, unless the instructions from the
competition state differently, students should use type fonts with pitches that compare favorably to Times New Roman 12
point font. Margins for the business plan should be one inch. The annual report assignment will allow considerable creativity
but students should approach it as if it truly would be published and sent to shareholders.
Academic Honesty
The University adheres to a strict policy regarding cheating and plagiarism. These activities will not be tolerated in this class.
Become familiar with the policy (http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/conduct1.html). Any cheating or plagiarism will result in failing
this class and a disciplinary review by Student Affairs.
CHEATING:
The assignments, quizzes, and exams you submit must be entirely your own individual work.
If you and another person work together on assignments and the resulting two assignments are alike (or very nearly so), you
are cheating. Each student is responsible for doing the assignment independently. Cheating in IDS 180 includes sharing
solutions either by copying, retyping, looking at, or supplying a copy of a file/solution. Cheating occurs on both the supplying
and receiving ends. Do NOT leave copies of your assignments on the lab computers. If you do, and someone else uses it, you are
still responsible and involved in cheating.
The easiest way to comply with this policy is to avoid talking to others about the assignment while you are working at a
computer. While it is okay to talk to other students to get help in understanding what the assignment is, it is absolutely wrong
for you to be working with one or more people, even if you are sitting at different computers, deciding what to put in each part
of a worksheet, database, etc. You are always allowed to ask the instructor for more specific help. If you have questions relating
to this policy, please direct them to the instructor.
This class has a zero-tolerance policy for cheating. You have now been warned. If you are involved in a cheating incident you
will receive a grade of F in this course. Additionally, all cases of cheating will be reported to SDSU’s Center for Student Rights
and Responsibilities for University disciplinary action. Note: You are not eligible to use course forgiveness to replace a grade in
a course where you have been found guilty of academic dishonesty.
Note: During Exams you may not wear any hats or have turned on any electronic devices including but not limited to cell
phones, pagers, music devices, etc. Plan accordingly on exam days.
Plagiarism:
Examples of Plagiarism include but are not limited to:

Using sources verbatim or paraphrasing without giving proper attribution (this can include phrases, sentences,
paragraphs and/or pages of work)
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Copying and pasting work from an online or offline source directly and calling it your own

Using information you find from an online or offline source without giving the author credit

Replacing words or phrases from another source and inserting your own words or phrases
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Submitting a piece of work you did for one class to another class
If you have questions on what is plagiarism, please consult the policy and this helpful guide from the Library