UBuild: A Simulation
Bridging Financial & Managerial Accounting
Huong Higgins & Fabienne Miller
AAA August 2015
Implementation
 Used in introductory accounting course
 Legos needed
Learning Objectives
1. Deepening understanding of the financial
implications of managerial decisions,
One
 Used 9 semesters by 2 faculty members
Robot
Ubuild helps students become active learners and
apply the skills learned in class.
Teams start a business in a competitive environment
which requires:
 Planning,
 Managerial decisions,
 Financial reporting,
 Performance analysis.
Chair
The products
Abstract
Process
Students make 6 decisions, prepare financial
statements, and receive feedback after each
decision.
2. Improving understanding of financial reporting,
3. Increasing knowledge of the
interconnectedness of business decisions,
4. Improving students’ financial acumen,
5. Practicing formal communication through
memos, financial reporting, and presentations.
1
2
Students’ Assessment
 The project improved my understanding of
financial statements:
4.21
 UBuild helped me understand the financial
implications of business decisions.
4.38
 The UBuild simulation helped me apply the
concepts learned in class.
4.33
• Sales Planning & Purchase
N= 89, 1= strongly disagree, 5= strongly agree
3
4
Simulation Summary
5
Teams create a business, select the products
and quantity to manufacture and sell
constrained by limited cash.
• Business Organization
 Reporting with Excel &/or QuickBooks
6
• Production & Inventory Management
• Sales
Targeted Competencies
• Financial Analysis
• Budgeting
Functional Competencies: Decision modeling, risk
analysis, reporting, leverage technology
Personal Competencies: Problem solving,
interaction, communication
Broad Competencies: Strategic/critical thinking