 Started in 1985 as a mainframe-based game for Ottawa only (formally HSBC)  Redesigned for the web in 2002 ◦ First year in Ottawa area only ◦ 500 students  In 2003/2004 ◦ Province-wide ◦ 3,500 students  10,000 students in 2006 ◦ Including Manitoba, Malaysia and Trinidad © 2010 CA-SBC

 The competition allows students to run their own virtual business online while competing against other student-run businesses  Students are assigned to teams of up to four members  Each team is a firm  The sum of all firms in each class is an industry © 2010 CA-SBC

 All firms manufacture and market state-of- the-art Smartphones  In the first round, firms compete within their own industry (class)  Industry winners move on to the playoff rounds and compete province wide © 2010 CA-SBC

 Firms enter inputs twice a week (Tuesday & Friday)  Each inputs corresponds to a quarter in the business cycle (3 months)  Rich feedback is provided by the system after each quarter ◦ More later… © 2010 CA-SBC

10. It shows students what it’s like to run a business. 9. It helps students understand the basic financial statements: ◦ The Balance Sheet ◦ The Income Statement ◦ The Statement of Cash Flows, and more. 8. It helps students understand the concept of supply and demand. © 2010 CA-SBC

7. It highlights the importance of various investments in the business. 6. Students can see the effects of too much or too little investment in one area. 5. Students learn how competition can influence the price of a product. © 2010 CA-SBC

4. Students learn team skills and how to work together towards a common goal. 3. Students learn how businesses can succeed without relying solely on pricing strategy. 2. Students learn “hands on” how business makes a profit. © 2010 CA-SBC

1. SBC is FREE for all high school teachers and students!!! © 2010 CA-SBC

System Features: ◦ Teacher & Class Registration ◦ Team Management  Game Features: ◦ Multi-level: Classic & Xtreme versions ◦ Random events & additional game play parameters for added realism ◦ In-depth and configurable Firm & Industry Analysis © 2010 CA-SBC

 Teacher Account: ◦ Easy to set up ◦ Provides teacher continuity  No need to re-register every year ◦ Can change personal information  Class Setup: ◦ Completed every term / semester ◦ Add or delete teams up to the registration deadline ◦ Manage team analysis output ◦ Manage your teams on one screen © 2010 CA-SBC

 Teams can: ◦ Submit team name & logo ◦ Change team colour, mission, and vision ◦ Retain competition results  Results persist even when team moves on to playoffs  Teachers can: ◦ Approve or reject team name & logo ◦ Access team participation report ◦ Register (approve) playoff teams ◦ Manage team passwords © 2010 CA-SBC

 You choose level of difficulty for each class: ◦ Easier (Classic) – Target grades 9 to 11 ◦ Harder (Xtreme) – Target grade 12 ◦ Up to you to choose as appropriate  Teams in Classic & teams in Xtreme DO NOT compete against each other ◦ However: Should a grade 9 team be placed in Xtreme, for example, they will compete against grade 12 teams and vice versa © 2010 CA-SBC

 Make the game more realistic  Events occur randomly ◦ Prime rate (loan & interest expense) ◦ Raw material cost (production cost) ◦ Demand change (# of units sold) ◦ Others ;-)  Same events occur at same time for all firms in all industries in any competition © 2010 CA-SBC

 Starting capital (≈ $100,000)  High probability of requiring a loan  Profit margins (≈ 5% - 10%)  Tight coupling between inputs and outputs  Rich administrative control (≈ 125 competition settings) © 2010 CA-SBC

 7 Inputs ◦ Selling Price (both) ◦ Advertising (both) ◦ Research & Development (both) ◦ Plant & Equipment (both) ◦ Number of Units Produced (both) ◦ Sales Support (Xtreme only) ◦ Human Resources (Number of FTE * employees) (Xtreme only) * Fulltime Equivalent © 2010 CA-SBC

 Teams are able to: ◦ View previous inputs ◦ Submit current inputs ◦ Submit two sets of inputs in advance  Sets: regular inputs + subsequent blind inputs  March break, field trips, school activities  Can make changes up to the closing date ◦ Purchase EXTENDED Market Intelligence Reports in any quarter © 2010 CA-SBC

CategoryPriceAdvertisingR&DP&E Sales Support Human Resources Demand XXXX Sales XXXX Supply XXX Product Cost XX © 2010 CA-SBC

 Analysis Areas (teacher controlled): 1.Input % Change 2.Income Statement 3.Balance Sheet 4.Cause & Effect 5.Production 6.Market Indicators 7.Financial Ratios © 2010 CA-SBC

 Information Area: 1.Competition News 2.Fun Facts © 2010 CA-SBC

 Industry & Competition Ranking ◦ More later…  If market research is purchased ◦ Analysis Areas (teacher controlled): 1.Average Input 2.SHE & Net Income 3.Plant & Loan 4.HR & Overtime 5.Sales & Supply © 2010 CA-SBC

 Detailed and comprehensive financial statements are provided at the close of each quarter  Includes: ◦ Income Statement ◦ Statement of Retained Earnings ◦ Balance Sheet ◦ Statement of Cash Flows ◦ Notes to Financial Statements © 2010 CA-SBC

 A long-standing request: ◦ “We know we’re good in our industry, but can you tell us how we are doing in terms of all the other schools in the province?”  A two-part resolution… ◦ Your firm is ranked X in your industry ◦ Your firm is ranked Y overall in the competition in an industry ranked Z © 2010 CA-SBC

 Each year, thousands more students play the game  We have received tremendous feedback from students and teachers alike  With the tremendous partnership SBC has forged with CA, we will continue to offer stellar service and support and continue to enrich the game and the educational experience of high school students everywhere © 2010 CA-SBC

Thanks for playing!  Visit us at: carleton.ca/sbc  us at: © 2010 CA-SBC