Portsmouth Business School
Business students reach IBM challenge final
Tue, Mar 16, 2010
The challenge is a business simulation competition for university undergraduates to improve their knowledge of the business world, put theory into practice and develop their team-working, leadership and employability skills.
The team from the European Business Programme will compete against nine others in the grand live final at IBM Bedfont Lakes in Middlesex.
Beginning in October each year, the students are tasked with improving the performance of a business, while working as management consultants in a series of realistic, simulated companies, making all the critical business decisions that affect the company's performance.
Briony Boydell, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Strategy and Business Systems and the team’s mentor said: “This competition is fantastic for students as it involves work complementary to their studies. The simulations are varied and challenging and enable students to build up really strong experience of working in the world of business.
“To have the key areas of marketing, finance, production and human resources on their CVs will prove invaluable when they graduate.”
The competition is divided into three phases. Decisions are input via the internet in phase one, live semi-finals take place across the country in phase two and phase three is the live grand final.
Team captain Jan van Eickels said: “Our team had to take into account not only the financial performance of the company, but also its responsibilities to its various stakeholders, including its suppliers, its customers and its employees.
“Competing to achieve maximum profit, acquire new business and enhance customer satisfaction is really testing so we are thrilled all our hard work has paid off.
“It’s been great to gain a deeper insight into the business world but I feel the team have learnt most from working under pressure and developing teamwork skills.”
Jan will compete with fellow second year students Antonia Mahler, Carsten Piesbergen, Marie Toepfer, and Evelin Eich in the final later this month.