Exercises and Simulations

In A Journey to Sharahad, an exercise available in PDF, the participants role-play American business persons who journey to Sharahad looking for distributors. Even though both Americans and Sharahadans want to do business with each other, substantial barriers are present based on different cultural behaviors and communication barriers. The author, Phil Darg, has generously agreed to allow globalEDGE to make this exercise available for download at no charge (for educational purposes only).

A Trip to Mintana simulates a business meeting of Americans who have traveled to the fictional country of Mintana. The intercultural exercise allows participants to experience and adjust to different cultural communication patterns and to recognize some of the intercultural barriers in today's global business environment. The author, Phil Darg, has generously agreed to allow globalEDGE to make this exercise available for download in PDF at no charge (for educational purposes only).

A Visit with the Amberana simulates a meeting of American botanists who travel to the fictional country of Maranã. The Americans, ignorant of the host culture, must communicate with the Amberanans in an acceptable manner to succeed in their quest. A Visit with the Amberana is an intercultural exercise that explores verbal and non-verbal differences, as well as cultural values. The author, Phil Darg, has generously agreed to allow globalEDGE to make this exercise available for download in PDF at no charge (for educational purposes only).

The Academy of Management provides interactive teaching tools and resources for those interested in the field of international management. The site contains exercises for teaching and learning in different countries as well as providing exercises and case studies pertaining to management on a global scale.

In Annamay in Mexico, an American toy company is considering expanding to a Mexican Maquiladora. Three company executives travel to Tijuana, Mexico, to investigate the possibility of outsourcing some or all the manufacturing to a maquiladora. The purpose of the exercise is to teach cross-cultural negotiation strategies. The materials for teachers and students are available for purchase on the site.

BaFa' BaFa' is an intercultural simulator created to educate participants on the effects that culture plays in every person's life. It is especially useful to prepare participants for living and/or working in another culture or to learn how to work with people from different backgrounds. It requires a minimum of 12 players. Available in PDF.

Using a simple card game, Barnga aims to communicate that despite many similarities, people of different cultures perceive things differently or play by different rules. This simulation is available in PDF.

Brief Encounters is a role-playing game that helps players develop an understanding of how culture impacts the behavior and perception of others. This game will help players learn how to describe and recognize cultural differences through behavior, how culture influences the way we view the behavior of others, and how to communicate with others despite cultural norms.

Carpenter Strategy Toolbox lists instructions for the Global Alliance Game which teaches the importance of international trade and relations between countries. Complete step-by-step instructions for the simulation are provided as well as a downloadable file for all the materials required by the Global Alliance Game. Information on how to debrief the simulation is also given on the site.

Global Challenge is an online business simulation game where teams representing mobile telecommunication companies compete by making international business strategy decisions in different areas of international business management. Free registration is required for first-time users.

CountryManager is designed for students taking courses in international marketing or business. The simulation is based on deciding the best way to enter either the Latin American market or the Asian market with a toothpaste brand management team. Participants must decide which country to enter, which channels to motivate, how to communicate best with the customer, and which SKU's to offer. After building operations in one country, expansion into additional countries is the next step. A full copy of the case is available by request.

A dynamic, situation and values-based series of training tools, Cultural Detective encourages participants to develop intercultural competence in themselves and their organizations. Cultural Detective participants identify and explore a culture using key values as "clues" to solve cross-cultural "incidents" or mysteries and develop practical strategies for enhancing intercultural collaboration. Around sixty culture-specific and topic-specific versions are available for purchase in the online store.

Diversophy is a set of intercultural training games for several different countries, designed for teams of 3 to 8 people playing simultaneously. Players are tested on cultural facts and appropriate behavioral choices and have the chance to share their own background and experiences with diversity or intercultural challenges, get advice about the culture they are exploring, and explore the risks of living or working in a new environment or with people different from themselves. Training games are available for purchase on the site.

The Econland game simulates the effects of macroeconomic policy decisions on a country. In the game, the user makes monetary and fiscal policy decisions in order to manage the economy of a country that faces the ups and downs of the global economic environment through a seven-year business cycle. Econland also provides a range of macroeconomic learning resources, including a weekly online economics newspaper, a quiz, and a discussion forum. While access to the Econland game is only available for a fee, several of the learning resources are available free of charge.

EthicsGame is a suite of online simulations that can be incorporated into a wide range of business classes. Three of the "Hot Topics" simulations feature an international focus including an exercise on the Foreign Corrupt Business Practices Act. The simulations stress the importance of team-building and help users make ethical choices in a globally complex world. Free demos can be scheduled, however, all simulations require purchase after the demo expires.

Export-Import Management System Online (EIMSO) is a management planning tool designed to help develop a company’s import or export strategy and operational procedures. EIMSO consists of two dynamic software programs: Export Management System Online and Import Management System Online, each of which consists of four modules covering various topics related to export and import management. A five-week free trial is available, but a paid subscription as a student, instructor, or business is required to access the full resources.

Foreign Investment Negotiation Simulation (FINS) tries to simulate the foreign investment process to improve understanding of interaction among the strategies of multinational firms, local companies, and host country governments. Negotiation and contract making is the focus of the exercise. The final report must be purchased. 

The Global Marketing Management System Online (GMMSO) is a web-based research and strategic planning marketing/management tool designed to help users bridge the gap between theory and the real world of business. The GMMSO, consisting of three dynamic modules, will enable users to systematically conduct a company situation analysis in a global context, identify countries with high market potential for specific products/services, and develop a subsequent business or marketing plan. A free trial is available for instructors, but students must register individually for a fee to access the modules.

The Global Market Potential and Strategy Online, GMPSO, is designed to be used for international business projects and to bring realism into the classroom. The GMPSO provides the instructor with a systematic process enabling them to bridge the gap between theory and practice and makes it possible to cooperate across academic institutions around the world through shared classroom projects. The GMPSO consists of two dynamic modules: 1) A situation analysis of a company, and 2) market selection and entry mode strategy. A free demo is available upon request.

Globalization and Nigerian Oil explores the effects of globalization through the case of Nigeria. Participants take on the role of one of the parties involved in the political economy of the Niger River delta region of Nigeria—either the government, a non-governmental organization, a multinational corporation, or an ethnic group within Nigeria—and participate in negotiations about the future shape of the petroleum industry. This simulation is a part of a series of simulations by the University of Maryland-based ICONS Project.

GLO-BUS is an online exercise where teams of students run a digital camera company in head-to-head competition against companies run by other class members. Companies compete in a global market arena, selling digital cameras in four geographic regions. Students must make decisions relating to all aspects of operations including R&D, product line selections, production, outsourcing, pricing, marketing, and finance. Registration is required.

IndustryMasters offers a range of simulations on topics such as sustainability management, retail dealership, bank marketing, and machinery manufacturing. The business simulations provided are intended for use in business schools and advanced management education programs. The simulations are web-based and can be purchased directly from the site. 

In the International Business Game, players act as the managers of international bicycle companies. Based on facts and events (demographic, political instability, climate, GDP, etc.), players determine strategic international decisions (such as building a factory in Brazil or in the UK, using an expat in China but a local manager in Denmark). Additional games are also available under the "business games" tab in the menu.

Intopia, Inc. focuses on international business strategy and the consequent challenges to integrate functional, regional/cultural, and product areas of the multinational corporation. Key features include negotiation and networking, insourcing and outsourcing, the value chain, and logistical and currency issues. The setting is high-tech products (chips and PC) in both the consumer and industrial markets of Brazil, the European Union, and the United States. Special features include entrepreneurship and global events scenarios. The game can be customized through flexible parameters.

Jeneryn in India creates a complex international negotiation scenario. Participants play the roles of executives of a U.S. medical transcription company contemplating growth through offshore outsourcing. Other participants play executives of an Indian company in Chennai interested in acquiring American business. All participants must act within company, country, and cultural constraints while working toward specific business objectives. Available for purchase on the website.

Marketplace Simulations is a comprehensive simulation platform that allows participants to build and grow an entrepreneurial firm. As their firm grows, participants role-play as various executives making decisions across multiple business facets including advertising, marketing, manufacturing, accounting, finance, and human resources. Simulations are available in multiple languages and range in difficulty to accommodate users with experience levels ranging from high school through graduate students and corporate users.

Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching (MERLOT) supplies links to learning materials in a variety of subjects including international business, globalization, marketing, trade, and finance. These include online modules and tutorials about different subjects. 

In Olin Life in China, a fictional insurance company is looking to expand into China. Three top officers will need to go to Shanghai to begin a negotiation process with the China Insurance Regulatory Commission. The purpose of the simulation is to teach negotiation strategies as well as the culture of Chinese business. The simulation is available for purchase on the site.

Redundancia is a foreign language simulation where participants experience speaking a language non-fluently: how it affects one's ability to stay focused and connected with the listener, and one's feelings of competence and confidence. Available for purchase through on a link on the site.

The Business Strategy Game is a web-based simulation in the athletic footwear industry, and each company is managed by a team of players competing against other companies. The simulation tries to mirror the real athletic footwear industry to a large extent and requires the players to make decisions on all operational aspects of business, including sales, marketing, finance, web sales, warehousing, and distribution. Companies can sell their products in four regional markets. A login is required to access all features.

The Global Economics Game is an educational software game that simulates economic activity in a global setting. Each player is in charge of their nation's economic policy. The object of the game is to promote balanced economic growth without excessive pollution while maintaining full employment without too much inflation. Fiscal, trade, and monetary policies are used to avoid undesirable situations such as depression, stagflation, and hyperinflation.

Trading Game is a simulation designed to help players understand the impact of unequal resource distribution in trade. This site includes directions, needed materials, and reflection questions to help discuss the results of the game.

Voyage Beijing is a digital game using engagement, motivation, and interactivity to teach crucial information about business travel to China. Simulating a first business trip to Beijing, the mission of the game is to arrange a business deal with a potential Chinese partner. You build or lose impression points by making choices in the interactions you have with the Chinese hosts. You can also earn knowledge points by exploring the game world, which is based on Beijing.

Where Have You Been? can be used in the initial class or session of an international management program. It assesses one's exposure to the rest of the world's peoples and relates the importance of finding opportunities abroad. This exercise must be purchased for access.