How can business concepts be taught so that students can both understand and actively experience them? Our Management Essentials simulation seminar at Seeburg Castle University (SCU) shows how it’s done!
As part of the ERASMUS+ faculty exchange program, Laura Packheiser (TU Dortmund University) led the compact course incorporating Management Essentials. As a business simulation expert, she took over part of the on-site teaching for a week.
Business Simulation Format Overview
The seminar’s focus was on an in-person management simulation spanning two days. The students were in their fifth semester of the Bachelor’s program in Business Administration, concentrating in Finance and Management Accounting.
They worked in groups of up to two people each. Each team took on the role of the company’s board of directors and made decisions over the course of five periods. The rounds of decision-making lasted between 60 and 90 minutes.
While a winning team was ultimately selected, the focus was on collaborative learning and understanding business management concepts rather than winning.
Why Management Essentials?
Management Essentials is a Level 1 business simulation that provides a clear introduction to the world of managerial decision-making. It is particularly well-suited for courses designed to teach fundamental economic concepts and their applications.
Since the program lasted only two days, more complex TOPSIM business simulations, such as Scale Up or Mastering General Management, would have exceeded the time frame. With Management Essentials, however, even upper-level students with no prior simulation experience can cover key topics in a short amount of time.
Another advantage: The game focuses on a specific product—headphones. 🎧
Many students have a direct connection to this product, which makes it easier for them to identify with their virtual company.
Preparation and Introduction to the Simulation Game
Before the simulation game began, the students received a 90-minute introduction. During this session, the fundamentals were reviewed and linked to the features of the TOPSIM-Cloud. The participant manual was distributed at the start of the session.
The first game period was intended to help students become familiar with the material. This allowed them to access reports, charts, and decision screens within the simulation’s user interface more efficiently. As a result, all teams started with a comparable initial situation.
Learning Through Team Decision-Making
The students approached the task with great focus and carefully justified their decisions. Unlike in larger competitive formats, no spontaneous decisions were made in Seeburg—a thorough analysis and discussion took place first.
In addition to business management content, collaboration played a particularly important role. Exchange within the teams shaped the approach and ensured that different perspectives were incorporated into the management strategies.
“We encourage teams to name their company, create a slogan, and design a logo in the TOPSIM-Cloud. This fosters a sense of friendly rivalry. It also helps participants identify more strongly with their management role.” —Laura Packheiser, seminar instructor
Business Simulation Expertise From Dortmund
For Laura Packheiser, the assignment in Austria was a unique experience. However, she has been using business simulations in her department at the Technical University of Dortmund for many years.
One example is the annual Westenergie Manager Cup, in which around 400 students from various universities and disciplines participate each year. The competition uses several TOPSIM simulations of varying difficulty levels, ranging from beginner scenarios to complex management exercises.
In contrast, the business simulation session in Seeburg was designed to be more compact, with a small group, intensive guidance, and direct evaluation of the results during the seminar.
Student Feedback
Participants gave very positive feedback. They particularly appreciated having the opportunity to make their own decisions and experience the immediate consequences.
Many students said they would have liked to play additional rounds of the simulation.
Prospects for Future Business Simulation Seminars
The format also generated significant interest among administrators at Seeburg Castle University. Since the university’s degree programs focus entirely on economics, games such as Management Essentials are valuable supplements to existing coursework. Melissa Mayr, a doctoral student at the university, is particularly interested in conducting regular business simulation seminars with larger groups.
Conclusion
Seeburg’s use of management simulations demonstrates how these games can help students actively engage with business concepts.
A brief theoretical introduction, digital simulation, and teamwork create an environment where decisions, results, and commercial relationships are immediately apparent.
Especially for students nearing the end of their studies, a business simulation can serve as a valuable bridge from academic theory to real-world business practice.
➡️ Learn more: Immerse Yourself in the World of Business with Management Essentials
