Reflection Report: Supply Chain Management ERP Simulation Game

This report offers a comprehensive reflection on a student's experience with an ERP simulation game focused on supply chain management. The report details the game's mechanics, including forecasting, MRP runs, purchasing, marketing, and pricing strategies within a simulated German market for water distribution. It analyzes the team's performance across three rounds, highlighting revenue growth, increased expenses, and overall satisfactory results. The report answers specific questions about the game, team dynamics, positive and negative aspects of the experience, potential improvements, and valuable skills gained, such as time management, agile decision-making, and innovative thinking. References are provided using an API style, and the report underscores the practical application of theoretical knowledge in a competitive business environment.

Assignment on Supply Chain Management: ERP Simulation Game
Introduction
The report has been written with an intention to reflect on the understanding gathered during
the ERP Simulation game played. Further, the report also presents a brief overview of the
results derived from such game along with performance review. The report consists of an
overview along with answer to 8 questions as desired in the report:
Performance Overview
There were three rounds in the game and each round was crucial in determining the results of
the game. The performance was good as our team outperformed each round in comparison to
previous which is duly reflected in the balance sheet and profit and loss account after each
round of game. The team has played the game very rationally with increase in revenue each
round. However, there has been steep increase in sales, general and administration expense in
the third round in order to cope up with the competition and push the product in the market as
the inventory piling up increased drastically over the period.
Despite the negative influences, the team has outstanding results with income statement bar
showing a drastic rise in round three. Thus, overall it may be stated that the performance of
the team has been highly satisfactory with Euro balances in Account showed a drastic rise. In
short, decision taken by team members were timely and rational.
Question 1
Describe the game and related business process
Answer 1
ERP Simulation game is a unique game of its kind which helps to inculcate in members of
the team a spirit of business management couples with knowledge of supply chain planning.
The game various functions and various teams to compete with. (Léger, 2011) The following
are the salient features of the game:
(a) The game had three rounds wherein a team is required to take the following decisions;
(i) Forecasting of Sales by creating planned independent requisition by selecting the
product group along with forecasted quantities;
(ii) Calculation of requirement through MRP run;
(iii) Creation of Purchase order;
(iv) Planning of Marketing Expense along with location and cost of marketing in each
area;
(v) Determining the prices of varied products. There were 16 products in the
concerned game on which decisions were taken;
(b) The game was in relation to marketing of water in the German market through 18
convenience stores;
(c) The following information was further provided:
(i) Distribution Channel : 18 Convenience Stores;
(ii) Regions: 3 with distinct marketing accounts;

(iii) Approximate Marketing Size: Euro 6000 per company/day;
(iv) Payment days from customers: 10;
(v) Supplier Lead time: 1-3;
(vi) Payment time: 10 days
The business process involved in the game was to optimise the supply chain along with
determination of relevant pricing and marketing cost to distribute the product in different
market of the country. Further, it involved the size of distribution along with product to be
distributed. Thus, the game involved all the aspects of business process starting from
procurement to delivery to customer along with maintenance of inventory based on forecast.
Question 2
Describe the team experience
Answer 2
The game has been quite challenging and experience enriching for the team. The team has
gathered a new set of experience of live business decision making where we were required to
control multiple facets of the business starting from procurement and ending on
determination of prices of different product. The said roles help us to understand the
importance of team bonding and clarity of thoughts. Further, the roles made us feel like
management and each player in the team acted accordingly for the maximisation of profits
through demand creation and cost control.
The game also enshrined in us the value of competition and help us to understand the impact
of the same on our decision making. In the current game as there were lot of teams the
competition was high.
Question 3
What did you like the most about your game experience today
Answer 3
The game has been quite pleasant experience and the very thought of being involved in
decision making gave me immense satisfaction. The immense pleasure part in the game was
team bonding and our coordinated efforts to the maximisation of profits through demand
creation and cost control. In addition to above, what I liked most in the game was our
performance which as depicted in the bars clearly shows that we have applied the knowledge
gathered through the books in a very logical and coherent manner. Accordingly, our
performance was good. Further, I was very satisfied with my activeness and quickness in
taking actions in the game.
Question 4
What did you like the least about your experience today
Answer 4
The game was highly motivating and experience enriching and all experiences were good.
However, if am required to pin point one experience it shall be that of the timeline restriction
as we were not given much time to take decision as an outcome of the said shortfall our

decisions were good but not as good as it could have been if we have got a little bit more time
to make decision more rationally and wisely. Further, the interface of the game could have
been more user friendly so that users could gather more knowledge before actively playing
the game. (Caya, 2014)
Question 5
With your knowledge of the game what could have been done differently
Answer 5
A previous knowledge and insight of the game could have been game changer as I have taken
more rational decisions in terms of pricing the 16 products in my basket which would have
dramatic effect on the income in different round of the game. Further, the marketing expense
would have not soared to such a high extent in the third round if previous knowledge on the
game had been available. (Cronan, 2012)
Question 6
What did you like the most about your game experience today?
Answer 6
The game has been quite pleasant experience and the very thought of being involved in
decision making gave me immense satisfaction. The immense pleasure part in the game was
team bonding and our coordinated efforts to the maximisation of profits through demand
creation and cost control. In addition to above, what I liked most in the game was our
performance which as depicted in the bars clearly shows that we have applied the knowledge
gathered through the books in a very logical and coherent manner. Accordingly, our
performance was good. Further, I was very satisfied with my activeness and quickness in
taking actions in the game. (Ortiz de Guinea, 2013)
Question 7
What additional knowledge or skills would have helped you play the game today
Answer 7
Additional skills that could have been the game changer encompass the following:
(a) Better time management;
(b) Quick Decision making and think extra innovatively;
(c) Perseverance
Question 8
What skills/learning edges could you take away from playing the game today?
Answer 8
The key takeaway from the games encompass the following:
(a) Time management;
(b) Agile Decision making along with informed decision making;
(c) Out of the box thinking and innovation;

(d) Control and team bonding.
References
Caya, O. L.-M. (2014). Integrating, sharing, and sourcing knowledge in an ERP usage context.
Knowledge Management Research & Practice,.
Cronan, T. L.-M. (2012). Comparing Objective Measures and Perceptions of Cognitive Learning in an
ERP Simulation Game: A Research Note. Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 43, 461-480 .
Léger, P.-M. C. (2011). Business Simulation Training: Guidelines for New Approaches in IT Training.
Journal of Information Technology Education, Vol 10, pp. 37-51.
Ortiz de Guinea, A. T.-M. (2013). Measure for Measure: A Two-Study Multi-Trait Multi-Method
Investigation of Construct Validity in IS Research. Computers in Human Behavior, vol 29, no
3, pages 833-844.