Schedule:

 
 

The TOPSIM Startup! simulation consists basically of three phases:

  1. “start-up preparation, creation of a business plan”
  2. “formation”
  3. “market entry, and business activity”

In the first phase of the TOPSIM Startup! simulation, your task is to develop your own business idea. A very basic concept is provided by instructors to ensure that all participating businesses will later compete on the same market. There is a business plan assistant which helps you with the creation of a more detailed business plan. It offers a well-prepared structure and thus ensures usability of the collected information.
Next, the instructors will evaluate all information and key values which contribute to the business plan. The most important values serve as rough targets against which the development of your company will be measured.
After the instructor has evaluated your business plan and taken decisions on your financing, you are ready to establish your business. Decision forms are supplied for this second phase of the simulation. Here, you can enter decisions on your start-up process and the following periods, which are then transmitted to the instructor.
After founding your company, you take the respective decisions for the following periods. Areas of decision-taking include sales, purchasing, production, staff, investments, and financing.

Basing on the companies’ decision data, all of the current period’s business transactions and activities are simulated by the computer. Subsequent to the simulation of a period, each company is provided with extensive feedback through several different reports. They serve as the basis for decisions concerning the following period. At the beginning of each period you will additionally be supplied with economic news, briefing you on the overall economic environment. This information gives you additional hints for making your decisions, for instance for your pricing and personnel policies. In contrast to conducting business in reality the simulation allows you the advantage of getting fast feedback on the consequences of your decisions.