IUPUC faculty member Thomas Clerkin, Ph.D., recently presented a paper he co-wrote with faculty member Katherine Wills, Ph.D., at the Hawaii International Conference on Business.

The paper, “Incorporating Reflective Practice into Team Simulation Projects for Improved Learning Outcomes,” was also featured in the Association for Business Communication’s June publication of Business Communication Quarterly.

“The paper addressed the use of reflective writing practices in team simulations to enhance performance and learning outcomes,” Clerkin said. “Our use of this technique has resulted in above average results when IUPUC teams compete against other schools in international online competitions.” 

The Business Strategy Game is an online exercise where class members are divided into teams and assigned the task of running an athletic footwear company in head-to-head competition against companies managed by other class members. Company operations parallel those of actual athletic footwear companies. Just as in the real-world, companies compete in a global market arena, selling branded and private-label athletic footwear in four geographic regions — Europe-Africa, North America , Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.

Company co-managers must make decisions relating to plant operations, distribution and warehouse operations, work force compensation, online sales at the company’s web site, sales and marketing, and finance. The challenge is to craft and execute a competitive strategy that results in a respected brand image, keeps your company in contention for global market leadership, and produces good financial performance as measured by earnings per share, return on investment, stock price appreciation, and credit rating.

Clerkin is an assistant professor of business in the Division of Business and Wills is an assistant professor of English in the Division of Liberal Arts at IUPUC.