CSR-Simulation |

The simulation

Interactive learning tool for sustainable business decisions

A responsible and sustainable business conduct is one of the most topical economic issues. Knowledge about the theoretical background and practical competencies in this area are essential for today’s managers. Our simulation game TOPSIM-Corporate Social Responsibility Management provides a consolidated and application-oriented overview of the core questions related to a sustainable business strategy – in a realistic competitive context. Participants of the simulation direct a medium-sized business and make decisions in all company departments. They have to ensure a positive operating result as well as ecological and social aspects of their activities. Not only students benefit from the simulation, but also practitioners of all business areas.

The simulation was developed jointly by TIS and Prof. Philipp Schreck with the goal of conveying CSR topics in an innovative and realistic way. The start-up phase was generously funded by the Hans Sauer Stiftung.

Learning Goals

Learning Goals within economic and business ethics as well as with regard to Corporate Social Responsibility are:

Understand

Know the strategic dimension of CSR within your industry
Assess the CSR activities in your own company
Differentiate different stakeholder demands
Know the fundamentals of ethical argumentation (deontological vs. utilitarian perspectives)

Apply

Engage in stakeholder dialogues
Prepare and implement a sustainability strategy
Develop an intervention strategy and action plan
Conduct CSR-Monitoring

Analyse

Analyse corporate reports and deduce decisions from it
Analyse decision consequences

Assess

Benchmark the company’s position within the competitive environment
Assess investments based on cost-benefit analyses

Evaluate

Align CSR activities with economic goals
Question and adjust sustainability strategy and measures

Process

Duration of the seminar: 2 to 4 days
Number of participants: 9 to 30 (3 to 6 groups à 3 to 5 people)
Languages: German, English

Every Group makes decisions for their own business over four simulated business years. Every year is divided into two phases: A decision phase (step 1 to 3) and a simulation phase (step 4 to 5). The following illustration describes these steps in more detail.

Introduction

The course instructor delivers an introduction to the simulation and sums up key information provided by the course handbook.
Discussion

The groups receive information about their business and the general economic situation. They analyse corporate reports, establish a corporate strategy and coordinate all internal processes.
Decision

Based on their discussion, analysis and insights the teams make the necessary decisions for their business in the simulation program on their team laptop.
Decision Transfer

The course instructor is provided with the different team decisions within a predetermined time frame.
Calculation, Analysis, Evaluation

The market situation, which has been calculated by the software based on group decisions, is presented by the instructor who interprets the results together with the groups.
New reports

The seminar participants get together in groups once again. New corporate reports and economic scenarios are distributed to the groups that come to new decisions based on this information.

Sample agenda for universities

Sample agenda for businesses

Licensing models

The TOPSIM – simulation game can be purchased through several licensing models by universities as well as companies:

Universities

Universities can buy a license to conduct the CSR – simulation game or rent the license by the day. This way you can flexibly include the simulation game in your course curriculum or rent it for single seminars.

We support tutors with their preparation of the syllabus, provide exam samples, powerpoint slides and exemplary schedules.

TOPSIM offers for universities

Business people sitting and discussing at business meeting, in office

Companies

You can buy the simulation game as a seminar including license and trainer or conduct it with your own coach. If you decide to book the trainer as well, he will come into your business and organise the two-day seminar with your employees.

TOPSIM offers for companies

References

The simulation has been successfully implemented at the following universities and companies:

„Business students should be confronted with the social and environmental consequences of entrepreneurial decisions early on in their studies. In my opinion, the simulation by TOPSIM and Philipp Schreck is a great complement to every economics and business administration curriculum. The variation of theory units, group work and the analysis of decisions and developments during the seminar make it exciting and realistic at the same time."

Prof. Dr. Dominik van Aaken, Katholische Stiftungsfachhochschule München
„The TOPSIM - CSR simulation has helped my students to understand and evaluate the challenges and chances of a sustainable and responsible corporate management in a playful way. I can warmly recommend it to every academic instructor!"

Dr. Christoph Schank, Professor for Economics and Ethics, University of Vechta
„The topic has been presented in a demonstrative and entertaining way through the seminar and simulation, winning over each course participant. Through their expertise and without an idealistic do-gooder attitude, the instructors successfully managed the balancing act between economy and ecology by separating it into many small steps that each of us can take. Thank you very much, it was fun!"

Hendrik G., Dräxlmaier
„It is one thing to make profits, but another to create an added value for society and the environment. The TOPSIM - CSR simulation teaches its participants that those two aspects do not have to exclude each other, but can be mutually supportive.“

Dr. Ralph Boch, Managing director of the Hans Sauer Stiftung
„The connection between theory and practice works very well in the CSR simulation. It conveys theoretical knowledge as well as hands-on management tools, such as environmental management systems and sustainability reporting for a value-driven corporate governance. The relevance for the field of controlling is also especially interesting for me.“

Prof. Dr. Georg-Stephan Barfuss, Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences & Sustainability Manager in the automobile industry
„The CSR simulation demands a lot from its participants. In a short amount of time, corporate reports have to be evaluated, cost-benefit analyses of investments have to be prepared and decisions regarding sustainability measures have to be made. Such a realistic business environment, the evaluation of ones performance over several game periods and the teaching of fundamental ethical argumentation make it a challenging complement to our curriculum.“

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Hans-Ulrich Küpper, Director of the Bayerische Eliteakademie
„The participants of our foundation programme had a very good understanding about the necessity to consolidate economic goals with an ethical management already. The simulation gave them the additional know-how and showed them how the different dimensions of sustainability interact in a realistic competitive environment."

Oliver Beckmann, Director Qualification, Social Entrepreneurship Akademie