What’s New
Teaching competition is hard. Textbooks struggle to go beyond monopoly, oligopoly, and perfect competition. But how can students learn about competition in the real-world?
Case Simulations to the rescue!
Case Simulations combine Case Studies with Market Simulation. Student hypotheses are challenged by realistic models. And analysis is applied using concepts from the market: customers, products, brands, and rivals.
Case Simulations have everything needed for a class, including: (a) Case Study, (b) Discussion Questions, (c) Market Simulation, (d) Simulation Questions, (e) Advanced Exercises, and (f) Post-Script notes.
See Also
ED-111 Teaching Case Simulations
Case Simulations = Case Studies + Market Simulations. Case Simulations are flexible. They can supplement lectures, textbooks, assignments, and class discussions according to the needs of the instructor and the learning styles of the students.
ED-201 Burger Wars 2002
In 2002 a price war broke out between McDonald’s, Burger King, and other USA fast-food hamburger restaurants. This Case Simulation offers a case study of those market dynamics and suggests questions for class discussion. A software simulated replica of the 2002 fast-food hamburger market is then presented. Students are asked to use the provided data analytics tools to analyze the simulation and answer pertinent questions of interest to the business leaders involved. A final challenge asks students to extend the market simulation to test an outstanding hypothesis.
ED-211 Springsteen on Broadway
Bruce Springsteen performed his Springsteen on Broadway show from October 2017 to December 2018 in an intimate, 960-seat, theater on Broadway. An online “Verified Fan” system discouraged scalpers and kept tickets off the secondary market. This Case Simulation provides both a case study of the concert and a software simulated model of the market for tickets. Students are asked to analyze the market and optimize prices in the model.
ED-221 Courtyard by Marriott
In the early 1980’s Marriott Corporation used a statistical survey to design a new chain of hotels. The result was the Courtyard by Marriott. This Case Simulation provides a case study of Marriott’s research, and a software simulated model of the hotel market. The case study includes a high-level overview of conjoint analysis. Students then use the simulated model to design Marriott’s new chain of hotels.
ED-231 Foodies
Foodie’s Urban Market is a small grocery store in Boston’s South End that successfully competes against much larger, nearby rivals. Stocking their limited shelf space with a smart product assortment is essential when serving South End’s diverse community. This Case Simulation provides both a case study of the changing business environment for grocery stores, and a software simulated model of Foodie’s market dynamics. Students are asked to optimize the product assortments presented in the model.
