MARGA for Students in winter term 2022/2023
MARGA for Students starts into the next round!
In winter term 2022/2023 more than 160 students from different universities and business schools are starting into the international competition.
Over the next eight weeks, the participants, divided into a total of 31 teams, will manage their own virtual company and learn how to apply business content and relationships in practice. The students will manage the entire entrepreneurial process, from setting goals to corporate strategy to sustainable success.
Since MARGA for Students takes place entirely online and is offered in English as well as German, participation can take place from anywhere and across countries. This gives the competition a strong international character and makes it all the more exciting with students from a wide range of study programs from universities all over the world.
Test round: Warming up phase
The kick-off events mark the start of the competition. In two test periods, the teams can now familiarize themselves with the software, their company and their own team. What is the market behavior, what are the impact drivers and customer preferences? What capacities do I need for production? How does MARGA Value Added change if we lay off 1,000 employees, buy raw materials in stock, or change payment behavior? How do we organize ourselves in the team?
This is what the teams have to find out in the test rounds: it is not so much about profitability, but about developing as much knowledge as possible about the markets and customers as a basis for a successful strategy in the main round.
The Online Course "Financial Basics" is an integral part of the program for all registered participants and can be accessed via the MARGA software. It is advisable to work through the online course individually during the test round in parallel with familiarization with the business game. The course teaches the basics of accounting and is based on the content of the simulation.
Throughout the program, additional webinars are held on specialist topics. The webinars and the online course provide an additional theoretical basis and establish a link to the content of the business game. The knowledge gained in this way can be directly transferred to the competition and support decision-making in the simulation. In addition, the MARGA team is available at any time by telephone or e-mail to answer questions regarding content and organization.
In the next step, the teams start the main round with the collected knowledge about markets and customers. Here, new challenges and new competitors await them. To ensure that all teams are well prepared for the main round, we are happy to offer each group individual tutoring.
Start into the main round: Now ever decision counts
Now it's getting serious!
The teams have to prevail in their group of four. The precondition for this is a well thought-out strategy, which must be implemented operationally in the five periods.
The teams have the opportunity to enter a new market for the first time in the first period. As in reality, initial investments ("market entry costs") are necessary and the teams have to weigh up costs and potential. In the market research report, after the simulation, they see which of their competitors have decided to enter the new market. Sales in the new market segment start as early as period 2.
After the first of five periods team 15 of ESMT Berlin moved to the top of the ranking. On the second rank you will find team 9 of ESMT BERLIN, on the third rank team 25 of ZHAW. Way to go! You are off to a great start!
We will provide an overview of the current game periods, new challenges and the current ranking here during the competition. We are looking forward to an exciting competition and wishing good luck to all teams!
Main round: period 2
The teams had to face new challenges. Worldwide turbulences still have a significant impact on the market development and the costs for temporary workers will rise from next period on. Furthermore, the vacation season is approaching and must be carefully prepared.
Some changes in the ranking! Team 9 from ESMT Berlin caught up during this period and is now the leading team in the ranking after period 2. Team 15 from ESMT Berlin is ranking on rank 2 and team 31 from Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf was able to move up from rank 6 to rank 3.
Now the vacation period has to be planned carefully: One third of the workers is not available for production in the third period. Thus, the non-productive personnel costs will significantly increase. How will the teams manage this period? Have they recruited workers, or will they make use of overtime and temp workers? Have they bought trade goods or pre-produced to increase the stock?
Main round: period 3
The teams successfully mastered the third period of the main round, which was particularly challenging due to capacity constraints caused by vacations.
The teams have compensated the employee vacations through a variety of measures: Some have hired new employees, others have accepted increasing overtime or used temporary workers. Still others have purchased merchandise or pre-produced enough to restock.
What an exciting race: 1st and 2nd place have swapped again. Team 15 from ESMT Berlin is back to rank 1 and Team 9 from ESMT is back to rank 2. Team 31 from HHU was able to defend its rank 3 in the ranking.
New challenges lie ahead in the fourth period.
Are the teams' strategies paying off yet? Have the market entries with the associated investments paid off?
Main round: period 4
New period, new challenges:
- The teams had to expect a significant decrease in demand for product 1
- The prices for trade goods are increasing
- The overall price increases now also affect the raw materials.
- Additionally, some customers are suffering financial difficulties. Therefore, the teams need to prepare for possible bad debts in period 5.
But the teams were able to master this period successfully. There are a few changes in the ranking after period 4: Team 15 successfully defended its first rank. Team 9 dropped from rank 2 to rank 3. Another team from ESMT Berlin was able to fight its way up to 2nd place: Strong performance, Team 7!
Now it will be exciting again. Because the last and decisive period is coming up. Even now everything is still open. Whose strategy will pay off? Who will ultimately prevail over the competition and increase the value of their company the most?
That's exactly what will be decided in the exciting live finale next week.
Main round: period 5
After an exciting and eventful competition, the winner team of the winter term 2022/23 of MARGA for Students has been announced in the grand final event today! Congratulations to team 15 from ESMT Berlin, that was able to prevail against its competitors by a solid margin of over 100 mio. €, followed by team 7 of ESMT Berlin and team 9 of ESMT Berlin, that was able to defend rank 2 and 3. Congratulations to the winning team: Mohan Krishna K.S.S, Nina Robinson, Abhishek Sharma, Karol Stachyra and Yun Yin 🏆
Let’s not forget about all the other teams as well: It was an exciting race at a very high level! The Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf and ZHAW from Switzerland, which ranked on place 4 and 5, played strong last periods and are only 12 mio. and 14 mio. € behind rank 3. It was great having you all joining us for this semester’s competition. Congrats on your strong performance and thank you so much for your engagement.
