MANAGE ====== This is an interactive management game for 2 players. The decisions each player makes will influence the market of the other. The game will appeal to budding teenage entrepreneurs as well as adults. The program may also be used for management training and business and economic studies. The users will learn through playing this game the significance of pricing policy and the correct allocation of cash resources. However, no prior financial knowledge is required to be able to play and enjoy this game. The game can also be successfully played by teams instead of players. LOADING INSTRUCTIONS -------------------- The procedure for loading a program into your Spectrum is given in your manual. Please follow these steps for loading a program. 1. Connect the ear socket of the computer to the ear socket of your tape recorder. 2. Set the volume control as per Sinclair manual. 3. Adjust the tone control to maximum. 4. Type LOAD "". 5. Start the tape recorder. The program will RUN automatically once loaded. 6. The program takes 2 minutes to load. INSTRUCTIONS ------------ 1. Objective ------------ The objective of this game is to build up cash resources and plant so that your opponent cannot compete successfully against you. 2. Initial Resources -------------------- Each player starts with £7,601 in cash and 71 units of stock valued £35.35 each. 3. How to Play -------------- The program requires each player to enter a password. This password will be requiredto be quoted before data can be updated or results displayed. The game may be played with or without a printer. When a printer is used, the results are not displayed on the screen and this increases the confidentiality of the game and prevents any cheating! Each period relates to a quarter of a year. 4. Decisions ------------ The computer asks each player to make the following decisions: (a) Price of goods for each if 4 areas. (b) Marketing expenditure budget for each of 4 areas. (c) Production costs. (d) Research costs. (e) Plant additions (The numbers you type in are not displayed on the screen) Prices and marketing expenditure in each area of each company will determine each company's sales penetration. Your decisions are interactive with those of your opponent. Cash resources are limited. If you spend too much on marketing you fail to sell your production, you will not have enough for Research or Plant Improvement, which affects the long-term performance of the company. Plant value affects capacity to produce goods. 5. Transport Charges -------------------- Area 1 £0 per unit. Area 2 £2 per unit. Area 3 £1 per unit. Area 4 £1 per unit. 6. Results ---------- The results are shown in the following five statements and graphs: 1. Net Contribution Statemant giving a Summary of Orders, Shipments, Revenue, Marketing costs and the net contribution by area. (The net contribution is the Revenue less Cost of Sales Delivery and Marketing costs). 2. Stock Report showing opening and closing stocks, sales and production by units and in value. 3. Profit and Loss Accounts showing Gross Profit and Net Profit for quarter. 4. Cash Flow statement shows how the money is being spent. 5. Asset Statement summarising current value of all assets. This is your net worth as there are no creditors. 6. A line graph of orders and sales. This game does not rely on luck. The player who wins will have achieved it ba understanding the model and exploring it. 7. Hints on Play ---------------- - You must always have some cash resources at the end of each period. If your inventory is to high you will get into difficulties. (One month's stock should be the maximum.) - Set an objective for each area and study the results. Note how changes to the input affects the results. - Do not spend too much on research to start with but gradually increase the research expenditure each quarter. - Delivered Costs i.e. Cost of goods plus delivery costs is initially £42 - £44 a unit. Selling price must be above this figure initially, in order to make a contribution to marketing costs. - Area 2 is the area of your competitor and Area 1 is your own area. When competing in your competitors area you are at a disadvantage. (c)1983 G. R. Berry Copies of this recording may only be made for the sole use of the purchaser unless written permission is obtained from the publisher. CASES COMPUTER SIMULATIONS LTD., 14 Langton Way, London SE3 7TL