Zodiak: The Game of Business Finance and Strategy

FACILITATOR:

DATE:
May 3, 2005

PLACE:
Eugene Francis Conference Room

DESCRIPTION

Zodiak: The Game of Business Finance and Strategy allows participants to experience for 
themselves the determinants of organizational success, both financial and strategic.  
Zodiak is a simulation about business's real world, how it works, why it works and when 
it doesn't.  It is a powerful business simulation designed as a board game to ensure 
that everyone understands the "business" of TI. It allows learners to experientially 
discover the big picture of how business works and how business success is measured 
while having fun!

OBJECTIVES

• Discuss the "big picture" of business success.
  
• Define and use common financial terms such as assets,liabilities, equity, depreciation, etc.
• Construct critical financial statements (Income Statement,Balance Sheet).
• Analyze the relationship, and understand the difference, between profit and cash.
• Recognize the importance of monitoring cash flow; read a Cash Flow Statement.
• Compute and analyze key financial measures/ratios (Return onAssets, Return on Sales, Return on Equity, Gross profit Margin).
• Recognize and use company-specific financial terms and measurements.
• Identify how strategic issues such as lean production techniques, quality initiatives, accounts receivable terms, and debt strategies impact the success of the business.
• Balance the need for critical investments for the future, such as research and development, with the (sometimes competing) need to reduce expenses and maximize profits.
• Relate the impact of product discounting and/or price increases to profitability.
• Investigate the "story" (strategies) behind the financial numbers of an organization, and consider that "story" in any analysis of success or failure.

AGENDA:

THE WORKSHOP IS FOUR HOURS. THERE WILL BE TWO SESSIONS:

FIRST SESSION STARTS AT 8:00AM AND ENDS AT 12:00M;
  

7:30 AM	Registration & Wake-up coffee
8:00 AM	Morning Session
10:00 AM	Break
10:15 AM	Morning Session
12:00 M	Lunch

SECOND SESSION STARTS AT 1:00PM AND ENDS AT 5:00PM

CONTACTS:

Dr. Manuel Toledo* Electrical and Computer Engineering Department -RUM e-mail: mtoledo@ece.uprm.edu Exts.: 3097

Dr. Manuel Jimenez Electrical and Computer Engineering Department - RUM e-mail: mjimenez@ece.uprm.edu Ext.: 3780

Dr. Rogelio Palomera Electrical and Computer Engineering Department - RUM e-mail: palomera@ece.uprm.edu Ext.: 3098

* Reservations

REMARKS:
- The workshop will count for CEP credit (4 hours)
- Reservations required due to limited number of seats
- Refreshments and lunch will be served

SPONSORS: