Welcome to the Capstone® Business Simulation!
During the Alcoa GMED session in New York in July, you will take over a $100 million manufacturing company and build it into a better business - but you'll be up against intense competition! To ensure you are ready to help your team build the best company in our GMED Business Simulation, please spend a little time in preparation.

Please complete the following before the program:

• Introductory Lesson:
  Welcome! Your company orientation begins with a brief introductory lesson. The lesson tours the industry in which you work (electronic sensors) and the types of decisions you will make via the Capstone.xls Excel® spreadsheet. Click here to view the Introductory Lesson (Flash Audio/Video).
• Read some background:
  Please read pages 2 - 18 (Chapters 1 - 6) in the Capstone® Corporate Manager Guide. In the guide, you will familiarize yourself with the background of your company and the industry you will compete in. Click here for an electronic version of the Manager Guide (PDF). We suggest you download and print the file for offline reading.
  
• Try the Rehearsal Simulation:
  The best way to learn is "hands on," so we have created the Rehearsal Simulation to help you do just that. You will take over the same type of company that you will manage during the actual program. Here, however, a pop up Coach will guide you through the decision process. You will run the rehearsal for 4 rounds; the total time should be about two hours.
  
  In the first round you will take over R&D and the Coach will help you through the process. As each round progresses, you will get more of the company to run. By the end you will be familiar with the 4 basic areas of your company (R&D, Marketing, Production and Finance.) and you will have become comfortable with the reports (Capstone Courier). Complete the Rehearsal Simulation in the Capstone.xls spreadsheet by:
  • Right click Here and select Save Target or Link As
  • Select where you want to download the file and click Save
    
  • When the download is complete double click on the Foundation.xls file where you saved it
    
  • Enable Macros
    
  • Click on the Rehearsal Simulation when the "Coach" comes on. (Second Option). Use the built in Coach, not the Microsoft Office Assistant!
    
  • Enter your Simulation User Name (Your Alcoa email address up to, but not including, the @ sign) and Password (alcoagmed).
    
  • Use the Coach to navigate through the 4 rounds in the rehearsal simulation. If you want to stop along the way just save your Decisions under File/Save in the top tool bar without advancing to the next round. It will bookmark where you are and remember your changes when you return.
    
  • As you work through the Rehearsal Simulation you can navigate to all of your functional areas by going to the top tool bar and selecting Decisions. You will be asked to move between your reports (Courier in the tool bar) and your Functional Areas, under Decisions. You will be starting in the R&D department, then in round 2 Marketing and so forth.
    
    Please Note: You will be taking the Rehearsal company over on January 1st, 2007, your reports are for last year and will read December 31st, 2006
    
    
  • To advance to the next round select File/Save in the top tool bar. Select either continue working in the current round or advance to the next round where you will be able to see all of your results and work on a new functional area! Remember 1 round equals 1 year.
    
  • The Rehearsal Simulation has no impact on your simulation once you arrive at the General Managers program! This is for practice only and no results will be recorded. You will, however, have the edge on anyone who doesn't complete the rehearsal!
    
    If you have any questions call us at 877.477.8787 Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Central US Time (2:00pm- 11:00pm GMT).
    Good Luck!