Simulation Scenario and Schedule

GLOBETECH-7 SCENARIO AND SCHEDULE:
FALL 2001: October 2 - December 15, 2001

1. SIMULATION SUBJECT:

"NEW ENERGY SOURCE JOINT-VENTURE PROJECT SIMULATION IN POLAND, TAIWAN, AND USA"

The main goal of GLOBETECH-7 is to increase students' awareness of Global Technology Management approaches as they relate to some of the most important issues of our time: Sustainable Development and Alternative Energy Sources. The legislation, technology, the need to increase the general public's awareness, the creation of less polluting technologies, processes and devices, international technology transfer and management, business cooperation and competition, all these any many other related areas, require many engineers and business graduates familiar with these fields, able to develop innovative solutions and solve complex, system oriented problems. This simulation aims to be an important step towards greater students' understanding of these issues.

  This simulation also aims to:

• increase the students' know-how in conducting successful international negotiations,
• encourage the free exchange of ideas and collaboration with their peers from the various participating colleges around the world,
• enhance students' skills in using distance communication via computers and the information highway (INTERNET) in the learning process,
• increase students' verbal and written communication skills, team work and leadership skills.

Besides the specific technical and contractual issues to be resolved by the various teams, a very important part of this simulation are the teams' active and professional discussions via e-mail and Internet Chat. Various political, economic, social, technical, etc. aspects connected with Sustainable Development and Alternate Energy Sources in their part of the world, or any other area that might be of interest, will be discussed. These discussions will enhance all participants' awareness of the current thinking on these subjects, making the simulation more realistic.

All participating faculty are kindly requested to contribute to the Internet Chat site with specific discussion subjects and questions, and encourage their student team(s) to actively participate in all the aspects of the simulation.

2. TO ACCOMPLISH ABOVE GOALS, THE FOLLOWING SCENARIO AND SCHEDULE IS PROPOSED:

 2.1) OCTOBER 04 - 25, 2001:

TEAMS GET ACQUAINTED, START INTERNET CHAT DISCUSSIONS. TEAMS ISSUE REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS (RFP's) BY OCTOBER 23, 2001 AS FOLLOWS:

A) TAIWAN:

A Request for Proposals (RFP) for an international joint-venture project to design and fabricate 1000 fuel-cell powered light motorcycles and scooters per year will be issued. The RFP should outline at least the following:

• specific project objectives
• desired equipment technical characteristics
• technical infrastructure requirements (such as special fueling stations)
• type of joint venture sought (i.e. % ownership, % equity and bonds, capital investment requirements, etc.)
• financing information, tax incentives if any, etc.
• other criteria such as: technology transfer, local/foreign equipment procurement, export considerations, plant location, etc.
• desired marketing strategy

B) POLAND

A Polish wind power development corporation to issue an international request for proposal (RFP) for consulting, design, testing and final assembly of a 18 MW wind power farm in an area of Poland of their choosing. The generated power will be sold to the Polish electric grid. This RFP should address the same issues as the preceding one and any other specific issues as required.

C) USA:

A USA wind power development corporation, to issue an international request for proposal (RFP) for consulting, design, testing and final assembly of a 30 MW wind power farm in an area of Western United States of their choosing. The generated power will be sold to the USA electric grid, or to local consumers. This RFP should address the same issues as the preceding ones and any other specific issues as required.

All RFP's should emphasize those policy issues that would give the joint-venture best chances for approval (i.e.: new, inventive solutions, technology transfer, workers' training, alternative processes, local equipment procurement, export potential, etc.).

NOTE: RFP WEB POSTING DEADLINE: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2001, 10.00 P.M. E.S.T.(U.S.A.)

 2.2) BY NOVEMBER 19, 2001:

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING/MANUFACTURING FIRMS ANSWER JOINT VENTURE RFP's (ISSUE PROJECT PROPOSALS/BIDS):

The various consulting/manufacturing from the United States, and various other countries should submit detailed proposals for one, two, or all projects as they wish.

In order to ensure the best chances to be selected as partners, the proposals should carefully consider and address the specific needs of the RFPs and the project country, outline their company strengths and particular qualifications for the project, suggest innovative solutions and make a strong case for why they should be awarded the contract.

Some of the main items to be covered in the proposals:

• The firm's qualifications for the project,
• Suggested project size and estimated cost, reasons for choosing a specific approach,
• Specific technical, environmental and managerial data: (i.e. technology approach, equipment to be used, manufacturing criteria, ISO-9000, ISO -14000, operations organization, etc.),
• Desired managerial and financial terms of the joint venture, such as:
1. Proposed financing (% equity and bonds for each partner in the joint venture)
2. Proposed ownership & equity participation (%, conditions, etc.),
3. Proposed managerial makeup of the joint venture (Board of Directors number, composition, main divisions, etc.),
4. Proposed technology transfer, workers' training,
5. Profit sharing, workers' incentives, etc.,
6. Proposed future collaboration, exports if any, etc.

c) Please see the Financial Evaluation Forms on the Resources Page for the minimum financial analysis requirements for each project.

PROPOSALS' WEB POSTING DEADLINE: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2001, 10.00 P.M. E.S.T. (U.S.A.)

 2.3) WEEKS OF NOVEMBER 1 TO 19, 2001:

PRELIMINARY "ON-LINE" / TELECONFERENCE NEGOTIATIONS should be arranged by the various teams.

The purpose of this initial "on-line" conference would be for the various teams to touch base and clarify any questions regarding the RFP's, additional required information, conduct preliminary discussions, etc.

 2.4) NOVEMBER 19 TO DECEMBER 11, 2001:

Intense discussions between the teams should continue via e-mail, Internet Chat,or teleconferences in order to clarify, negotiate and improve the proposals as much as possible. A second "on-line" discussion or teleconference will take place. This will be the final negotiation determining which consultants/manufacturers will be awarded the contracts for each project.Final revisions to the proposals will be issued if required. All the RFP teams and the various international consultants/manufacturers who submitted proposals, should be well prepared to persuasively present their main interests and successfully negotiate in order to finalize the best possible contracts.

 2.5) BY THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2001, 10.00 P.M. E.S.T.:

The final Proposals, with any required revisions will be posted on the Web.

 2.6) BY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14 2001, 10.00 P.M. E.S.T.:

The three contracts will be awarded by SFBC, WPFC, and IWVC. The actual negotiation process will end.

 2.7) WEEK OF DECEMBER 10, 2001 - THE FEEDBACK PROCESS:

The feedback process is a very important, integral part of the simulation. Students and faculty will be requested to complete the post simulation questionnaires. The data will be collected and the debriefing process will take place. The participants could find out why certain proposals were awarded the contracts, what were the high and low points of their team's negotiation strategy, what teams were considered the best prepared and why, etc.

THE GLOBETECH-7 SIMULATION WILL END ON DECEMBER 15, 2001.

3. END NOTES:

1) The Internet Chat discussions are an integral and essential part of this project and should continue till the end of the simulation.

2) The feedback process is a vital component in the success of future international negotiation simulations, a continuous improvement tool. Everybody's participation is essential.

3) The use of the LINKS and RESOURCES on the GLOBETECH-7 site (i.e. The Thomas Register, Yahoo Environmental, etc.), and of the Background Information developed for this project will substantially help with the teams' research work. You are strongly encouraged to used all available information on the Globetech-7 site and prior simulation sites.

4) For further details on the simulation, background material, etc., you can e-mail us at: jacoby@cooper.edu

We look forward to your participation,