Students from S.E.Missouri State U.and UMass, Dartmouth Win the Capstone / Foundation Challenge

Five university students defeated more than 500 students worldwide, in the Capstone/Foundation business simulation competition. Students managed simulated corporations, with the winners achieving the most profits.

S.E Missouri State U. students Felix Kreh, Daniel Copeland and Jakob Thoisen --taught by Professor David Kunz -- won the Capstone segment of the worldwide Spring 2002 Capstone / Foundation Challenge.

UMass, Dartmouth students David Crouy and Peter Landolfi -- taught by Professor Walter Einstein -- won the Foundation segment.

From April 22, through May 5, 2002 more than 500 college students, voluntarily repeated an exercise they already had enjoyed in class -- The Capstone / Foundation Business Simulation Challenge," a management training exercise developed by Management Simulations, Inc. (MSI) of Northfield, Illinois.

To participate, students divided into teams. Each team managed a simulated corporation, making decisions in Research and Development, Marketing, Human Resources, Production and Finance.

The 2-week competition ran for eight simulated "years," with the winners generating the most simulated "profits."

Daniel Smith, president of MSI said, "To teach effectively, you first must catch the students' interest. These students already had taken Capstone and Foundation in class. They decided to do it again, not for any prize or reward -- there is none -- but for the sheer joy of learning. That motivation is what every teacher wants to create in the classroom.

"The fact that so many students wanted to compete, demonstrates the high esteem students and teachers have for the education these programs provide. Capstone is the most popular business simulation in the world. This year, it will help more than 40,000 college students learn how to manage a business. When the students go into the 'real' world, they will have solid management experience, a rare and valuable commodity for a college student."

"Teachers like the enthusiasm and the practical learning the programs generate. It's been proven that learning-by-doing, is the most powerful educational method. Just as a flight simulator teaches piloting, Capstone and Foundation teach management."

The Capstone and Foundation simulations are used at more than 400 colleges and universities, worldwide. These programs are so realistic, and provide such effective management education, they also are used by such corporations as General Electric, General Motors, Caterpillar and Honeywell to train their executives.

Foundation is a simpler version of Capstone. It is used either for less sophisticated students or as a short, broadening experience in courses that focus on other disciplines, such as Accounting, Marketing, Advertising, Finance, etc.

The two owners of MSI, Daniel Smith and Dr. Craig Watters, teach at DePaul University in Chicago. Smith wrote the majority of the Capstone program, while Watters provides most of the on-site training for corporate clients.