Business majors experience the real world before leaving to get jobs of their own •Simulations competition gives t he business team seven years' worth of experience The Harding Business Team consists of five members , usually including mostly business-related majors. Unlike most academic teams on campus, the Business Team works towards a long-term goal , long-term meaning a seven-year business project simulated in one school year. During the fall semester, the team planned and prepared a product about which they made weekly decisions that were equivalent to quarterly decisions in the business world. Each week about eight or nine decisions were made in order to continue and enhance the project throughout its seven-year layout. On a computer disk, they planned marketing strategies, set long-term goals, prepared financial reports, and they prepared in order to survive and thrive. In the spring semester, the team attended a national conference at which an entire business world was run through a computer simulation setup. The team, along with other national and international business teams, used the product or business on which they had worked the entire fall semester to compete. At the conference, they made decisions for the final quarter of the seven-year period. They also made two different presentations to three judges in a mock shareholders meeting, where they presented how their product had fared over the seven-year period, and attempted to sell it to shareholders (judges). In competition, each team was judged in several categories. The judges reviewed the computer disks prepared by the teams, judging strategies, plans, financial standings, and whether goals were met. Last spring, the conference was held in San Jose, Calif. According to Chris Turney, a senior business and economics major from Olathe, Kan., competition consisted of six different "worlds. " The Harding team placed first in the financial division of the "world" in which they competed, ranking them third place in the profit division of the six "worlds" of competition. This was the first time Harding ranked at the national conference. Turney indicated that the team was somewhat lacking in other areas, but they intend to "take it away" next year. Turney not only enjoyed the people he worked with on the business team, but also the challenges, hard work and long hours spent on the projects. "I've learned about working together, team work and working toward the big picture (a final outcome) ," Turney said. He also spoke of the great experience gained from other business projects. Allison Rector, a junior public relations major, reinforced Turney's point, saying, "The business team is a professional organization that can increase our abilities and knowledge towards our respective majors." Turney also mentioned the post-graduation effects of the experience. "It looks great on resumes, " he said. "When employers see that you were on a business team, they want to know what it is and are very impressed with how it works. " - Shellie Morris Business Team. First Row: Christopher Turney, Allison Rector, Dennis Bartley. Back: David Pitcher. Photo by Christie Mangrum. Junior Brian Kelly and business professor DavidJohnson holda casual conversation in the Carters ' backyard. The first Pi Gamma Psi mixer was hosted by associate professor Lavon Carter at his farm. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Business Team 190 ~-11'*-~0~r-ga-n~i_za_t~i o_n_s ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-
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