CASE STUDY: USING THE TOPSIM GENERAL MANAGEMENT 2 BUSINESS SIMULATION SOFTWARE TO DEVELOP THE KEY ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETENCES

The spirit and the competences related to Entrepreneurship are very important for students and graduates of industrial engineering and management master programs like Geschäfts- und Industrieverwaltung (GIVE) and Business Administration and Engineering (MBAE) because first it enables them to create new successful companies and increase their chances to be more successful working in a multinational company where entrepreneurship competences are valued on the other hand. Thus entrepreneurship competences have a high potential to improve the quality of life for master students in business related fields, including the field of industrial engineering and management. In this context the paper analyzes in a Case Study format the experiences of implementing the TOPSIM General Management 2 business simulation game at the above mentioned master programs and the feedback of two professors involved, of two external observers and of the participating students regarding the development of business competences and especially key entrepreneurship competences. The professors and observers feedback uses the interview method because of its deeper level of feedback. Given the fact that there are only four persons this method is possible despite the given time limitations determined by their personal agenda. The participant's feedback consists in a survey, given the higher number of participants that makes the interview method impossible due to time limitations. The survey uses Google Docs and its online survey instruments. A univariate analysis will be used to summarize the most important research results regarding the development of business competences and especially key entrepreneurship competences. The conclusion of the paper summarizes some recommendations based upon the research.