More than 150 Central Michigan University students spend Thursday pretending to sell cereal boxes to companies all around the world. Officials say using a business information system simulation is preparing students for their future careers.
During the competition, 40 student teams use Enterprise Resource Planning - or ERP - software to manage all aspects of running a business.
Officials say students manage simulated dollars to buy and sell, and invest to create the most profitable fake business.
Student Competitor, Alex Putman, said the simulation models problems and decisions students will have to face in the real world.
“The system we are using is SAP, one of the biggest ERP systems in the world. Because of that, it is exactly what we see in the real world and what alot of us here in the room today are actually going to be doing after we graduate.”
While students compete, more than 50 companies are observing the competitors to gauge their skills.
ERPSim Director, Steve Tracy, said companies are using this event to find their next interns and employees.
“It’s like an 8-10 hour interview, where the students don’t even realize they are being interviewed.” He said. “It gives the students the opportunity to shine with their knowledge, with their teamwork skills, their communication skills, and all the things we’ve tried to teach them at the University”