Capstone (CAPS) 698

Overview

CAPS 698: Simulation is the culminating experience of the MBA program. Working individually, students operate a simulated company within a dynamic and competitive marketplace, making strategic, operational, and ethical decisions across six quarters. The scenario involves launching a company offering 3D-printed carbon fibre bicycles, balancing innovation, profitability, and social responsibility under the conscious capitalism framework. 

The course offers an experiential and integrative learning environment that synthesizes MBA-level knowledge in marketing, operations, finance, HR, and leadership. Students are assessed through a project proposal, an interim report, and a final reflective report rather than traditional exams or literature reviews.

Outline

This course is divided into weekly lessons over 10 weeks:

• Week 1: Establish Your Company and Submit Your Proposal
• Week 2: Organize Your Firm and Set Up Shop (Quarter 1)
• Week 3: Go to Test Market (Quarter 2)
• Week 4: Make Skillful Adjustments and Expand Your Market (Quarter 3)
• Week 5: Invest in the Future (Quarter 4)
• Week 6: Expand Your Business Strategy (Quarter 5)
• Week 7: Refine Your Business Strategy (Quarter 6)
• Week 8: Review Your Final Results (Quarter 7)
• Week 9: Draft Your Report Outline
• Week 10: Finalize and Submit Your Final Report 

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to

• demonstrate a solid understanding of how decision-based learning integrates strategic, financial, operational, and ethical considerations across a business context.
• apply MBA-level theories, concepts, and tools to make informed strategic decisions in a simulated business environment.
• evaluate and interpret simulation outcomes, identifying causal relationships between decisions and performance metrics.
• balance profitability and purpose by integrating the four pillars of conscious capitalism: higher purpose, stakeholder orientation, conscious leadership, and conscious culture.
• demonstrate critical-thinking and problem-solving skills through the analysis of complex managerial trade-offs.
• synthesize insights from multiple business disciplines to formulate coherent strategies and adaptive responses.
• reflect on personal leadership development, decision-making style, and the impact of ethical and conscious leadership in organizational contexts.
• communicate findings and insights effectively in a professional written report, supported by logical reasoning and coherent analysis.

Evaluation

Your grade will be based on the successful completion of three written assignments and the simulation, evaluated on a pass/fail basis:

To receive a passing grade in this course, you must meet these minimum standards:

• Complete all rounds of the simulation.
• Receive a Pass on all three written deliverables (Proposal, Interim Report, Final Report).
• Submit your Marketplace Simulation certification.
• Meet deadlines as specified.

Materials

Digital course materials

Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:

Cadotte, E. R. (2019). Marketplace Simulations: Conscious Capitalism Bikes [Simulation game]. Marketplace Simulations. https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/MP0017-HTM-ENG

All additional materials—including articles on conscious capitalism, simulation guides, and reflective writing resources—are available online through the Digital Reading Room (DRR) in Brightspace. 

Important links

• Graduate Diploma in Management (GDM)
• Contact an Advisor
• Master of Business Administration
• Accelerated MBA for Executives
• MBA for Accountants
• MBA for Health Leaders
• MBA for Supply Chain Management