Student
Instructor
course
Date
Reflection
Beer game one
The game had a positive impact. In the beer game one, a lot of concentration was on making sure that all the players in the beer industry had enough stock with them so that they could not miss out on the customers. In the long run, the expenses became high. It, in turn, affected the retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and even the manufactures of the beer.
My overall thoughts on the beer game are positive due to the simulation aspect employed in the game. In playing, it is evident that the objective of the game is to demonstrate the interdependence of aspects of the real supply chain. It clearly shows the kind of importance and effect people have on each other all through the chain. Through simulation, all the possible challenges and pressures one can face in the real world are involved. The beer game makes it possible to control both direct and indirect difficulties that could be encountered.
We get to learn that simulation is critical since it ensures that, the various players involved, learn and understand how the supply chain, can at times be affected by factor like; customer demand fluctuations, being out of stock, leads times, the behavior of suppliers and also the fluctuation in supplies.
The total overview of the game is that the market flow is very unpredictable, and no player has an actual overview of how the whole game will pan out. We also get to learn that all aspects of a business are a system. All the four players in the beer game are system which comprises of; retailers, wholesalers, distributors to the factory that produces the beers. A failure, particularly in the production sector, can course great havoc to the rest of the system players.
When it comes to making decisions, it should be combined efforts for all the people involved. I should be open to opinions and not solely rely on myself. In any organization or business, communication is critical. When there is communication, issues and problems can be easily solved out. Before criticizing or shifting blame, as a person, I should have a clear knowledge of the particular thing or problem, before pointing fingers. In an organization, the managers should have very understanding and knowledge of the tasks at hand, and they should be ready to offer help and guidance when needed. Several things can be learned from both experiencing and making mistakes when one partakes in the beer game.
Beer Game Two
The second game, too, had a positive impact. The positivity was because the mistakes learned in the beer game one could not be repeated, and thus, more concern was to reduce the cost when it came to production, distribution, and even at the handling level. The notion of having more stock that was actually needed was done away with, thus reducing the overall costs.
Through the beer game, we get to learn and appreciate the supply chain dynamics, where work is broken down into simpler units. We also get to learn the importance of communication flows required to achieve an effective and working chain. The main aim of all the actors is to minimize the costs involved while trying to offer services to the customers in the most satisfying ways.
Some of the concepts applied was making sure that, that there was no backlog and the delivery time minimized. The idea of making sure all the players never ran out of stock for their clients does the same. As the weeks progressed, the pressure was too much; this was from increased orders and increased delays in the delivery of the ordered beers. The production plant also had its role when the production was delayed, leading to failures in delivery.
The structure of a particular system tends to influences behavior. It’s the systems that cause their problems, and not the existing external problems or individual errors. There are times that people tend to focus on their own decisions, not bearing in mind the impact of those decisions on other people. Collaboration and teamwork at any level are essential. Success and breakthrough can only be achieved when all the stakeholders work hand in hand. It means that the processes have to be broken down in a step by step manner. Connecting any two ends of the supply chain has far-reaching benefits. Communication is critical, and it should be allowed, and ideas shared among the stakeholders.
The time lag needed to make changes and mistakes take a very long time before the errors are rectified and flushed out of the system, which means that a study of a particular method should be made. There should be proper knowledge of the system the stakeholders. When the system is well studied, then, there will be lesser blame games. From how the game plays out, at some point, we all use our mental models to simplify life. Instead of rushing out to blame others on failures in the business, we should get to study the systems. And get to understand them as well, to know what is taking place.
