Dilbert's Evil Human Resources Director would not have fared well Friday against teams of high-school students in a business simulation competition.

        As the 23 teams raced the clock to boost the profitability of their mythical publishing company, they found that providing opportunities for employees to do their best beats draconian approaches every time.

Mason High seniors (from left) Mark Hopf, Chad Wells and Ryan McKillen troubleshoot a problem Friday in a computer business simulation at Xavier University. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        The students participated in Xavier University's second annual High School Business Simulation Competition. Using a multimedia CD-ROM titled “Managing People, Managing Profits,” they made decisions concerning three positions in the company to maximize production and profits. They were given less than two hours to take the publishing house through four years of business. An online tutorial and a video consultant were available to advise them.

        It took the teams some time before they felt comfortable in their roles as decision-makers. Some tolerated poor performance rather than taking action. Others reached, reluctantly, for the pink slips.

        “I think we need to fire this guy,” Jennifer Rasp suggested to her Notre Dame Academy teammates, when one troublesome employee displayed more bravado than brains.

THE WINNERS

When the closing bell sounded Friday at Xavier University's College of Business Administration, several of the business simulation teams had racked up more than $100,000 in profits for their virtual publishing company. Not bad for 90 minutes' work.     • Earning kudos for highest profits were Randi Placke, Tracey Baumann and Erin Eilerman of Kentucky's Notre Dame Academy, who motivated their “sim-ployees” to achieve earnings of $167,572.     • Second-ranked, with profits of $149,914, was a team from Mother of Mercy High School, composed of Carolyn Stotler, Kassy Kraemer and Karey Kraemer.     • New Miami High School garnered the third-place award. Students Stevie Eversole, Jarrod Fitzgerald, Aubrey Ritchie and Rachel Pfeiffer piloted their enterprise to profits of $146,947.

        But, as many teams learned, dismissing employees without documentation and due process could generate lawsuits or worse. Often a precipitous decision could result in the “manager” being fired.

        But better to learn these lessons in front of the computer than in front of the board of directors, said Daewoo Park of Xavier's College of Business Administration.

        “Most business managers now have simulation training,” he said. adding that local companies such as Cintas, Milacron and Procter & Gamble as well as hospitals use computer simulations to acquaint their decision-makers with best practices.

        As teams logged increasing profits or fought their way back from setbacks, they came to respect the value of good employees.

        “We learned how to treat the people who work for you, how to keep them happy,” said Curtis Gillman, one of 10 students from Franklin County High School in Indiana.

        Explained Mother of Mercy team member Jennifer May: “Every time we advance a month, we make sure everybody's happy.”

        Added teammate Sarah Ruwe: “We make sure they have enough training.”

        Almost all the teams encountered adversity, some dramatically. The Elder High School team inched its way to record profits, only to be fired in the last month. The Mason High School team recovered from a plunge in profits by remembering Mr. Park's charge to learn from failure.

        Participating teams represented Northern Kentucky schools St. Patrick, Villa Madonna and Notre Dame; Indiana's Franklin County High School; and 11 Ohio schools: Goshen, Mother of Mercy, Elder, Turpin, New Miami, Mariemont, Ursuline, Withrow, Roger Bacon, Mason and Sycamore.
       

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