LEARNING TO LEARN:
A SIMULATION

 

 

 

By:
John F. Lobuts, Jr. Professor of Management Science
School of Business and Public Management
George Washington University
Washington, D.C. 20052
U.S.A.

 

 

 

and

 

James Oldson, Professorial Lecturer
School of Business and Public Management
George Washington University
Washington, D.C. 20052

 

 

 

Presented to:
INTERNATIONAL SIMULATION AND GAMING ASSOCIATION
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
JULY 27-31, 1993
BUCHAREST, ROMANIA

 

 
The Parking Garage Simulation

 

 


Introduction
Purpose
Goals of the Simulation
Process
Scoring Sheet
Sources Consulted
Rationale

INTRODUCTION

The Parking Garage Simulation is an exercise designed to illustrate the complexity of identifying an automobile with the manufacturer. Today's car is truly a global product developed from economic interdependencies. The exercise allows for testing what we know and provides a forum for learning.

 

PURPOSE

The purpose of this simulation is to raise levels of consciousness to the difficulty in identifying the true manufacturer of today's automobile. The simulation provides an opportunity for one to test his/her skill and knowledge as they relate to automobiles and their manufacturer.

As the Parking Garage Manager, the participant has the responsibility of admitting only American made automobiles to the parking garage. Likewise, the participant's responsibility includes denial of parking privileges to all employees driving foreign-made automobiles.

Lastly, the simulation sets a stage for discussion of economic interdependency. The simulation illustrates the imperativeness of having sufficient knowledge before persons, groups, or organizations move toward trade barriers, tariffs or laws of protectionism.

 

GOALS OF THE SIMULATION

 

          1.)   To understand the benefits of international competition in the context of the economic

construct of "comparative -advantage. "

2.) To explore the economic outcomes with international competition and tile strategy of win-lose.

3.) To explore unproductive anxiety, emotionality and ethnocentrism often associated with international competition.

4.)    To explore the 75 % content rule in manufacturing within the U.S. auto industry.

 

GROUP SIZE

25 - 30 persons

  TIME REQUIRED

Approximately one hour

  MATERIALS

A copy of the simulation for each participant

Pen or pencil for each participant

  PHYSICAL SETTING

One large class or meeting room capable of accommodating

5 or 6 work groups of 5 persons each.

  PROCESS

 

1.) The facilitator introduces the topic of international trade and the benefits attached thereto.

2.) The facilitator leads a discussion on the strategy of dealing with conflict to include win-lose.

3.) The facilitator explains the U.S. Federal fuel rule and the 75 % content regulation.

4.) The facilitator divides the participants into five person groups and administers the simulation.

          5.)     The facilitator conducts a discussion of the simulation and the management utility.

 

The Parking Garage Simulation

 

An Epilogue

The economic interdependencies are comprehensible when discussed outside the framework of human emotionalities. However, so often in the complexity of political intervention we find a curious set of feedbacks and circularities. For example, in Japan there are political leaders who delight in disparaging the American labor force. Then too, in the United States of America we have those political leaders who are shouting - "Buy American!" This creates an environment of win-lose, promoting a "we" versus "they" dynamic-- "we are right and they are wrong! We are good they are bad!" This type of rhetoric is diametrically opposed to what is essential in a global market economy. The need for cooperation and collaboration is imperative for successful trading partnerships. There is an urgent need to rethink the win-lose paradigm designed for management of athletic models and to develop modes of management paradigms that create environments which lead to win-win. It is so easy to get caught in this state of emotional madness and entrapped in a very seductive call for protectionism. With the European Common Market evolving ever so rapidly, living in a global market economy becomes even more of a reality. There are a number of reasons why countries cannot afford to legislate roadblocks that imperil international competition. The most prominent in this writer's mind is the reckless endangerment and destruction of the "comparative advantage" construct.

There is no question that the auto-industries are underpinnings to the industrialized West's economic development. Thus, when discussing automobiles in the United States it's becoming ignore difficult to find an "American" car. For example, the Plymouth Laser is a Mitsubishi Eclipse and vice versa. The Dodge Colt is also built by Mitsubishi. The Lotus is a General Motors Corporation product. The Ford Probe is really a Mazda MX-6 made by Mazda in Flat Rock, Michigan.

Failure to understand economic interdependency can be self destructive. The call for protectionism, isolationism, tariffs and trade barriers manifests itself in a number of ways. In the summer of 199 1, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a transportation workers union with headquarters in Washington, D.C., forbade employees from driving foreign-made automobiles into the union's parking garage. However, the Brotherhood soon learned the screening of cars based only on "Trade Names" simply would not suffice.

The screening of cars is a complex process. One of the more prevalent reasons is the regulation attached to the federal fuel rules. This regulation requires foreign auto-manufacturers producing cars in the United States to use 75% of American produced parts. This content requirement creates a paradox because many of the foreign cars produced in the United States are more "American" in content than some of the products produced under the labels of the American manufacturers.

 

 


 

SCORING SHEET
AND
RATIONALE
 
THE PARKING GARAGE SIMULATION
 

 

You have been appointed to serve as Director of the Parking Garage. You are responsible for admitting only American made Automobiles to the parking, facilities. Likewise, your responsibility includes denial of parking privileges to employees driving foreign-made automobiles. Any car with less than 75% domestic content will be denied.

Your Decision (Please Check)
ADMIT DENY SCORE ADMIT DENY SCORE

Auto Seeking

Entrance

Parking Facility

ADMIT DENY SCORE ADMIT DENY SCORE
1. Corolla            
2.Dodge Stealth            
3.Ford CrownVictoria            
4.Ford Escort            
5.Ford Festiva            
6.Geo Prism            
7.Honda (Accord)            
8.Mazda Navaho            
9.Mercury Grand Marquis            
10.Pontiac Lemans            
11.Range Rover            
12. Rolls Royce            
TOTAL: TOTAL:

 

A.To score, place the number I by each correct answer and sum for the total.

 

Your rating as an Auto Inspector-Rejector:
Number of correct answers:
11-12 Auto Expert
9-10 Auto Enthusiast
6-8 Auto Knowledge is Fair
Below 6, Need to Find Another Career or Buy Another Car

 


SOURCES CONSULTED
Brown, Warren, " Camry: Apolitical Value," The Weekend Magazine,Washington, D.C. February 28,1992, p.54
Harari, Oren, "Cars, Customers & Competition: Lesson For American Managers," Manage-nent Review, February 1991,         pp. 38-41.
Milloy, Courtland, "Teamsters' Impossible Dream, " The Washington Post, Washington D. C. July 23, 199 1, p. B, 3.
Rosten, Leo, "The Myths By Which We Live," The 20th National Conference on Higher Education, Opening Address, The         Association for Higher Education, Chicago, 11., March 7, 1965.
 

 
The Parking Garage Simulation
Scoring Sheet
Rationale:   Correct Response:

 

1. Corolla 75% content, a Toyota built in Freemont, California, U.S. Admit
2. Dodge Stealth Chrysler Corp. product. A super sports car. The Stealth is a Mitsubishi 3000 GTVRH, uses Mitsubishi Engine. Deny
3. Ford Crown Victoria Ford Motor Company top of the line, produced in Canada. 27% of parts come from Germany, Spain, Mexico, and Japan. Deny
4. Ford Escort Made by Mazda. Deny
5. Ford Festiva Made by Kia of Korea. Deny
6. Geo Prizm Produced by the New United Motor Company, Freemont, California, U.S.A. with the Corolla. Admit
7. Honda Accord Manufactured and produced with 75% content in Marysville, Ohio, U.S.A. Admit
8. Mazada Navaho Produced by Ford Motor Company, 75 % U.S. content. Admit
9. Mercury Grand Marquis Produced with less than 75% U.S. content. Deny
10. Pontiac Lemans Great American Name! Produced by Daewoo Motor Company of South Korea.

 

Deny
11. Range Rover The engine of a G. M. C. design, but the car does not have 75 % U.S. content. Deny
12. Rolls Royce The automatic transmission comes form G.M.C., but the car does not have 75% U.S. content. Deny