Question

In the Capsim simulation, various business departments (research and development, production, marketing, human resources, and accounting/finance) must collaborate to allocate scarce resources to help grow the business. Describe the “friction points” between the departments as they compete for their “fair” share of those scarce resources, and the elements of teamwork that bear on the outcomes.

Answer 1

Between research and development and other departments, the friction points are hesitation to share the research modules and the way the product is developed. Also R & D department does not share their findings to anyone as it is kept confidential and they fear for leak of data.

Production department hesitate to share the waiting time for each product as well as the non value added activities.

Marketing team do not share their tricks of marketing and sales and the way they treat customers.

Human resources recruit people from different areas and while recruiting, they do not share the work quality and quantity to the employees. Accounting team do not share the account details with any other except the management.

If the idea of development is shared with other departments and if the product has some design issue, it need not be sent back to the R&D team. Product team can rectify the error and time is saved. If waiting time and other blocks in production is shared with other, those can be reduced and hence lead time is reduced. Other teams would like to know the way marketing team influences people and hence they can correct marketing team if they share any wrong information to the customer.

Human resources should share the work details to the newly recruited people so that either they will be excited or rejecting the offer. It is good to have a good rapport with the employees. In my opinion, account details need not be shared unless dues to some error in other departments, there occurs a serious loss.

Good rapport with the employees and other departments so that the errors and time to develop the product can be reduced.