marketing management simulation

PharmaSim

PharmaSim is a dynamic marketing management simulation that immerses students in the world of brand management within the over-the-counter cold medicine industry. As part of a marketing team, students navigate decisions on product mix, pricing, distribution, and promotion, competing against simulated competitors and learning the far-reaching implications of their choices.
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Join our growing community! PharmaSim has been trusted for over a decade by 400+ schools of all types to bring real-world experience into the classroom.

MARKETING MANAGEMENT SIMULATION

What is PharmaSim?

Explore brand management with PharmaSim, a marketing management simulation rooted in the over-the-counter cold medicine industry. Our simulation lets students step into the role of a marketing team member for Allstar Brands, navigating critical decisions concerning product mix, pricing, distribution, advertising, and promotion. Each choice they make will elicit responses from computer-simulated competitors, enhancing their understanding of the interconnected nature of marketing decisions.
PharmaSim comes with three complexity levels – “Brand Assistant,” “Assistant Brand Manager,” and “Brand Manager,” each offering varying degrees of decision-making detail and report availability. Instructors can customize the simulation experience based on their teaching goals, including scenarios, assignments, and even decision replays, promoting active experimentation among students.
With a simulated timespan of up to 10 years, students can witness both the immediate and long-term effects of their decisions, providing a rich environment to practice situation analysis, market segmentation, targeting, and the integration of marketing decisions with analysis.

WHY IS PharmaSim THE RIGHT MARKETING MANAGEMENT SIMULATION FOR MY STUDENTS?

PharmaSim is designed with the following learning goals:

Planning & Analysis

Write a marketing plan. Monitor implementation of plan. Use market research effectively.

Market Segmentation

Define “segment” in marketing terms. Identify segments in PharmaSim. Match target segments with products.

Consumer Behavior

Describe the purchase process. Identify problems with purchase process. Adjust marketing mix to influence behavior.

Marketing Mix

Identify the 4 P’s of marketing. Describe push/pull promotion strategies. Use appropriate mix for target markets. Measure efficiency of decisions.

Channel Management

Describe flow of goods from manufacturer to consumer. Explain impact of discounts and promotion. Choose appropriate mix for channel.

Product Management

Explain product life cycle. Choose portfolio of products. Adjust marketing for each product. Allocate resources among products.

Teamwork

Allocate responsibilities fairly. Complete assigned tasks on time. Communicate problems and plans. Collaborate with other team members.

Experiential Learning

Test ideas in a low-risk environment. Respond to and discuss unexpected events. Retain information through hands-on experience. Relate sim topics to real-world scenarios.

CLASSES

Marketing Management
Brand Management

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

Advanced

AUTHORS

Thomas Kinnear, Stuart James,
Michael Deighan

FIRST-TIME INSTRUCTORS

At Interpretive, we ensure your journey with our Marketing Management simulation is smooth and supported. We’re dedicated to delivering outstanding customer service, evident in the high praise our seasoned customer support team regularly receives. Here’s what our commitment to your satisfaction entails:

  • A dedicated Customer Relationship Manager who will be your go-to person for any support-related questions or concerns.
  • A team of customer support staff who are always ready to help you and your students.
  • We promise to respond to any support request or question within 24 hours during the business week, so you can be assured that your needs will be met promptly.

First-time instructor planning a class using our marketing management simulation, PharmaSim.
Short Demo Video of marketing management simulation, PharmaSim.

Request your demo access to learn more about our marketing management simulation.

ASSESSMENT TOOLS

Combining our simulation PharmaSim with our quizzes and assignments gives you the tools to assess your students’ understanding of the concepts of marketing. The following grading rubric works best to provide a thorough assessment of your students’ knowledge and understanding.
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ASSIGNMENTS MODULE

Experience the convenience of fully online simulation assignments with PharmaSim, our marketing management simulation! With our innovative Assignments Module, there’s no need for PDFs or downloads. Assignments are easily accessed and completed through a user-friendly online interface. Plus, some tasks can be auto-graded, saving valuable time for instructors. Getting started is simple – we provide a comprehensive guide and video tutorial to familiarize you with the interface. Alternatively, you can explore it on your own after login. For further details, feel free to contact us!

Bundle Ebooks with PharmaSim simulation

With Wessex Press, we have bundling opportunities which bring the best materials for teaching Marketing Management or Marketing Strategy together into one package. Two eBooks by Noel Capon from Columbia University are currently available to be bundled with the PharmaSim simulation:

Got questions? Find answers!

Which classes is this simulation suitable for?

PharmaSim is an excellent fit for Marketing Management and Brand Management classes, and can be adapted for both undergraduate and graduate programs. With varying complexity levels ranging from “Brand Assistant” to “Brand Manager”, PharmaSim’s versatility makes it suitable for diverse course types.

What is the ideal team size for the simulation?

We recommend a team size of 3-4 students for the best collaborative experience. While teams of 2 are commonplace, they might lack the richness of diverse perspectives and constructive disagreement that larger teams offer. Teams larger than 4 may face collaboration challenges, which could impact the learning experience.

What does “benchmark” mean?

In the context of PharmaSim, “benchmark” refers to each team competing in its own unique market environment against computer simulated companies.

How long does the simulation last?

The simulation spans a minimum of six periods and a maximum of ten periods, with each period representing a business year. Students should anticipate spending between one to one and a half hours per period for decision-making.

How do I find out more?

Sign up for Demo Access. This gives you access to Sample Course Sites, Resources, and even a look at completed games. For a comprehensive understanding, schedule a call with our staff to guide you through the simulation.

Schedule a call with us to ask any other questions you might have!

Discover why instructors choose PharmaSim as their preferred
Marketing Management Simulation!

  • I have used PharmaSim in MBA classes for several years and found it a great method for enhanced and enriched learning. This is the first time using it with Undergrads and it turned out so well that I regret not using it sooner.

    Kevin Upton - Indiana University at South Bend

  • Students in my classes learn significantly more, and retain their new knowledge longer, when they have the opportunity to put learning to use. I have found business simulation games to be an excellent way to put knowledge to active use in my online classes, especially as online classes do not allow for face-to-face interaction as a classroom situation does.

    John Kaegi - Southern Oregon University

  • PharmaSim has become an essential element of my classroom teaching in the Marketing Strategy course as it creates such an engaging setting for the students that learning occurs naturally through their classroom experience.

    Hooman Estelami, Fordham University

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