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 Ratings
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| Reviewed: |
Oct 27, 2005 by Business Editorial Board |
| Overview: |
The Cameron Balloon Factory is a case study that ties together the various
business functions, including production, purchasing, accounting, marketing, and
management, of a real company. It includes a Teacher's Guide and provides many
student resources, such as explanations of business functions, virtual tours,
theories, worksheets with questions, and issues faced by the company. A
glossary of terms helps with balloon jargon. Business students can become more
aware of how real businesses function, learn to make decisions about various
fields in an organization and apply theories such as supply and demand to a real
business situation.
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| Learning Goals: |
The case is made to hang together as a complete collection of marketing,
procurement, manufacturing, accounting, human resources, and other segments
of an organization. Students are expected to learn to make decisions is the
various fields of an organization.
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| Target Student Population: |
This module would be appropriate for an introductory class in Operations
Management, Marketing, or Accounting.
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| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
The student should be familiar with basic business terms.
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| Type of Material: |
This is a simulation.
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| Recommended Uses: |
The module can be used in actual classes or can be used as homework for the
students.
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| Technical Requirements: |
Web Browser only.
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| Strengths: |
This comprehensive, well-implemented case is designed to integrate a variety of
business functions and integrates those functions well. The issues raised are
general ones as opposed to more some of the more specific dilemmas or problems
typically associated with business policy cases. It is certainly worth
consideration for use in any integrative business course and may be useful as
well in specific departmental courses.
It is designed and implemented well and the content is of high quality. There is
a very good depth of coverage of business material.
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| Concerns: |
While its comprehensive nature is an appealing asset of the case, it also makes
it more of a challenge to use. However, for specific classes it works very
well.
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
Rating:  |
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| Strengths: |
The module provides students with in an insider's view of a real company and
ties together the various business functions in an appealing way. This would be
an excellent assignment for the first week of an operations management class.
This is an excellent module if a deeper understanding is needed and a good
module if only a broad grasp is required.
The interactive nature of the module will help students to learn. The graphics
are appealing and the subject of hot air balloons should be of interest to
students.
Although a great deal of material is provided, students are challenged to work
out the solutions on their own.
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| Concerns: |
This is a comprehensive case and the user and instructor should review a
majority of the material before answering a segment/assignment.
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
| Rating: |
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| Strengths: |
For integrative courses - business policy, operations management - the case can
serve well as an overview or review of concepts or as a basis for an in-depth
class discussion. The module can be adapted to specific departmental courses,
such as accounting, by focusing on a specific section, such as "accounts," but
the students would benefit from adding more specific questions in an added
assignment.
The module is very easy to use, with the ability to click on links
to additional information. One can navigate around the site very easily.
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| Concerns: |
It should be noted that this is a time-consuming case to review for preparing an
assignment. It requires a minimum of two to three hours to view all of the case
content.
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| Other Issues and Comments: |
There are some very good graphics that explain what the balloons look like.
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