A team made up of friends, code-named "Starter", emerged as the Champion of the Hong Kong Management Game (3 September) by outperforming four other finalist teams.

The Management Game is a simulation exercise making use of the computer program SIMBUSI to simulate a fiercely competitive, yet risk-free business environment.

In the Hong Kong Final, each of the five teams managed a company selling chocolate products. Their business objective was to outperform all other competitors and return the highest accumulated profit.

This stimulating Game which was full of real-to-life business situations has made all the finalist teams to pull out their united efforts to bag the prize. Throughout the competition, teams encountered various unexpected business scenarios, such as the enactment of a new environmental protection legislation limiting their expansion of factories. Sometimes like in real business environment, the teams encountered some challenging decisions. Should they use the new genetically modified ingredients to significantly cut the production cost, yet running the risk of making their products unpopular among some customer clusters? Should they allow some graduates to film in the factories which may cause disruption to the total production schedule; yet may in turn earn some good publicity and enhance the company�s goodwill?

Teams competed for the Game Champion for six periods. After the first period, "Starter" ranked fourth among the teams, yet, jumped to the top at the conclusion of second period. The rankings of all teams remained unchanged from the third period till the end. After six periods of tight competition, "Starter" reaped a total of $16.7 million profit and won the honour of Hong Kong champion. The team from "HKYFC" which was formed by a group of secondary school classmates became the first runner-up, and the team from HK Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd., came third.

The champion team was awarded four air tickets to Tokyo, a cash prize of HK$10,000 and the SCMP Morning Post Perpetual Trophy. The first runner-up team received a cash prize of HK$6,000. The second runner-up was awarded a cash prize of HK$4,000.

The Prize Presentation Ceremony was held immediately after the competition. It was officiated by Mr Ginn Fung, Editor of Education Post and Jiu Jik of South China Morning Post Publishers Limited; Dr Miranda Kwok, Deputy Director of The Association; Mr Stephen Leung, Country Manager of Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Ltd; Dr Albert Ma, Council Member of The Association and Mr Russell Morris, SIMBUSI Game Designer.

Organised by The Hong Kong Management Association, the Game is sponsored by Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, Crown Worldwide Holdings Ltd, Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Ltd and Sa Sa Cosmetic Company Limited. The official media partners of the Game include the South China Morning Post, Classified Post and Jiu Jik.

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Issued by The Hong Kong Management Association on Thursday, 8 September 2016.