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CMU students take second place in global ERPsim Sustainability Challenge

Team showcases strategic thinking and sustainability expertise in a competitive global arena

| Author: Shiva Karthik Rallabandi

A team of Central Michigan University College of Business Administration students earned second place in the prestigious global ERPsim Sustainability Challenge, demonstrating exceptional strategic thinking and a commitment to sustainability in a competitive international setting.  

The team competed against top university teams worldwide, managing virtual business operations while tackling real-time disruptions and carbon management strategies.  

A unique sustainability-focused competition  

The ERPsim Sustainability Challenge introduced unique challenges, pushing participants beyond typical business simulations by adding sustainability-related disruptions every two rounds.  

  • Rounds 1 & 2: Participants operated without disruptions, allowing them to establish initial strategies.  

  • Rounds 3 & 4: A dice roll determined the relocation of the main warehouse, increasing transportation distances and carbon emissions due to longer routes to the southern region.  

  • Rounds 5 & 6: A carbon tax increase raised costs from €0.30 per kg of CO2e to an additional €0.25 per kg of CO2e, requiring teams to reassess their sustainability and financial plans.  

"The competition was both challenging and rewarding. My focus was on balancing sustainable investments while enhancing production capacity and managing loan repayments to secure financial stability," said Apoorva Nadimpalli, an Information Systems graduate student from Andhra Pradesh, India.  

 Preparation and teamwork  

The CMU team spent several weeks preparing for the ERPsim Sustainability Challenge while simultaneously training for the manufacturing extended ERPsim game for the CMU ERPsim Invitational Competition that was hosted in Finch Fieldhouse in February. The dual preparation needed remarkable management skills together with scheduling expertise and flexibility to succeed at both tasks. The preventive measures toward sustainability created a strategic position for the team.  

The team prioritized sustainability from the start, resulting in the lowest carbon footprint among top competitors. This strategic advantage proved crucial when the carbon tax rate increased during the later rounds.  

Looking ahead  

Encouraged by their success, Nadimpalli is eager to participate in future global competitions. "This experience reinforced the importance of strategic thinking, teamwork, and leveraging technology to solve real-world business challenges," she said.  

The team credits their success to the support and guidance of faculty coach Christine Witt. The team members thanked both Witt and BIS faculty member Kyle Nothstine for providing critical guidance that improved their strategic approach during the competition.  

About the ERPsim Sustainability Challenge  

The ERPsim Sustainability Challenge is a global event where university teams use SAP ERP systems to manage virtual businesses, balancing financial targets with sustainability goals. Students demonstrate their ability to handle business disruptions while applying data analytics to reduce carbon footprints and achieve sustainable growth.  

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