Bull Whip

RULES & REGULATIONS

Bullwhip is an interactive supply chain management simulation based on the Bear Distribution Game.

• Participants manage four connected stages of a supply chain: Retailer, Wholesaler, Distributor and Factory.
• Each role makes weekly ordering and inventory decisions based on the information available to them.
• The game runs across ten simulated weeks, during which participants track stock, orders received, orders filled, stock on hand, back orders and new orders.
• Every decision has a cost. Carrying cost is calculated on stock held, back order cost is applied to unmet demand, and ordering cost depends on the quantity ordered.
• The ordering rate decreases as order quantity increases, creating a trade-off between ordering in larger quantities and holding excess inventory.
• The objective is to manage the supply chain efficiently and achieve the lowest total cost while responding to changing demand and decisions made by other stages.
• Participants must follow the instructions provided for their assigned supply chain role throughout the simulation.
• All participants must report to the venue before the scheduled reporting time and carry a valid college or institution ID.
• Any form of cheating, unauthorised assistance, misconduct or unfair practice may result in disqualification.
• The organising committee reserves the right to make final decisions on disputes, scoring and rule interpretation.
• Participants must follow all venue, campus and event-day instructions provided by the organising committee.