Wondering how the MarkStrat SPI (Share Price Index) is calculated? This comprehensive guide breaks down the exact formula that determines your team’s performance score. Many business schools use the MarkStrat SPI to evaluate student performance and assign grades, so understanding this calculation can give you a competitive edge in your simulation.
After analyzing multiple teams across several simulation periods, I’ve conducted statistical analysis to reveal the precise factors that influence your MarkStrat SPI score. While the Excel export contains numerous variables in the Industry Dashboard sheet (including Period, Revenues, Net Contribution, Market Share by Value, Retail Sales, Market Share by Unit, and Volume Sold), only three key factors truly matter.
The Three Key Factors in MarkStrat SPI Calculation
My research shows that the MarkStrat Share Price Index depends primarily on these three variables:
1. Number of Simulation Periods
More simulation periods give you more opportunities to increase your MarkStrat SPI. Each additional period adds approximately 27 points to your score. The difference between 8 and 10 rounds only contributes about 53 points to your final SPI.
2. Total Revenue
Revenue is the most significant determinant of your MarkStrat SPI. The higher your total revenue, the higher your Share Price Index will be. For every additional $100,000 in revenue, your SPI increases by approximately 883 points.
3. Market Share by Value
Perhaps the most surprising factor is Market Share by Value. Controlling complete MarkStrat segments in each market significantly impacts your SPI. This aligns with the strategy that targeting the Vodite Followers segment can help you gain substantial market share. Gaining 100%, 75%, or 50% of the market by value would add approximately 3344, 2508, or 1672 points to your SPI, respectively.
The MarkStrat SPI Formula Revealed
Based on my analysis, here’s the formula that determines your MarkStrat Share Price Index:
SPI = 26.74 × Period + 0.0088 × Revenues + 3344.14 × MarketshareValue
This model has an R-squared value of 95.8%, meaning it explains nearly 96% of the variation in SPI scores. The remaining 4.2% is likely influenced by other minor factors not captured in this formula.
Practical Applications for MarkStrat Success
Understanding this formula offers valuable insights for your MarkStrat strategy. To maximize your SPI:
I’ve noticed that the model tends to overestimate low SPI scores and underestimate high SPI scores, which suggests some non-linearity in the actual calculation that warrants further investigation. When analyzing only later periods, the influence of the Period variable decreases while Revenue becomes even more important.
It’s worth noting that the MarkStrat Share Price Index cannot be negative. In my research, I’ve observed scores ranging from as low as 172 to as high as 9,604.
Additional Resources for MarkStrat Simulation
For more information about MarkStrat simulations and strategies, check out these valuable resources:
- The official StratX Simulations MarkStrat page offers comprehensive guides and tutorials.
- Harvard Business Review’s Strategic Planning section provides valuable insights applicable to MarkStrat.
- The Marketing Strategy resource center contains useful frameworks for market segmentation.
Have you used this formula in your MarkStrat simulation? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!