Summary 2008
Finalists met in Berlin...
For over nine months they discussed, organized, and made far-reaching decisions. Now the winning team of the DHL Fast Forward business simulation, which triumphed over a field of more than 8,500 competitors from over 120 countries, has been determined: The team's name is "Arbocadon", a group consisting of Jason Sender from the United States, Vinay Bohra and Prasanna Joshi from India, Gürkan Kesici from Turkey and Michael Wilms from Germany. During an evening ceremony on January 14, 2009, the winners of the first worldwide logistics business simulation were recognized by Dr. Frank Appel, Chairman of the Board of Deutsche Post AG, and Walter Scheurle, Board Member for Personnel at Deutsche Post AG.
Only the 10 best of 100 teams in total had finally managed to be invited to the DHL Fast Forward Finale and enjoyed several exciting days in Germany. During an informal get together on the evening of Jan. 11 in Berlin, the teams had a chance to meet in person after months of intensive virtual collaboration. On the following day, the teams toured the German capital and visited the Foreign Ministry, where they were awarded a certificate for successful intercultural teamwork. Following the official reception, the finalists boarded a waiting airplane at Berlin's Tegel Airport that took them from the German capital to Bonn - the home of Deutsche Post World Net. The actual finale for the Business Simulation DHL Fast Forward took place in the Post Tower over the next two days.
After a welcome and Group presentation by Hermann Ude, Board Member for Global Forwarding and Freight, on Jan. 13, the teams worked on a written conceptual-design essay for the first part of a business case meant to simulate reality. The objective of the business simulation was to make a virtual logistics company the world leader by means of forward-looking management decisions, and to secure world quality leadership. In the late afternoon, participants jointly visited the DHL Innovation Center in Troisdorf, where they took a close look at the latest technical advances in logistics.
On the second day of the finale in Bonn, the teams once again met in the Post Tower to continue work on three thematically different focal points of their business cases. All teams then outlined their results during a 10-minute presentation to a top-class jury that included members from business and media. On the evening of Jan. 14, the winners were announced during a celebratory awards ceremony by CEO Dr. Frank Appel. After the official part, the finalists as well as media representatives, DHL board members and employees enjoyed a lounge party event in a relaxing atmosphere.