Business Simulations Benefits

Perfecting our Learning Recipe Since 1981

Traditional, training mainly focuses on raising skills and knowledge. For skills training to be effective, attitudes and behavior also need to adapt. Without this, traditional training will, in many instances, not achieve the desired results. Our simulations focus on a combination of skills, knowledge and behavioral training, through the engagement of the limbic and neo-cortex parts of the brain. Our goal is to build an intuitive understanding of which levers to pull at what time in order to sustainably improve performance.

Our methodology has been derived from pulling the best parts from aged-old learning theories. From the discoveries made by Pavlov with his ‘classical conditioning’ theory back in the 1800’s to more modern discoveries on Brain-Based Learning (BBL) and Game-Based Learning (GBL), we apply all these principles when designing our performance improvement training programs.

Research organization McKinsey says: “In recent years, simulations have gained popularity as a means of overcoming barriers to learning. A deep body of theoretical literature asserts the power of simulations to change behavior by giving managers the opportunity to experiment, test their assumptions, and learn from their mistakes in a risk-free environment”.

Our Amazing Team

Simulation

Although “playing” the Simulation makes up just 30% of the time, it provides the platform for the critical issues to be dealt with and the learnings to take place. It also contributes to generating engagement through competition and collaboration with other team members.

During the business simulations, learners work together in teams, running their own simulated business. While competing with other teams (competitors in the market), they follow a realistic business process, making all the decisions which they typically confront in their real business environment, discovering the consequences and results of their decisions over a series of business cycles. After each business cycle, financial reports are compiled and KPIs are benchmarked against the other teams.

Reflexive Input

30% of the time is spent on reflective inputs. These are analytical exercises where we engage the right-brain (via pictures and stories to name but two) to understand complex concepts such as:

• • working capital,
  • Free cash flow,
  • Market capitalization and
  • Other key measures used in your business.

Transfer Of Reality

Lastly, 40% of the time is spent in transferring the insights to your company’s reality. Throughout the program, the instructors draw parallels between the insights in the simulation and analytical exercises and the learners’ own reality. One of the most powerful aspects of our business acumen programs is that we use your own company’s most recent financial numbers.

In analysing the latest annual reports, local company and divisional reports, learners gain a fundamental deep understanding of the company for which they work.