Game Based Learning 2010

Richard has over 25 years of business experience working in global and local markets having worked abroad and in the UK. This has included senior positions with branded companies such as BUPA, Ingram Micro and Litton Industries. Richard has led SMEs involved in consulting, technology and training. His experience includes responsibility for start-ups to companies with turnovers in excess of £300m and staff of < 5 to 350 people. Richard’s experience includes general management, successful change management and strategic planning initiatives including positioning a company for a successful listing on NASDAQ. Richard is a founder of Business Smart International and is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and the Chartered Institute of Marketing and is a Registered Marketer. He is also a Freeman of both the Worshipful Company of Marketors and City of London.

www.business-smart.com

Real ROI using Serious Games

The Brief With the merging of two business units the Director was keen to find a way of bringing the senior managers of both units closer together to work as one unit. As both units were quite different in their culture and historical focus this was perceived as a potentially tough assignment. Solution We designed a blended solution, which incorporated an online business simulation along with a profit improvement project and a live event for all participants. The online simulation was set up in such a way to enable the managers to work in smaller teams of 5 or 6. The mix of each team was chosen by Learning and Development to include members from each business unit and different roles / functions. This was done to encourage the networking and cross-functional relationship building throughout the programme. Of the 6 rounds of the simulation 4 were completed online using virtual meeting and web media technologies to provide feedback from our facilitators after each round. The final 2 rounds were completed in a large live session involving the 144 participants in a hotel venue. The profit improvement plan (PIP) was designed to focus every team on generating at least £100,0000 of extra value back in the real business. This £100K PIP was launched during round 4 and all teams came prepared to present their plans to the Director and facilitation team on their arrival at the hotel venue. After the live event participants were involved in delivering on the profit improvement plans, which were overseen by the director. Outcomes As a result of the Business Simulation Programme the managers improved their ability to, • Understand the rationale for merging the two business units • Work effectively with managers from both business units • Understand how each function can contribute to the overall business success • Understand how business and finance works • 144 middle / senior managers • 23 cross functional teams • 6 weeks duration • 27 £100,000 PIP’s • 13 passed by the Director • £1.4million profit improvement identified.