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It is very
common for companies to want their own customized version of a simulation.
That customization can range from simply changing the way the information
is presented to building a brand new simulation from scratch. Our
business partners from ProfitAbility Business Simulations have extensive
experience in creating customized simulations to help achieve the
business outcomes of a wide variety of companies and organizations.
Their ProfitAbility series of simulations is built upon a very flexible
and effective learning technology that can be applied to a wide
variety of needs.
Since we
are an organizational development firm and simulations are simply
a very effective tool for creating change in an organization, we
always try to keep our eyes on the overall outcomes being sought.
A brand new simulation can be fun and exciting but sometimes it
is overkill. An existing simulation can, with some minor modifications,
sometimes do just as good a job. Of course, it is not wise to try
and fit a square peg in a round hole. To take a simulation that
was developed for a manufacturing company and then try to teach
financial concepts to a power generation business doesn't make much
sense. The two businesses are very different. In this case, a custom
simulation may be required and it can be cost effective when putting
may participants through it.
Some of
the basic steps we usually go through in helping potential customers
in their decision making process are:
- Understand the Learning Technology - This can be accomplished
by either visiting a client or we can do a demo of the simulation.
- Understand What You What the Participants To Do Differently
- We can help you with this, but ultimately you have to decide
who the audience is and what they are supposed to to differently
as a result of the training/intervention.
- Involve Senior Managers - Very little change will result
if they are not involved in setting the outcomes and also involved
in the roll out. Having senior managers visibly involved makes
an indelible impression on simulation participants
- Determine Internal Content Experts - In designing or
modifying a simulation, one needs access to information about
the culture, the market, the operations and financial structure
of your company. Who you choose to provide this information will
determine what the final simulation will look like.
- Run Pilots to Make Sure Everything Works Right - We are
very experienced in designing simulations. However, there are
a lot of variables involved and a brand new simulation needs feedback.
Choose you pilot groups to be those that can give feedback and
include representatives from the groups that will experience the
simulation during the final rollout.
- Involve Future Internal Facilitators Early - If you are
going to eventually run the program yourself using internal facilitators,
involve them early. This creates buy-in and helps them understand
better how the program will help accomplish your overall outcomes.
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