7 Responses

1. Business Awareness

    Hi Joy,

   We run IG Programmes for a number of clients and often use the business simulation games provided by http://www.celemi.com 

   They have a number that you may find suitable – The Medici Effect always works well with the Graduate Programmes we run.

   Another alternative is to set the task as a mini-project for the Graduates…and see what they come up with! This could work in between development workshops with them reporting back on the workshop. As facilitator you can ‘fill in the blanks’ if they miss key aspects.

   Yet another alternative which we have utilised is to invite guests to a post workshop evening event (evening meal/reception/bar room drinks etc..). The Graduates are then tasked with finding out key information from the guests. This serves too develop their networking skills (how to integrate & work the room!- behaviours which could be discussed on a subsequent workshop) as well as finding out information to enable them to answer your task questions.

   Your only challenge would be to invite the right selection of suitably qualified guests!

   Hope that helps

   Regards

   Lee

   http://www.toojays.co.uk

    

    

2. Business awareness for Graduates

   Thanks Lee, much appreciated.

   Joy

3. Business Simulations

   My firm provides business simulations that you can run yourself. They run on standard Windows based microcomputers in the classroom – a possible would be my Management Challenge (see http://www.simulations.co.uk/maneval.htm) (You can download an evaluation copy from this link together with full documentation. The simulation is competitive between up to eight teams of four or five people and requires a single microcomputer and printer (see http://www.simulations.co.uk/mediate.htm).

   Management Challenge was developed for a contest in the Arabian Gulf – single course rental £350 (note total course rental – not cost per delegate). It has and still is being used regularly on business acumen, business and financial awareness and graduate training programmes.

   If you have questions please contact me on [email protected]

    

4. Re: Business Simulations

   Hi Joy

   My company doesn’t specialise in  business simulations nor would I advocate a business simulation per se for what you have discussed.

   Instead I would opt for a more blended approach using facilitated learning and direct input all based around a case study.

   The case study can be anything – it is just there to get the delegates thinking and talking about your inputs.  I have used:

   1 – You have $50,000 to start your own Ice Cream business. What would you do next.

   2 – You have $75,000 to start your own internet hosting company. What would you do next

   3 – You have $25,000 to invest into a growing business.  What questions would you need to ask before investing.

   My experience of working in the ME has given me an insight that almost everyone is involved in running some form of business (either family business, ‘on the side’ jobs etc) and knows the basics even if they do not know the technical jargon that goes with.

   That is where the direct and facilitated input comes in.

   All this can be done in the classroom over two days with groups of 12-15.  Split each group into three and give them each the case study to work from.

   Thanks

   Andrew Miller

   Rubus Consultants

5. Make your Mark for a Tenner

   Hi Joy

   This isn’t a proper answer to your question but if you google "Make your Mark for a Tenner" you will come across some amazing stories (and some b***y awful ones too) about what youngsters have done when given a scaled down version of Andrew’s hypothetical "you have $xx,000 to set up a business".

    

   Rus

   http://www.coach-and-courses.com

6. Make your mark for a tenner

    … and I do just that to give them at the end of the exercise to show what can really be done! 

   Thanks Russ,

   Andrew

7. Many Thanks

   Hi folks,

   thanks for your suggestions I am now able to get on with the design armed with a few more ideas

    

   Joy