Designing the Training Challenge (ABSEL 2012 Presentation)

1. Designing the Training Challenge

2. Designing the Training Challenge ABSEL 2012 Jeremy J. S. B. Hall jeremyhall@simulations.co.uk www.simulations.co.uk Designing the Training Challenge

3. Presentation Purpose Explore the issues and “reasoning” throughout the design of a new business simulation. Setting the scene • learners, tutor and sponsor • design issues • the scenario Design Issues • the simulator – decisions, models & results • ambiguity management • design for experience • quality assurance The Training Challenge simulation in context Designing the Training Challenge

4. Simulation Viewpoints Learners (Training Consultants) • Improve their ability to manage their business • Improve their business success Tutor • Relevant learning (running a training business) • Stimulate thought and discussion • Active learner engagement Sponsor (supplier to Training Consultants) • Build a relationship with the learners • Encourage use of simulation Designing the Training Challenge

5. Design Issues Replicate a training consultancy business Half a Business Acumen workshop Short Duration (half a day) Stochastic Ambiguity Novelty and Complexity Designing the Training Challenge

6. The Scenario Eight Quarterly Decisions (two years) Four Client Groups (market sectors) Offering Consultancy and Courses Resource Management – Time • Fee Earning • Selling and Prospecting • Business Development • Administration Designing the Training Challenge

7. Decision Group Introduction Work Effort Throughout Restrict Work Quarter 3 onward Capital Investment Quarter 4 onward Change Fees Quarter 5 only Marketing Initiatives Quarter 6 onward Decision Design Issues Cognitive Load – phased introduction & granularity Decision Structures & Checking Ambiguity – linking cause and effect Designing the Training Challenge

8. Model Design Issues Financial/Accounting Models straight forward Demand Generation – stochastic & ambiguous Work Effort Models – structurally complex Client Relationship – complex & ambiguous Learning Quality - complex Client Loss & Acquisition - stochastic Size, ambiguity reduction & complexity. Designing the Training Challenge

9. Result Design Issues Classes of Report • Quarterly Results (3 pages) • Ending Review • Reconciliation & Design Validation • Design Calibration Issues • Cognitive Load • Ambiguity • Structure • Challenge & Engagement Designing the Training Challenge

10. Results Impacted Black Box Results Comments Ambiguity Management Ambiguous Decision Designing the Training Challenge

11. Experience Design Issues Documentation Starting Point (unprofitable but liquid) First Year (familiarisation) Second Year (challenge & chickens home to roost1) Ending Position (ready to go forward) Cognitive Load & Duration 1 Chaucer, Geoffrey (1390) The Parson’s Tale Designing the Training Challenge

12. 36% 64% Testing Calibration Decisions Results Design Learning Quality Assurance Effort What proportion of time was quality assurance? • design time correlates with model size • model size correlates with report numbers • can categorize report purpose (learning or design) Designing the Training Challenge

13. The simulation in context Post Workshop Workshop Workshop Simulation Simulation Fully Linked Unlinked Designing the Training Challenge

14. Further Information Full Paper: www.simulations.co.uk/download/Designing%20the%20Training%20Challenge.pdf Workshop Details: www.simulations.co.uk/Trainer%20Acumen%20Workshop.htm Simulation Details: www.simulations.co.uk/Training%20Challenge.htm Contact: jeremyhall@simulations.co.uk Website: www.simulations.co.uk Designing the Training Challenge