Organizations are increasingly turning to experiential learning in their management training programs to enable their leaders to practice decision-making in complex, realistic scenarios. atrain GmbH have embraced this approach by integrating business simulations in their leadership journeys; most recently through a large-scale program for an international automotive company.
Who is atrain?
For over 20 years atrain have partnered with organizations worldwide to develop leadership and enable sustainable transformation. With more than 60 global clients across 25 countries, atrain has developed over 35,000 people through coaching engagements, leadership journeys, and tailored training programs.
At the core of atrain’s work is the belief in realizing people’s true potential. The company positions itself as a trusted partner for its clients, designing development journeys that are not only impactful in the short term, but also sustainable over time.
Using MikesBikes in the Leadership Journey
This leadership journey was for 60 aspiring executives from four regions of a global automotive company.
The business simulation workshop featured over two-days where participants were split into groups of four to five using the MikesBikes Advanced simulation. They were tasked with increasing the shareholder value of their simulated companies. Program facilitators also provided targeted inputs on topics such as strategy, company-specific KPIs, and team dynamics.
Of importance to this program was to allow participants to make mistakes. This enabled them to reflect on the consequences of their decisions and improve their approach over time. Unforeseen market changes were introduced to mirror real-world uncertainty, complemented by theoretical input on how leaders in the real-world deal with volatility and ambiguity.
Over the workshop each management team were required to present to shareholders on strategy and performance. Facilitators also provided reflections on how teams collaborated, how decisions were made, and which behavioral and strategic levers led to success or failure.
The Experience
The response from participants to the simulation component was overwhelmingly positive. Many highlighted the gamified nature of the experience, which made learning both engaging and memorable.
“The methodology, the touched topics and the experienced trainers make this program very valuable to become a better leader.”
Advice for Annika Koch (Program Manager) to others considering a simulation for leadership and management training:
“The simulation is a great add-on and is a lot of fun. Take enough time to prepare the program [and] getting to know the simulation. The Smartsims team is extremely helpful and we greatly enjoyed the collaboration. The simulation can be used in lots of ways, from finance trainings to business leader trainings like ours. Adding your own storyline around it is crucial to make it come alive.”
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