A Selection of PBC’s Experiential Program Events and Business Simulations

 

 

Golfing Your Product to Market

GOlf1The team’s objective is to make as much money as they can by “bringing the right products/services to the right markets.”  They do so by learning the value of three different products (golf balls) in four different markets (masking-taped areas).  Once the team’s research is complete (3 test rounds of bringing the products to market), the team must then execute their plan and bring the products to market for the fourth and final time.

Business Relevance:

  • Project planning
  • Leadership
  • Effective communication
  • Team Coaching
  • Team motivation
  • Goal setting
  • Problem Solving
  • Managing Resources
  • Team Roles and Responsibilities

Learning Take-Aways:

  • Each team member is a contributor to the team’s success
  • Creating and agreeing on a plan is imperative
  • Expertise must be shared to be of value
  • The concept of team is based upon the notion that the team goal is greater than the individual’s goal

 

 

Process Overload – Continuous Process Improvement

minor2

The team will work together to improve the manufacturing/development/sales process of a new product by creating an optimal system for passing information through the system.

Business Relevance:

  • Creative “out of the box” thinking
  • Effective communication
  • Listening skills
  • Dealing with change

Learning Take-Aways:

  • Successful teams understand the “big picture”
  • Most process improvements take the form of “little  victories”
  • Team members must identify their role and responsibility in each project

 

 

Transfer Process Project

Sec9The entire team works together to manufacture and deliver an extremely valuable liquid which will allow you to fulfill your strategic objectives. The team is required to design and execute a series of actions to safely complete the assigned task. Each participant has a portion of the data needed to successfully complete the assignment. The team must work together to assimilate the data, create a plan of action and execute the plan.

Business Relevance:

  • Exceeding Customer Expectations
  • Effective Communication
  • Listening Skills
  • Goal Setting
  • Managing Resources
  • Dealing with Change
  • Team Roles and Responsibilities

Learning Take-Aways:

  • Your perception of success may not be same as your customer’s
  • The objective of every team project must be clearly defined
  • Team members must identify their role and responsibility in each project
  • Team members must know the available resources and learn to best utilize them

 

 

The Amazing Miracle Orange

hi 5Teams of three negotiate for medicinal qualities of a miraculous orange needed to complete research on a special disease-curing pharmaceutical for their company. Each negotiating team has been assigned their own specific agenda, without knowing that if all teams worked together every team could successfully meet their objective. High risks, high reward and team interaction.

Business Relevance:

  • Setting and Meeting Objectives
  • Accountability to the Team
  • Sharing Information
  • Trust Issues
  • Effective Communication
  • Dealing with Change

Learning Take-Aways:

  • Trust is a critical factor in team success
  • Each member of the team is accountable to the team
  • You can always do better than you think you can
  • One must push back on occasion in order to make progress
  • Team members must know each others’ styles and needs
  • If information is openly shared, the team will be more effective

 

 

Organizational Transformation

A consulting team must create and implement the transfer of a small team from one location to another while working within a regulated environment. Teams develop expertise and a specialty in an specific skill and must apply those skills to an important organization objective.

Business Relevance:

  • Big Picture Thinking
  • Sharing Information
  • Trust Issues
  • Identifying Team Objectives

Learning Take-Aways:

  • Trust is a critical factor in team success
  • Asking for and offering help
  • The team is always bigger than you think

 

 

Corporate Structure

nail1Ten sub-teams work to create an effective organizational structure for the team by attempting to balance 12 nails on the head of one nail. Each small team works to develop a strategy and a course of action to succeed.

Business Relevance:

  • Goal identification
  • Knowledge sharing
  • Team collaboration
  • Asking for help and offering help
  • Building team morale
  • One team – one goal philosophy

Learning Take-Aways:

  • Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but of strength
  • On a team, nobody is done until everybody is done
  • Reinventing the wheel may not be an effective use of resources

 

 

Security System Installation Process

Sec5The entire team works together to install a highly sophisticated security system that will protect all proprietary information at our firm. The team is required to design and execute a series of actions to safely install this system within a specific amount of time. Each participant has a portion of the data needed to successfully complete the assignment. The team must work together to assimilate the data, create a plan of action and execute the plan.

Business Relevance:

  • Exceeding Customer Expectations
  • Effective Communication
  • Listening Skills
  • Goal Setting
  • Managing Resources
  • Dealing with Change
  • Team roles and Responsibilities

Learning Take-Aways:

  • Your perception of success may not be same as your customer’s
  • The objective of every team project must be clearly defined
  • Team members must identify their role and responsibility in each project
  • Team member must know the available resources and learn to best utilize them

 

 

Come On Over

minor1Participants use influencing skills and negotiation to convince co-workers to transfer to a new location. The co-workers must simultaneously convince the other group that they should be the ones to transfer. This interactive, effective communication skill-building event covers many aspects of listening, communication and influencing skills.

Business Relevance:

  • Goal identification
  • Effective listening
  • Influencing skills
  • Negotiation skills
  • Identifying needs vs. wants
  • Exchanging information

Learning Take-Aways:

  • Identify the needs of others before explaining your needs
  • The party with more information has an advantage
  • Asking for information is more effective than telling others what you want
  • Look for partnership opportunities

 

 

Cardinal Aircraft Consulting Engagement

debriefTeams must create and fly a paper aircraft model designed to meet the needs and desires of their client and his customer. This elaborate business simulation covers all aspects of client and customer service including client identification, client needs, planning, managing budgets, presentation skills and delivering on time and with high quality.

Business Relevance:

  • Consulting Skills
  • Gathering and Exchanging Information
  • Identifying Client Specifications
  • Meeting Client Expectations
  • Listening Skills
  • Managing Resources

Learning take-aways:

  • Both clients and consultants contribute to successful outcomes
  • Asking for and offering help is critical to success
  • The team is always bigger than you think