Participants This page is explores what you should do to match a simulation to the prior learning, knowledge and experience of the learners.

Simulations rely on a foundation of prior learning, knowledge and experience and so it is necessary to take this into account when choosing the right simulation. Additionally, there are the questions of maturity, culture and learning style.

By defining the learning objectives addressed by our simulations and, where appropriate, the target audience we ensure that the simulation is suitably matched to your participants. But the following notes explore some issues:

Target Audience Match

A simulation suitable for middle to senior management is likely to be too complex for junior management and functional specialists. This is both because or the knowledge base addressed by the simulation and because junior management will not have had the decision-making experience (and so are not able to handle uncertainty and ambiguity). Equally, a simulation designed for use by junior managers and functional specialists will not be significantly challenging for senior managers.

 

Audience Mix

Where a simulation covers a wide range of knowledge it is not necessary for all the participants have the necessary knowledge provided the group as a whole covers the required knowledge base and the necessary knowledge can be spread in each team.

If there is insufficient mix of knowledge and experience then additional information (such as definitions and explanations) should be provided (possibly as pre-reading). Also, the trainer should budget time for sessions building any basic knowledge.

 

Culture & Gender

Having run simulations with groups from around the world and with some courses having more than a dozen nationalities represented we have found that national culture is not an issue. Likewise, gender does not seem be an issue. (Except that it can be wise to spread the genders across teams as single gender teams are too competitive!)

 

However although nationalities and gender is not an issue corporate and functional culture can be. Experience working over long periods of time with companies suggests that each company has its own culture. Also, running simulations where all participants are from a single functional area (such as finance, sales or engineering) suggest differences.

 

Maturity

Typically, junior staff have difficulty handling ambiguity and uncertainty and so can be uncomfortable. Also, because the majority perhaps all their learning experience has been lecture based they can be uncomfortable with participant centred learning.

 

Being prepared for these issues and choosing an appropriate simulation means that the above issues should not cause any problem - if you are unsure please contact us to discuss your needs and draw on our experience.