Business plans, marketing strategies, complex logistics systems, etc. depend on countless factors, including difficult to predict human factors and actions beyond our direct control (e.g. those of our competitors). The better your mental models, the more sequences of actions you can compose, taking into account all relevant interdependencies and even the not-so-obvious and longer term ramifications of your decision-making.

Business simulation, underpinned by System Dynamics, provides this ability to reach a deeper understanding of your business and model different potential scenarios in a shared learning environment. It is ideally suited for use by teams and individuals who wish to:
• integrate a variety of perspectives in addressing strategic or operational problems
• test out the feasibility of strategic options in a 'safe' environment, so avoiding costly failures
• achieve a shared understanding and consensus about what really drives the business and the key leverage points for performance improvements.

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES
Introduce participants to the underlying principles of System Dynamics Modelling and Systems Thinking as a way of conceptualising and communicating key business issues. We will:
1. Introduce System Dynamics as an approach to aid understanding and prediction of system behaviour and organizational performance
2. Enable delegates to experience the power of business simulation through participation in a mini-microworld.
3. Provide practical hands-on experience of building a working computer model to simulate the behaviour of a system over time using Powersim®, iThink®, Vensim® or MyStrategy®.

WHO WILL BENEFIT
The workshop is aimed at business executives at all levels, particularly those with change management or planning responsibilities in areas such as strategic planning, resource management, crisis planning and management and process re-engineering.

While previous experience in using Microsoft Windows will be assumed, no programming skills are required. The emphasis is on developing systems thinking and system dynamics modelling skills in a business rather than a technical context. No previous knowledge of simulation or system dynamics is required.

WORKSHOP OUTLINE
• Mini-Microworlds: participants will experience the dynamics of key strategies found in a case situation. The mini-case-study and diskettes are sent to all participants at least 10 days prior to the start of the Workshop.
• Counter-intuitive Results Exercise: participants will identify from their own experience, situations where results of strategic moves or change proved surprising.
• Introducing the Basic Concepts of System Dynamics Modelling: models; systems; resource maps; causal loop diagrams; flow diagrams.
• The Modelling Circle: problem description; system understanding; model construction; model testing; model use and simulation.
• Understanding Basic System Behaviours: goal-seeking behaviour, exponential development, S-shaped growth, delays, oscillations.
• Case Studies: involve the development of causal loop diagrams and system behaviour diagnostics as well as diagramming and basic use of a SD modelling package in the analysis.

WORKSHOP TIMES
The Workshop commences at 9.00 hours on the first day. The programme then continues at 08.30 hours on subsequent mornings. The workshop comes to an end no later than 17.00 hours on the third day.

WORKSHOP PRESENTER
The workshop will be led by:
Tony Gill who is a director of Phrontis. He has held a number of international marketing and management positions within Carrier Corporation and for the past ten years has specialised in helping organizations to improve both strategic and operational performance using systems thinking approaches. He is co-editor of the book, 'Multi-methodology: The Theory and Practice of Combining Management Science Methodologies' published by John Wiley in September 1997.

Venue
The workshop is likely to be held at the Conference Room located close to London in the vicinity of Bicester, Banbury and Oxford, U.K. This will be a comfortable, tranquil and well equipped training facility conveniently located close to the M40 motorway.

Workshop Fee
The fee for the three days is £1100.00 plus VAT @ 17½% = £1292.50. This includes day time meals and refreshments and use of computing equipment and all course materials. Participants are requested to bring their own notebook computer. If required, we can hire-in a computer at a cost of £60 per day plus VAT per computer. We will be happy to make arrangements on your behalf for dinner, breakfast and overnight accommodation which are not included in this course fee.

Registration
To reserve a place, please complete and return the registration form. Alternatively, you can book via telephone +44(0) 1295 812262, fax +44(0)1295 812511 or e-mail info@phrontis.com

Confirmation
Your place will be guaranteed on receipt of payment in full. Joining instructions will be sent to you two weeks prior to the commencement of the course. We reserve the right to postpone any course where there are insufficient numbers to make the course economically viable.

For further details about any of these courses, please contact Tony Gill of Phrontis Limited at: Beacon House, Horn Hill Road, Adderbury, Banbury, Oxon OX17 3EU, UK. Tel: +44(0)1295 812262, fax +44(0)1295 812511 OR regularly visit our web site.