Kaplan Business Challenge (Aviation and Defence Industry)

About the client:
Our client is a provider of some of the world’s most advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace, and security solutions. They have employed a skilled workforce of 90,500 people in more than 40 countries and are working with customers and local partners, to develop engineer, manufacture, and support products and systems to deliver military capability, protect national security and people, and keep critical information and infrastructure secure.

What business challenge were they experiencing?
The client wanted its employees to develop strong coordination between all of their respective departments and to help them develop an understanding of effective commercial acumen. They also intended, through this training program, to convey the skills of time management as well as to comprehend the importance and impact that one department can have on all other departments within the organization.

What did Kaplan Professional ME offer the client?
Kaplan Professional ME introduced the organization to a business board game called the Kaplan Business Challenge (KBC) that was run for a defined duration of 3 days. The main objectives of the board game were:
• Learning to apply effective cost control strategies
• Practice the key components of effective decision-making under pressure
• Gain insight into the commercial impact of decisions
• Experience leadership and teamwork in a complex environment
• Think strategically about a business and how to manage risk
• Hone influencing and negotiating skills
• Manage stakeholders and their expectations

What was the impact of the program?
The impact of the program was felt significantly by the organization as it helped each team to develop a sense of appreciation for other departments within the business and to understand how decisions made within one department have the power to impact all the other business verticals. The candidates participating in the program also felt a deeper sense of time management and the effective utilization of negotiation skills in their day-to-day business affairs.

Which aspects were appreciated by the client?
The client and the delegates reported top score feedback for the program and were left highly impressed by the conveying of key business management skills in a board-game simulation format. They also appreciated the aspect of being allowed to make real-life business decisions in a customized game.