Described by senior executives as “powerful,” “frighteningly real!” and “highly relevant,” the Six Decisions simulator makes case studies come alive, adding a strong experiential dimension to the workshop.

The simulation is a software tool that works on PC or Macintosh computers. Likened to a flight simulator for managers, users point and click with a mouse to make decisions and see results over time as they “test fly” a virtual organization. The simulator enables teams to “learn by doing” through a structured and iterative process of experimentation, discovery and shared reflection.

Designed to help clarify thinking about the dynamic consequences of decisions, the simulation portrays key elements of an organization and its market over a ten-year period. User inputs (types of decisions) include setting prices, allocating capital resources, hiring and layoffs, adjusting compensation, developing staff skills, and managing the marketing budget. Among the outputs (performance measures) available to participants are indicators for service quality, financial performance, market share, capacity, and morale within the organization.

Although a featured component of the program, participants spend less than a third of the curriculum time using the simulator. The majority of time is spent in other activities that stimulate interaction, reflection and development work on core topics.

In a Six Decisions workshop, computer stations are typically set up around the perimeter of a room where small teams of 2 or 3 people can go to conduct assigned exercises.

The simulation was created by Breakthrough Learning using the ithink® software from iseesystems™.