ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Sept. 15, 2011 — Paradigm Learning, a leader in business games, simulations and Discovery Maps®, today unveiled its latest business acumen case study,How to Enrich the Business Acumen of Leaders at Del Monte Foods.
Food production and distribution is a highly competitive industry. Profitability depends on innovation and brand loyalty as much as on driving financially efficient operations. It’s imperative that company leaders and managers know how their business operates.
In an effort to reduce waste and improve efficiency, Del Monte Foods wanted to create educational opportunities for its employees to understand the basics of its business — how the company makes.. This was spurred by company research that indicated front-line employees needed better technical knowledge and skills, and midlevel employees needed broad-based leadership skills.
Del Monte decided the best way for employees to gain this critical knowledge — to improve their business acumen — was to let them discover it for themselves. Del Monte assembled employees in a series of training sessions to participate in a simple-yet-sophisticated business simulation called Zodiak®: The Game of Business Finance and Strategy.
In Zodiak, participants gather at a game board and run a fictitious company for three time-compressed years (actually, about four to five hours). With no financial background necessary, they can make decisions, deliver products and services, negotiate loans, purchase equipment and supplies, deal with unexpected events, and more. The experience allows learners to see firsthand what happens to the bottom line as a result of their decisions. Then, armed with fresh insights, they can apply the lessons to their daily workplace decisions.
It has worked, says Christine Hunter, Del Monte’s director of organization development and training. “Financially savvy employees can easily identify opportunities and see potential benefits,” she said. “This is one of the best training offerings we have had at Del Monte. I think this says a lot about the importance of business acumen and our commitment to developing employees in this area.”
Click here to download the Del Monte Foods case study, How to Enrich the Business Acumen of Leaders at Del Monte Foods. For more information about Zodiak, visit us at www.Paradigm Learning or call 727-471-3170.
About Paradigm Learning
Paradigm Learning is a leader in learning innovation, offering unique education and communication programs to organizations around the world. Its award-winning, classroom-based business games, simulations and Discovery Maps®, enhanced with online options, customizing and consulting services, have been used by leading companies since 1994. Paradigm Learning’s core methodology is discovery learning, a powerful educational approach that engages employees, accelerates learning and increases retention.
Fully customized programs and tailored off-the-shelf programs are available in areas such as business acumen, talent leadership, employee alignment, leadership accountability, team building, project management, organizational change and change management. The company’s flagship business acumen training program, Zodiak®: The Game of Business Finance and Strategy, has been conducted with more than one million managers and employees worldwide.
This press release was distributed through PR Web by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www.HRmarketer.com) on behalf of the company listed above.