INTERVIEWSEED Co., Ltd.
SEED Co., Ltd. is a specialist manufacturer dealing with everything about eyes. We'll support your vision all the way.
We conducted Business Management Game (BMG) training to develop the next generation of managers.
The objective of the training sessions were to enhance the following three skills: 1. the ability to gain an overview of the entire company across departments; 2. the ability to set tasks through analysis of the business environment and discussion with colleagues; and 3. the ability to implement strategies and analyze results from a financial perspective.
Mr. Imoto, Ms. Kanazawa, Mr. Nakamura
Purpose of the Training Session
What kind of human resource development is SEED currently implementing?
We have been conducting a human resource development program once a month throughout the year for the purpose of developing the next generation of managers. This BMG training was considered an introduction to this program.
Why did you decide to implement BMG training?
We decided to introduce this training because we felt that learning company management procedures in a fun and practical way with a team was exactly the kind of training we were looking for.
It allowed us to provide an opportunity to talented employees who are expected to broaden their careers, by having them engage in friendly competition with each other, make strategic decisions, and analyze the results of those decisions.
So you were attracted to the practical, team-orientated aspect of learning management?
Yes. Particularly the way the results of discussions and decision-making were presented in the form of financial statements was a unique part of the training session. I don't think you can learn to use financial statements just from studying them. The only way you can understand the importance of having both strategic and financial thinking is to experience the management process for yourself. I also felt that having the team complement each other as the training went on helped to deepen the learning process.
In all honesty, we had never made use of a simulation game training session before, so I was skeptical about the effectiveness at first. However, through the detailed explanations and demonstrations, I realized that it was not just a simple game, but rather a refined way to learn management. I have come to believe it is effective in developing management personnel. In fact, many students have used the same training in their MBA programs at Waseda University.
Learning and Effectiveness of the Training
As someone who took part in the BMG training, what were your first impressions?
I thought the team-orientated management simulation sounded interesting, but since I had never had the opportunity to study management before, I also felt that it would be difficult with lots of hurdles to overcome. I have never been involved in production planning or financial management decision-making in my day-to-day work, so I was quite worried about whether or not I would be able to make the correct decisions.
Now that you have completed the training session, how was it?
When we first started I definitely wasn't very sure what I should be doing, but by the end I enjoyed the entire process immensely.
What left an impression on me was the process of planning a product with proper foresight into the future, including preparing the control of production, the marketing plan, and everything else. I can't go into too much detail otherwise it'll be a spoiler for anyone else who takes the training, haha.
I found it both interesting and difficult to make decisions while analyzing the market demand together with the supply of products from our company as well as its competitors.
I realized that managers need to consider their company's position and sometimes make bold investments to create a more aggressive stance in the market. The experience of making multiple decisions from various perspectives in a short period of time, all while engaging in constructive team discussions, was a chance for me to enhance my perspective and broaden my horizons in my work.
What else have you learned through the training?
I learned the importance of financial awareness and being able to look at issues from the company's perspective. During the BMG training session, the results of your decisions are immediately reflected on your balance sheet (B/S) and profit and loss statement (P/L). Through the process, I learned what actions affect each indicator, and I think it was a great way to get a realistic understanding of what all the numbers mean.
I also learned the importance of making decisions in each area of management, including manufacturing, production, sales, advertising, and recruitment. I got a good feel for the complexity of management while trying to get all of these areas to work in conjunction with a common goal and timeline.
Implementation of the Training Session
Did the training achieve the results that the company had hoped for?
I believe so. We adopted the BMG training program as an introduction to the training for managers that we hold throughout the year. According to a survey given to participants after the training, they were overall very satisfied with the training, and I think it provided an opportunity for them to understand their own interests, strengths, and weaknesses all while experiencing management. I also believe this was an opportunity that allowed the participants to gain insights that will lead to future independent learning.
After the BMG training, we conducted several case studies on internal training sessions and found this training had many more responses and presentations that were insightful, with unique perspectives. I felt that a very positive impact was created through the simulated experience of management.
This time, around we invited participants from across multiple departments within the company, and I think it provided an opportunity for us to gain a new understanding of each department's thinking and position within the company, as well as the conflicts involved in decision-making.
All teams engaged in debates, each making the most of their individual strengths, which I feel was very effective in promoting communication. Mr. Nakamura, how did you find the team-orientated management practice?
Well, I think that actual corporate management involves much more uncertainty than the simulations presented. There are always unexpected things happening in the business world. Even so, everyone is responsible for his or her own area of expertise, and ultimately the management needs to make a decision with the perspective of the entire company in view. I feel I got to experience just how challenging making these decisions can be.
It also made me think that I want to be more mindful of my perspective as a manager in my day-to-day work. I want to make it clear to myself what I am lacking, and figure out what I should be doing if I want to move forward in the same direction as the company as a whole. While I still have a lot to learn, this training really made me feel that management could be fun. It was great to be able to experience the "fun of management" by taking over the helm myself, overcoming challenges, and leading everyone in the same direction.
What would you say to anyone else considering this training session?
Like me, I think that many people in charge of training will find it hard to decide on making use of this kind of "game" training. Generally speaking games are considered as something done for fun that you won't get anything out of, but I can say now that for BMG training this is not the case.
The simulations are all prepared for practical management experience, and I think they have been very well thought out. All of the participants took part in the training not as a game for fun, but with serious expressions on their faces as they took on the roles of managers. I would definitely recommend this training to those in charge of human resource development and training at other companies.
That said, the BMG training is not an end in itself. believe to get the most out of the training each company will need to figure out the best way to follow up on the results and provide financial and other training opportunities in conjunction with the BMG session. I think to build that whole training program is where those in charge of training can really show their strength. I think each and every company should develop a training program tailored to the human resources they are seeking.
From the early stages, we want our employees to develop a viewpoint and field of view that enables them to be aware of both strategic and financial perspectives, as these are essential for management staff. Compared to typical training, I believe that BMG training, while fun, is serious, practical, and simulates management experience that will have a significant impact on the future growth of employees.
After actually conducting the training, I found the BMG training to be very compelling with fantastic content, and I would highly recommend it to anyone in charge of training at other companies.
Mr. Imoto, Ms. Kanazawa, and Mr. Nakamura, thank you very much for your time.
