The (potential) depth & breadth of simulation uses

Well 2007 is now nearly over and having submitted, just yesterday, our final client proposal of the calendar year I have started reflecting back on the last twelve months or so. One point of note is the sheer range of reasons that clients and partners have approached PIXELearning with a view to getting an ILS or serious game project off the ground. I thought it might be interesting to compile and share a quick list of all of those that I can remember…..and here it is.

• Audit intern induction training
• Diversity awareness & inclusion
• Marketing fundamentals
• Introduction to finance
• Understanding complex sales processes
• Using the CRM tool (what’s in it for me?)
• Call centre (IT product awareness)
• Promoting careers in the retail sector
• Basic retail concepts (training aid)
• General business awareness
• Consultancy skills for public sector workers
• Customer care (several industry sectors)
• Front line sales skills
• Awareness of financial products (for consumers)
• IT skills
• Personal finance skills
• Company induction training
• Project management (several industry sectors)
• Business studies (education)
• Health & safety in office environments
• Operating a franchise
• Sexual health (helping parents to help their kids)
• Aircraft cabin crew training (dealing with passengers etc)
• Basics of international trade
• Promoting enterprise to young adults
• Training holiday reps in everyday and emergency skills
• Defensive driving for sales engineers
• How to run a not-for-profit enterprise
• Virtual bottling plant – product management
• SAP implementation roll out (for a specific industry)
• Leveraging research and IP for university tech transfer staff
• Virtual work experience in six different industries
• Lean management training
• Six sigma concept training
• Understanding how different business areas affect each other/interdependencies

Whilst not all of these projects went ahead – some were lost, some cancelled and others are still being worked on – this list illustrates, albeit in a not terrifically scientific way, that people/organisations are now seeking to apply game and simulation design techniques to help tackle many many different learning, communication, marketing and other problems. 

I look forward to compiling another list in 12 months time and I cannot wait to see what challenges and opportunities lie ahead. 

Have a great New Year.