Systems Thinking and Business Modelling with iThink

Systems Thinking and Business Modelling 3-day essential skills workshop with iThink®

Systems Thinking and Business Modelling is a Cognitus essential skills workshop – providing a basic introduction to the skills you need to begin building and using business simulations.This 3-day workshop is a practical introduction to ideas and simulation tools that will help you to build - and test - business development strategies and plans that you can be confident will work, covering the following:

• Systems thinking - a visual language. You will learn to apply the visual ‘language’ of resources and feedback (system maps) to describe organisational structure and performance.
• Simulation modelling. You will learn how to transform system maps directly into working simulation models using iThink – a simple yet extremely powerful simulation toolset.
• Transparent financial tools. You will learn how to transform simulations into powerful financial tools that transcend spreadsheets – adding simplicity and transparency to all levels of financial analysis.
• Engaging the right people in strategy. You will learn to apply a consistent strategy development process that engages your managers, makes the best of their knowledge and ensures that your team are all “on the same page”.
• Communicating strategy. You will learn to build management interfaces to use simulations to communicate strategy across your organisation and across the internet.

The course provides a basic introduction to:
• Systems Thinking (ST): a universal language to describe structure and behaviour
• System dynamics (SD): a complete framework for strategy simulation
• Resource-based strategy: describing business structures and performance implications
• The iThink strategy simulation toolbox
• Creating resource-based strategies: practical cases and templates
• Strategy valuation: scenario development, simulation and communication
• The SD management engagement process
• Creating and using web-based simulations
• Your way ahead: iThink simulation and SD development pathways.

Cognitus can tailor the programme to meet specific organisation and individual interests.

The workshop is designed for executive managers, strategy and business development managers, planners and financial analysts in all industries and public services, who wish to learn the basic skills of
systems thinking, business simulation and successful application processes.

No previous experience with iThink® or business modelling is required, although you may benefit by some pre-reading on the resources.

This 3-day Systems thinking and business modelling training course covers the following areas:

Day 1: Introducing Systems Thinking and System Dynamics: resource structures and simulation foundations

• Systems thinking and system dynamics overview
• Resource structures and stock/flow diagrams
• Feedback loops and influence diagrams
• Recurring archetype structures and behaviours
• Introduction to iThink®
• Human resource simulation development exercises
• Short case study in resource strategy simulation
• Overnight resource mapping exercises.

Day 2: Practical strategy simulation development

• Debrief of overnight mapping exercises
• Introduction to simulation conceptualisation principles
• Overview of the strategy simulation process.
• Case study: Issue definition
• The management team engagement process
• Qualitative resource and feedback mapping
• Quantitative iThink simulation development
• Adding financial scorekeeping
• Adding a management interface.
• Review of Days 1 and 2. Discussion of next steps.

Day 3: Developing and communicating strategy with simulations

• Case Study continued: Review of process so far
• Adding value analysis and management scorecards
• Scenario development
• Senario testing and communication.
• Creating a Netsim
• Simulating on the web.
  Workshop debrief and discussion of your next steps.

The cost for this 3-day Systems thinking and business modelling training course is £995.00 per delegate.

Cognitus Business Simulation Training

Cognitus specialises in providing qualitative systems thinking and qualitative training as well as a consultancy for businesses in health, pharmaceuticals, assets and supply chains

Cognitus is a UK firm specialising in business strategy simulation and has more than 20 years of experience practicing in the field of the methods and tools of system dynamics. Cognitus provides the widest range of business simulation products and services available in the UK and Europe.

Cognitus aim to apply simulations to improve the quality of strategic decisions and policy in business, government and public services - and to provide world class products and services to support those objectives.

Cognitus training, business simulation and discovery programmes

Cognitus provide the following:

Simulation software: iThink and STELLA: leading the world in advanced, easy-to-use simulation

Stategy Discovery Progammes: these explore strategic issues affecting short-term performance and long-term value creation in a wide range of business management functions. Discovery programmes are designed to be delivered ‘in-house’ to meet clear company needs and objectives, with pre-preparation and post-hoc debriefing as required. The programmes are supplemented by optional ‘follow-on’ essential skills training and strategy support.

Essential Skills Training: Cognitus and partners Isee Systems Inc provide a full range of introductory and advanced training programmes in support of systems thinking and system dynamics and - specifically - in support of iThink and STELLA simulation tools. These offerings range across online self-learning programmes (webinars), introductory group workshops and one-to-one tailored training (introductory and advanced).

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