This one day, in-house workshop, provides managers, team leaders and team members with an introduction to systems thinking and an understanding of how it may be practically applied to their business issues. The workshop is suitable for groups of eight to sixteen.

Workshop Overview

Morning
The morning is devoted to the Beer Game. Playing in teams of four, delegates get first hand experience of the highs and lows of managing a complex feedback system. This is followed by an in-depth debrief which focuses on identifying the systemic causes of the behaviour experienced while playing the Beer Game.

Afternoon
The afternoon is focussed on introducing a set of techniques for thinking systemically about business issues and developing ideas for robust long-term solutions to those issues. The tools of systems thinking are introduced and a process for applying them to real business issues is described. Delegates, working in small groups then get the opportunity to apply what they have learned to a case study. A simulation model based upon the case study is demonstrated to introduce the System Dynamics approach.
The workshop ends with a group discussion that explores how systems thinking and system dynamics can be applied to the groups own business issues.

Workshop Benefits
• Awareness of the need to adopt a systemic approach to problem solving.
• Introduction to the tools and techniques of systems thinking.
• An overview of system dynamics.
• An understanding of how to apply these techniques to business issues.
• Identification of suitable issues for the groups first application of systemic problem solving techniques.

Who Should Attend
Managers, work-based teams, analysts and trainers who wish to find out what systems thinking is and how it may be practically applied to their business issues.

WORKSHOP TIMES
Normally he Workshop commences at 9.00 hours and comes to an end no later than 17.00 hours.

WORKSHOP PRESENTERS
The workshop will be led by:

Dr David Corben,who is a consultant specialising in systems thinking and system dynamics. He has worked both as a practitioner and as an academic (Bradford Management Centre) and has published papers in journals and conference proceedings. He has also developed computer based learning environments for use in management development training. David has worked with multinational companies in a wide range of industries such as: oil and gas, financial services, utilities, agri-chemicals, information technology, pharmaceuticals and retailing.

and
Tony Gill who is a director of Phrontis. He has held a number of international marketing and management positions within Carrier Corporation and for the past fourteen years has specialised in helping organizations to improve both strategic and operational performance using systems thinking approaches. He is co-editor of the book, 'Multi-methodology: The Theory and Practice of Combining Management Science Methodologies' published by John Wiley in September 1997.

Venue
As an in-house workshop, this will be held at a location determined by the Client.

Workshop Fee
The fee for the Workshop is subject to negotiation based on Client needs.

For further details about any of the Phrontis courses, please contact Tony Gill of Phrontis Limited at: Billings, Horn Hill Road, Adderbury, Banbury, Oxon OX17 3EW, UK. Tel: +44(0)1295 812262, fax +44(0)1295 812511.