One of the most interesting and relevant things about Advantexe’s business acumen simulations is that they track all user inputs and results as they set and execute a business strategy in a learning-by-doing format. We recently conducted an intensive business acumen workshop for a group of emerging leaders, and we used AI to analyze the simulation data from more than 50 teams, each with about 5 participants. We leveraged our new and innovative machine learning tool developed by our internal AI team, which we are building into all our simulations. Our goal? To uncover trends in R&D investment and innovation focus so that we can share insights and data with our clients about the trends and culture of participants in our simulation-centric workshops. More and more, our clients are asking for training programs that help to push innovation, especially within their R&D teams.

The results were astounding! Even in a risk-free simulation, where participants could test strategies without real-world consequences, there was a strong apprehension about investing in short-term and long-term R&D. Most teams seem to prioritize short-term efficiencies and cost management to drive margins over long-term innovation and “being bold.”

So why the hesitation? Based on our data and interviews with participants, here are three thoughts and suggestions on how to address the issues we uncovered.

Last week, I posted an article on our blog called Beyond the Hype: How AI Enhances Learning in Business Simulations. The post focused on how Advantexe uses real AI tools and machine learning to enhance learning in business simulations. In the post, I discussed how our digital business simulations are using AI to analyze data for results and provide valuable customer feedback in bite-sized formats like AI-generated tweets to improve the learning experience. This week at a program, I saw something both scary and, to be transparent, ingenious. Participants took screenshots of their simulation results, decisions, and competitive data and fed them into ChatGPT to analyze outcomes and strategize their next moves.

Is this a brilliant move by the team for learning, or is this hurting the learning experience by taking a shortcut and diminishing the learner’s ability to think critically and learn through exploration? I thought about this for a while, and the answer isn’t so cut and dry. In this post, I'm going to look at three key aspects of how AI was used in this manner and review the positives and negatives of AI-assisted learning when using business simulations.

I guess I’m stating the obvious when I say, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere.” From content creation to customer service, AI is transforming almost all industries. For those of us who work in Corporate Talent Development, AI is reshaping how employees learn and how learning professionals create and deliver content.

But with all the buzz, the real question remains: How can AI be used to make learning more effective? How can AI be leveraged to do more than create efficiencies by using ChatGPT to help with ideas, writing, and putting together PowerPoint slides?

At Advantexe, we have been focusing on practical applications of AI to enhance our business simulations and accelerate learning at scale. With the growing need for asynchronous learning and reduced training times, AI helps deliver impactful learning experiences in shorter sessions. More than ever, our clients are asking, “What can you do in an hour or two?” AI is now enabling us to provide meaningful, high-impact learning in condensed formats. Rather than using AI for AI’s sake, we have been working on integrating it into our digital business simulations to provide learners with deeper insights, real-time feedback, and a more immersive experience. Here are two ways we are currently leveraging AI:

For years, organizations have relied on “traditional” Finance for the Non-Financial Manager (FFNFM) programs to help managers better understand essential financial concepts and terms. This allows them to understand how their company makes money and, possibly, how to make better business decisions. In fact, a recent Advantexe survey found that 76% of companies still offer an FFNFM program, proving its continued relevance.

An effective FFNFM program should go beyond teaching financial terms and concepts, it must build confidence, skills, and the ability to analyze data, make informed decisions, and drive business results.

This blog post will explore the key elements of a strong FFNFM program, including foundational financial concepts, the impact of business decisions on financials, and how simulations can enhance financial acumen. By building core skills, managers can better connect financial insights with strategy to ensure they contribute to their company’s growth and performance.

Despite the popularity of other complex learning tools like AI, AR, and VR, many Talent Development professionals still have significant objections to using digital business simulations to build skills. From cost concerns to fears about complexity, these objections can deter organizations from embracing the incredible value digital business simulations deliver to audiences in need of these skills and organizations fighting to achieve success in a very tough global business environment.

At Advantexe, we’ve heard it all. We know what it’s like to sit in meetings where decision-makers worry about technical hurdles, security risks, or whether employees will actually engage. But here’s the thing, these objections are all solvable, and the benefits of business simulation-centric learning far outweigh the challenges.

To help you navigate these concerns, we’ve compiled the top 10 objections and potential responses to utilizing digital business simulations in your talent development programs.