Simmetrics™

Simmetrics™ is about the rapidly growing cost of cumulative error.

The activity represents those situations in which a simple mistake, made early in a process, can become a very costly and wasteful problem if it is not picked up and dealt with at an early stage.

The exercise is played over a series of 4 x  c.10 minute rounds, with subsequent rounds beginning with the disadvantage of having ’penalty points’ transferred from earlier rounds. These penalty points make the achievement of targets increasingly difficult as the exercise progresses, unless the problem is dealt with quickly and effectively.
It can be used with groups of 5 up to 20 participants.

In order to complete the exercise successfully, teams must work towards a shared strategy for minimising waste and error. This is dependent upon collaboration, a degree of ’big picture’ thinking and a consideration of the impact of one decision, or individual choice, upon the wider team. Throughout the exercise, decisions are being made under time-pressure. It is not possible to evaluate every option, so a set of ’working principles’ is of value.
Can the team establish the operating guidelines so that they demonstrate improved performance at every stage in the exercise?
Simmetrics™ asks teams to build a strategy which is flexible and responsive - they need to keep as many options open as possible. They also need to be sure that every individual understands the strategy so that personal decisions are well judged.
Simmetrics™ demonstrates convincingly how thinking ahead and planning for a range of possible scenarios enables the participants to maintain control of a situation which could otherwise control them.

The flexible nature of this exercise is such that the facilitator manual provides examples of how it may be used to consider topics such as:

• Group Decision-making
• Time Management
• Project Planning
• Budgeting & Expenditure
• Sustainability

Simmetrics™ comes with its own carrying case containing a single write-on wipe-off metallised game board and all required materials to deliver the activites described above.

Simmetrics has been purchased by a wide range of customers including:
Abetas, Spain; Action Learning Associates, USA; Booz, Allen Hamiltoin, USA; Bright Grey, UK; Chinese Culture University. Taiwan; Guiness Norhtern Counties, UK; Key Consulting, China; Loughborough University,UK; Maria Chrisitna de Luna, Brazil; McDonalds Restaurants, UK; Sculp Consultants, Netherlands; University of Leeds, UK; Yorkshire Water, UK.

Case Study