Paper Nation experience

The Paper Nation simulation, originally created for Dow Corning’s Strategic Leadership Development Program, has been awarded the Excellence in Practice Citation by the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). This simulation, which is now available for licensing, has been used by a growing number of companies and business schools for business acumen training and leadership development.

In Paper Nation, your company’s key decision-makers assume the leadership roles of a fictional pulp and paper company. Their challenge is to manage the business over six years and meet ambitious revenue, profit and value-creation targets. They work within a virtual business environment that presents a variety of real-world leadership challenges. The experience builds transferable skills in:

• Business acumen
• Decision-making
• Financial analysis
• Leadership
• Strategic thinking

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Behavioral simulation + Computer simulation = Real-world experience

The Paper Nation experience combines two simulation technologies to create a rich, transferable learning experience. Behavioral simulation materials include an annual report, role descriptions, and in-basket memos. These documents paint a detailed picture of Paper Nation’s culture and history. They also stimulate managers to deal with the real-world challenges and opportunities facing their leadership team.

The computer model captures the key cause-and-effect relationships in the Paper Nation business system driving operational and financial performance. Each year of the simulation, managers make role-specific budget decisions and they receive immediate feedback about their business results. The combination of the two technologies creates a virtual experience that feels like real-life and helps managers integrate the “hard” skills of strategic thinking with the “soft” skills of leadership.

To maximize just-in-time learning during the Paper Nation Experience, Blue Sky consultants (program facilitators) are available to clarify information and sharpen questions. They also facilitate focused debriefs to maximize individual and team learning.

Customized programs

We customize the educational program wrapped around each Paper Nation Experience to address the specific learning objectives of each client. Typically programs last 3 or 4 days and include skill-building sessions (e.g. finance, decision-making) up front. Target audiences can range from frontline managers to senior executives.