Next week (Feb 22-23), several Experian credit and collections experts will have the privilege of sharing their expertise with TRMA conference goers. Leading up to this year’s Conference, I thought I’d briefly introduce you to each of these speakers and provide a sneak preview of his or her presentation.
Session: TRMA Learning Lab (Tuesday, 2/22/11, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Topic: The SimTel Business Game for Account Management
Experian Presenter: Jim Nowell Business Training Consultant
Follow up Session (Game results): Wednesday, 2/23/11, 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
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KM: Today, we welcome Experian’s Jim Nowell. How are you doing, Jim?
JN: I’m doing great, Kathy. Really looking forward to sharing the SimTel Business Game with folks at TRMA.
KM: Two sessions, right?
JN: Yes, the Game is on Tuesday. We present the results on Wednesday.
KM: Before we hear about the Game, can you briefly describe what you do at Experian?
JN: Sure, I’m a Business Training Consultant. My job is to train our clients’ analysts in setting strategies using Strategy Management systems. It’s not so much about how to use the software but what to look for and what to do (or not do) to address the problems. I do this through a 2½-day “SimRisk” Business Game courses.
KM: 2½-days? I thought this was 4 hours!
JN:The Business Game that we’ll run at TRMA is actually an abbreviated version of our regular analyst training course. Of course, in the full version there’s more time to spend discussing teams’ proposed strategies and possible outcomes.
KM: Tell us a little bit about the SimTel Game itself, including why you do it and what players come away with?
JN: The SimTel Business Game for Account Management is a realistic risk simulation exercise in which Risk Managers work in small teams to solve credit problems for a fictitious Telco portfolio. We offer it at conferences so people can show off their “credit chops,” while learning new ways to refine corporate credit strategy.
KM: That sounds fun, is SimTel new?
JN: We’ve actually been running the Originations version of SimTel for a few years now, but there was a lot of demand for an Account Management version, so we developed this last year. When we tested it out in the UK, players really got into it.
KM: So how does the game work?
JN: Before the session, participants receive a set of simulated reports showing the portfolio performance over the last 24 months. Using Strategy Management Software, they get three opportunities to amend their strategies for: Collections, Credit Limit Assignment and the “Ongoing Bundle.” After each set of changes, the portfolio is run forward by 3 months and a new set of reports is created to reflect the updated results.
KM: Why do people like the SimTel game so much?
JN: First of all, it’s fun! And, it provides a great opportunity to work side-by-side with industry peers to solve a realistic business-credit problem. There’s also the thrill of competition. Even though the data is simulated, people approach it as if it were real. During the session, players gain a real appreciation for how changes to one element of a strategy, say credit limit assignment, directly affects other areas, collections for example.
KM: So true. What happens on Wednesday?
JN: That’s when I’ll deliver the games results … and most importantly, the winners! We finish up by summarizing how people can use the Strategy Management Software to develop their own winning strategies, and with a quick Q&A, so it should be fun.
KM: Sound great, Jim, I can’t wait.
JN: Thanks, Kathy. Hope to see you there.
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