Gives HR practitioners working financial knowledge and the ability to use financial statements to evaluate organisational performance, connecting HR functions to the company's financial results. Built around the HRians Challenge simulation, where teams build the strongest team for OPTIMA through a headhunting race under a limited budget.
What you'll achieve
- Understand how the HR team's performance influences overall company financial results
- Analyse the financial performance of the HR department
- Connect recruitment efficiency with the company's financial performance
- Assess the effectiveness of compensation and benefits practices
- Measure and analyse the productivity of human capital
- Develop accurate cost estimations for different HR functions
- Evaluate the return on investment of learning and development initiatives
- Design and apply solid KPIs that drive functional and financial success
- Build, manage, and analyse HR departmental budgets
- Create data-driven HR plans aligned with organisational strategy
Programme outline
Day I: The Language of Finance & the HR Dashboard - Financial numbers, statements, profitability analysis and results metrics
- HR Dashboard: linking HR functions to financial results and turning HR metrics into KPIs
- HR function efficiency metrics: HR cost-FTE ratio, cost per employee, cost per FTE
Day II: Recruitment, Retention & Productivity Metrics - Recruitment metrics: financial impact of late hiring, vacancy rate, 1st-year resignation, time-to-fill
- Retention metrics: turnover and its financial consequences, redundancy, involuntary turnover, retirement
- Productivity metrics: revenue per FTE, profit per FTE, human-capital ROI
Day III: Operations, Compliance & L&D ROI - HR operations & compliance: operating costs, automation ROI, cost and risk of non-compliance
- Recruitment & onboarding: cost-per-hire, vacancy cost, early-turnover loss, efficiency indicators
- Learning & development ROI: budget justification, training ROI models, upskilling vs. skill-gap cost
Equips professionals from any background with essential financial knowledge and practical skills to make smarter business decisions. Using the gamified Business Acumen simulation, participants act as executives leading a manufacturing company, analysing financial statements, planning budgets, allocating resources, and making strategic choices under real-world constraints.
What you'll achieve
- Develop a practical understanding of core financial concepts and the language of business
- Interpret and analyse financial statements to assess company performance
- Make informed strategic, operational, marketing, and financial decisions in a simulated business
- Understand the impact of cross-functional decisions on profitability, cash flow, and long-term growth
- Strengthen business acumen by linking day-to-day actions with overall organisational success
- Enhance teamwork, critical thinking, and decision-making through a competitive, gamified experience
Programme outline
Day I: Understanding Financial Numbers & Statements - Transactions analysis; current and fixed assets; revenue and expense recognition; adjustments
- Constructing the income statement (P&L), owner's equity statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement
Day II: Financial Analysis & Budgeting - Profitability, activity, financial-leverage and liquidity ratios; cash-flow statement analysis
- Budgeting techniques: full costing, connecting budgets to financial goals, control and performance management
Day III: Evaluating Investment Decisions - Cost-benefit analysis and the time value of money
- Investment opportunity evaluation, loan amortisation, and the discounted cash flow model
Strategic Management
Simulation: Strategizer
3 Days A dynamic, practical approach to strategy combining key frameworks with the immersive Strategizer simulation. Participants take the role of executives managing their own virtual companies, competing on strategic, operational, and financial decisions, analysing market dynamics, and experiencing the real impact of their choices.
What you'll achieve
- Understand the fundamentals of strategic management and its role in organisational success
- Apply key strategic analysis tools (SWOT, PESTEL, Five Forces) to evaluate business environments
- Formulate and implement competitive strategies under resource and market constraints
- Link corporate, business, and functional strategies to financial and operational performance
- Experience the challenges of decision-making in dynamic, competitive markets
- Strengthen teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership skills through simulation-based learning
Programme outline
Day 1: Foundations of Strategic Thinking - Vision, mission and core values; levels of strategy (corporate, business, functional)
- External analysis (PESTEL, Porter's Five Forces) and internal analysis (value chain, core competencies)
- SWOT: linking internal and external factors
Day 2: Strategy Formulation & Execution - Strategy formulation and strategic fit; generic competitive strategies (cost leadership, differentiation, focus)
- Blue Ocean vs. Red Ocean; growth strategies; strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions
- Evaluating and selecting options; aligning business and functional strategies
Day 3: Competing for Long-Term Success - Strategic change and adaptation; innovation as a driver of competitive advantage
- Implementation challenges (structure and culture); the role of leadership in execution
- Measuring strategic performance; lessons learned and application to real contexts
Sales Management Analytics
Simulation: SalesGen
3 Days Equips participants with the tools and frameworks to analyse sales performance, forecast trends, and optimise strategies. In the SalesGen simulation, teams analyse market opportunities, manage customer accounts, and decide on pricing, coverage, and channel management, with every move impacting revenue, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
What you'll achieve
- Understand the role of analytics in modern sales management and decision-making
- Identify and apply key sales metrics and performance indicators
- Use analytical tools to evaluate sales pipelines, territories, and customer segments
- Develop accurate sales forecasts using quantitative and qualitative methods
- Assess sales productivity, efficiency, and profitability through data-driven insights
- Design and implement data-driven sales strategies aligned with organisational goals
Programme outline
Day 1: Foundations of Sales Analytics - Linking sales analytics to business strategy and growth
- Sales metrics (revenue, volume, profitability) and KPIs for sales teams
- Customer segmentation and targeting; sales funnel and pipeline analysis; data sources
Day 2: Tools & Techniques for Sales Analysis - Forecasting methods (qualitative and quantitative); regression and trend analysis
- Territory and account analysis; evaluating sales productivity and efficiency
Day 3: Strategic Application of Sales Analytics - Advanced metrics: customer lifetime value (CLV) and churn analysis
- Sales-force effectiveness and compensation models; designing data-driven strategies
- Aligning sales analytics with financial performance; best practices and case studies
Retail Chain Management
Simulation: Retailiology
3 Days Equips participants to oversee multi-store operations, streamline supply and distribution, optimise inventory, and strengthen customer satisfaction. In the Retailiology simulation, teams run their own retail company, making strategic, financial, and marketing decisions to maximise profitability, expand reach, and ensure long-term competitiveness.
What you'll achieve
- Understand the key drivers of success in managing multi-store retail chains
- Apply strategic, financial, and marketing decision-making to improve retail performance
- Analyse the impact of pricing, promotions, and customer behaviour on profitability
- Optimise resource allocation across stores, channels, and functions
- Strengthen teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving in a competitive environment
Programme outline
Day 1: Foundations of Retail Chain Management - Retail strategy and operations; business models and value propositions
- Customer segmentation and buying behaviour; store operations and performance metrics
- Supply chain and inventory fundamentals; Retailiology kick-off (company setup)
Day 2: Driving Retail Performance - Strategic pricing and promotion; merchandising and category management
- Financial analysis for retail decisions; multi- and omni-channel strategies
- Retail productivity and efficiency measures; Retailiology round 2 (competitive decisions)
Day 3: Sustaining Competitive Advantage - Customer experience and loyalty; strategic resource allocation across stores and markets
- Measuring and monitoring retail performance; best practices and case studies
- Retailiology final round and debrief (lessons learned and applications)
Project Time Management
Simulation: Projecto
3 Days Equips project managers and professionals with the frameworks, tools, and techniques to plan, prioritise, and control project timelines. The Projecto simulation immerses participants in managing timelines where time is limited, resources are constrained, and multiple tasks compete for attention.
What you'll achieve
- Understand the principles and importance of time management in project success
- Develop Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and schedules using Gantt charts and network diagrams
- Apply effective estimation techniques to plan realistic timelines and allocate resources
- Use prioritisation and delegation methods to manage tasks efficiently within teams
- Identify and mitigate schedule risks through buffers and risk-analysis tools
- Explore and practise digital project-management tools for scheduling and tracking
Programme outline
Day 1: Foundations of Time Management - The triple constraint (scope, time, cost); common causes of time overruns
- Parkinson's Law, Student Syndrome, the 80/20 rule and the Eisenhower matrix
- Work Breakdown Structures, Gantt charts, milestones and the critical path; Projecto kick-off
Day 2: Driving Project Time Performance - Estimation approaches (top-down, bottom-up, three-point); balancing resources with timelines
- Prioritisation frameworks (MoSCoW, Kanban, agile); delegation and accountability
- Digital tools (MS Project, Asana, Trello); Projecto round 2 (competitive scheduling)
Day 3: Sustaining Effective Time Management - Identifying and managing schedule risks; buffering techniques
- Monte Carlo simulation (introductory); time-risk analysis and contingency planning
- Best practices and case studies; Projecto final round and debrief
