Business School Unveils Revamped Basic Business Skills Training Simulation through Community Project

Port Elizabeth -- NMMU Business School unveiled its newly revamped Basic Business Principles (BBP) programme to HR, skills development and training stakeholders from several industries and sectors today.

The programme was launched at the Ray Mhlaba Skills Training Centre at the EP Child and Youth Care in Port Elizabeth and entailed the training of displaced and vulnerable youth between the ages of 18 -25 through a sponsorship made by NMMU Business School. The students comprised youth from children’s homes that lost one or both parents, youth living in households with no formal income and individuals from child-headed households.

The BBP utilizes an interactive simulated business game to instil a sense of deep awareness in foundation and baseline staff in organizations but also entrepreneurs planning to participate in the informal economic sector. The programme aims to unlock the realization that personal commitment towards the organization and to entrepreneurial activities swings the pendulum towards success.

“Essentially staff, small business operators and entrepreneurs understand how critical their influence and commitment is for employers, their own companies and indirectly for their communities. Students learn how businesses operate and how personal inputs affect failure and success, profitability and loss, and excellence and mediocrity,” explained Leon Mouton, the Director of the executive and customized education department at NMMU Business School.

“The programme has an array of audiences in organizations, namely, shop floor, entry level personnel and any individuals who require an understanding of basic business principles. This programme can be used by all sectors of the business community and informal sector. It has been designed intentionally as an interactive simulated game for adults to make individuals aware of the conditions required to be effective, competitive and successful in the complex environment of the 21st Century.”

The overarching education goal of the programme are expressed with metaphors. Firstly, “heart” delves into the vision, mission and values of organizations or enterprises, aiming to instill workplace pride and passion but also self-management and self-awareness. Secondly, “head” revolves around organizational and economic understanding into business processes, the necessity of alignment to business objectives and the interconnectedness of individuals to the structures of the organization and their community. Entry-level financial principles and basic legal subjects are addressed through simulation exercises. Finally, “hands” comprise factors influencing productivity and quality, team and the service chain and external stakeholders.

The programme delivery format includes knowledge components, group discussion and reflection, which are illustrated through the simulation of a business game, which allow students to demonstrate their skills and knowledge around starting and running a business or as a critical human resource in the organization.

The programme is delivered over one to two days, comprising respectively 8 or 16 contact hours. Student knowledge and understanding is tested before and after the training intervention, respectively through pre- and post-assessment tests. Students who successfully complete all the modules will receive an NMMU Workshop Certificate.

Commenting on the programme and initiative, Caroline Ferreira, Project Manager at the Ray Mhlaba Skills Centre said that “for our students this a wonderful opportunity to acquire a foundational understanding of business principles, how businesses operate and how each individual contribution makes a vital difference to employers and the communities of the employee or entrepreneur.”