Category Management – Blended Learning

This is a screenshot of one of the cards used in the gameplay and doubled as a take-home just-in-time tool for each participant.

Project Goal: Proper Category Management (CATMAN) tool use requires competence across several complex concepts. Many CATMAN professionals do not leverage the tools fully and, sometimes, not even correctly.  This energy drink company was poised to offer 2-day weekend workshops to address this challenge.  We were approached to create a blended program to enrich the training.

Method: Through a collaborate effort involving their internal training team, our subject matter expert, and myself we designed and developed a case study style eLearning mini-course. We also designed a card for each tool type. The learners were to review the mini-course before the weekend workshop and use the cards in game play at the workshop as a collaborative tool. As teams they then were to present their ‘findings’ to the larger group at the end ceremony. The specific instructions for the participants are shown below. These were presented in the introduction to the digital training.

Result:  The process was very well received and participants noted that it was fun and effective. The leadership team reported that, across the board, effective tool use increased, leading to higher revenue generation. 

Start with this digital training*. It is designed to help you become familiar with various tools and resources that can be used to address common business issues that your customer might be dealing with.

At the end, you will be asked to choose and justify using tools other than those presented in the questions (alternatives). Please take detailed notes about the choices you make and why. Then, be sure to pay special attention to the ‘curve ball’ circumstance and the end of the scenario. Again, take detailed notes about how you would solve the ‘curve ball’ problem.

 

*You need only review the scenario that your team has been assigned. However, you are free to optionally review the other two if you would like to take full advantage of the training.

 

GAME PLAY Instructions: After you complete this digital training, you will have time to ‘lay down your cards’ with your team in gameplay.

 

Phase one:

1. One person will read the questions and answer options for the initial challenge to the team.

2. Everyone will place the tool card(s) they would use to solve the challenge in front of them, facedown. Once, finished,

3. Each team member should reveal their choices and share their notes from the digital training.

Phase two:

1. Next, one person will read the curveball challenge.

2. Everyone will place the tool card(s) they would use to solve the challenge in front of them, facedown. 

3. Each team member will reveal their choices and share their notes from the digital training.

Phase three:

As a team, you will decide on the overall best 3 tools to use as alternatives and the best way to handle the ‘curve-ball’ challenge.

Questions to consider:

What was the team consensus on how to solve the challenge?

What were the tools used to assist with the curveball challenge?

 

Last, the team will create a presentation walking through the scenario and providing insight as to why you collectively agreed upon the use of the tools for your challenge scenario and curveball challenge.