FreshBiz offers a business simulation experience through a board game. On Monday, July 23, 2018, the Graduate School of the Faculty of Administration and Social Sciences organized an open workshop on this methodology for 16 graduates of graduate and executive programs.
The workshop, which consisted of a presentation and overview of FreshBiz’s application, was led by psychologist Cynthia Rosenblatt, who works as a specialist in playful corporate experiences across various countries in the region.
FreshBiz helps participants develop management and negotiation skills, identify and capitalize on business opportunities, manage resources, and communicate effectively.
In turn, the game’s dynamics create opportunities to reflect on ingrained behavioral patterns that operate in day-to-day business and the impacts they produce, and allow participants to experiment with new ways of acting to generate individual and collective results.
One of the workshop participants was Claudia Bonnecarrere, a graduate of the Specialization Diploma in Human Resources and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Development Agency (ANDE). Bonnecarrere explained that the workshop allowed her to learn about the tool and its potential. “It’s an innovative game that fosters a powerful learning dynamic,” she said.
The graduate explained that it helps one understand oneself as well as how one interacts in the business world.
In this regard, Magalí Da Silva—another workshop participant and graduate of the Master of Business Administration (MBA)—stated: “It became evident in my behavior during the game that I tend to seek out partnerships, but I still prioritize competition.”
For Bonnecarrere, the game has positive potential for practical application. She learned that perceiving the business environment from a perspective of abundance or scarcity leads her to take different actions.
A networking event
“I always run into a colleague when I participate in events organized by ORT, such as this workshop. These gatherings are very enjoyable; the activities move along quickly, and memories of past events come flooding back,” Bonnecarrere reflected.
Da Silva works as a coach and instructor in the School of Engineering and the School of Business and Social Sciences at Universidad ORT Uruguay, as well as in business consulting. He noted that he saw this as a good opportunity to learn about a tool that he could eventually incorporate into his work.
“I learned that even when we are aware of the need for collaborative actions, we tend not to put them into practice. I also learned about the importance of leveraging the resources around us that often go unnoticed,” said Da Silva.
“What you learn from this exercise can be applied to business by creating opportunities for play and reflection that provide meaning based on your own experience, using the tool to facilitate work meetings.”