Why L&D should embrace board games

Board games are normally reserved for evenings with the family and rainy Sundays with friends, but now companies are using them to train staff.

Subsea7, University of the West of Scotland and EDF Energy have all used Pro£itable Pursuits, a board game created by Brian Hutcheson, to train staff.

The game is designed to help non-finance staff understand how their actions affect margins. The desired outcome is that employees will then become more cost efficient.

Speaking to HR Grapevine, Hutcheson explains further: “Pro£itable Pursuits sees teams compete against each other, setting up their own companies and managing their business for a full financial year. As teams roll the dice, play and make decisions, they are able to understand links between their activities and results. Because it is a memorable experience, they are far more likely to take those lessons back in the workplace and incorporate that into their day-to-day role.”