Increasing Business Acumen in Non-Finance Personnel: An Analysis of WV New Zealand's Simulation Workshop
Published Date
World Vision New Zealand’s Business Simulation: Strong Results for Non-Finance Teams
The World Vision New Zealand team, including members from finance, marketing, and fundraising, recently beta-tested our online business simulation workshop.
To measure its impact, we conducted pre- and post-workshop surveys, comparing feedback from two groups:
- Finance Professionals (those with prior financial experience)
- Non-Finance Professionals (those without a finance background)
While both groups benefited, the most dramatic improvements were seen in the non-finance participants.
Understanding Key Financial Ratios
The workshop introduced a range of financial terminology and sparked discussions about key financial ratios used at World Vision New Zealand, including:
- Cost per Acquisition (CPA) Ratio
- Return on Investment (ROI) Ratio
- Percentage of Income Promised to the Field
Even though these specific ratios were not part of the curriculum, the non-finance group showed significant improvement in their understanding.
- Pre-Workshop: 45% of non-finance participants said they understood these ratios.
- Post-Workshop: This increased to 78%.
The simulation taught the foundational concepts, and employees were able to make connections on their own, recognizing how these metrics applied to their organization—even though they weren’t explicitly covered in the workshop.
Increased Confidence in Business Acumen
The workshop also boosted confidence among non-finance participants in their business acumen.
- Pre-Workshop: 55% felt their business acumen was weaker than their colleagues'.
- Post-Workshop: This number dropped to just 17%.
Either they knew more than they thought, or they learned more than expected—but in either case, the workshop provided them with greater confidence in their ability to engage in financial discussions.
This newfound confidence is likely to increase their active participation in meetings and decision-making, improving overall team dynamics and collaboration.
Understanding of Business Operations
We also asked participants whether they agreed with the statement:
"I have a good understanding of how all the pieces of a business fit together to produce a coherent set of actions and a financial result."
- Pre-Workshop: Only 36% of non-finance participants moderately or strongly agreed.
- Post-Workshop: This number jumped to 83%.
This remarkable improvement suggests that participants now see the bigger picture—understanding how different parts of the organization connect and impact financial outcomes.
Conclusion: Business Acumen Training Delivers Measurable Impact
This test case highlights promising benefits for business simulation workshops—particularly for non-finance professionals.
By improving their understanding of financial ratios, confidence in business discussions, and knowledge of business operations, non-finance participants are now:
- Better equipped to contribute in their roles
- More confident in decision-making
- Stronger collaborators across departments
For organizations looking to bridge the finance gap and improve operational efficiency, business simulation training offers a powerful, measurable impact.
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