In the News

Brian Summerfield quotes Rommin Adl and Steve Toomey of BTS about the inaugural BTS University Challenge, a simulation contest which immersed MBA's from Chicago GSB, Indiana University , University of Michigan , Northwestern, and Notre Dame in a multi-billion dollar business competition.

Most prestigious business magazine in Spain does a report ( April 2007) on the use of simulations in companies and interviews BTS clients as well as BTS Iberia CEO, Dr. Philios Andreou, who describes the evolution of training methodologies and the use of simulations in the Spanish market.

Strategic Management (SMG), a player in developing and implementing scenario and numerical business simulations, has expanded its presence in the Chinese market by signing a Global Premium Partner agreement with Singapore based SMG Training Systems (SMGTS) and its affiliate SMG Consulting located in China. The agreement extends a partnership arrangement which began in 1996. Corporations located in Singapore, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Macau and locally-based professionals can benefit from SMG training courses, delivered by trainers in Singapore, Thailand, Beijing and Shanghai. The contract with SMGTS is one of several recently signed agreements delivering strong international distribution partnerships for SMG since the company was purchased by BTS USA in February 2005

Fast-Growing Sales Leadership and Management Training Firm Singled Out for Unparalleled Customer Service and Supportive Employee Culture.

The Philadelphia Business Journal interviews Rommin Adl on BTS acquisition of SMG and the positive changes made to restore profitability and quality to the company. SMG's focus on building an e-learning platform for its simulations had been a problem for SMG, said Adl. BTS refused to buy SMG's Internet business, and changed the way SMG related to customers, with a single account team rather than several by functionality.

The Stamford Advocate reports on BTS purchase of Strategic Management Group in February 2005 and opening of a Philadelphia office. "SMG has been our biggest competitor since we started in the U.S. in 1992. They have a wonderful product and wonderful people," said Jonas Akerman, president and chief executive officer of BTS USA.

VentureWire reports that BTS Group has agreed to acquire the "Learning Solutions" business assets of its privately held Philadelphia-based competitor, Strategic Management Group Inc.

SMG has a good brand, high quality products and solutions, qualified personnel and large and reputable clients. Our goal is to increase productivity and add a positive BTS culture and work methods to the company and thereby improve the weak profitability, Ekelund is quoted. The article further explains the four reasons for BTS acquisition of SMG: 1. BTS believes the SMG business is complementary and can be run with higher productivity and lower costs, 2, SMG has good products, 3. SMG has great Fortune 500 clients, and 4. BTS and SMG have complementary products that can serve different segments of their clients workforce.

Learning Circuits reports that BTS says the acquisition will increase its leadership in the business simulation industry with a full-service product portfolio and notes the trend toward increased adoption of simulations as a vital training tool that is reflected in BTS greater than 20% growth annually.

Inside Training notes that BTS USA paid $4 million for the Learning Solutions division of SMG, a Philadelphia-based provider of scenario-driven business simulations and that Rommin Adl has been named president and CEO of SMG, which will remain a separate company

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that that BTS USA paid $4 million for the Learning Solutions division of SMG, a Philadelphia-based provider of scenario-driven business simulations and that Rommin Adl has been named president and CEO of SMG, which will remain a separate company. The story says that The former SMG is being rebranded and will focus on a faster-growing segment - simulation products and services for corporate clients, especially sales organizations, company spokeswoman Jan Shauer said.

The Philadelphia Business Journal writes that BTS USA is acquiring the Learning Solutions division of SMG, its largest competitor, and that SMG had revenue of $8 million in 2004.

The Stamford Advocate published an editorial from EVP Rommin Adl on the impact of international commerce on competition and consumer satisfaction. The article explains that BTS USA generates 20 percent of its revenues from international engagements, and that there is strong demand for US-based BTS consultants from multinational clients outside the US.

At present, we are living a social transformation accompanied by a change in the way of learning, teaching and, even, entertaining. At the same time, in the training world, we believe that digital games are going to be more and more important in companies training curriculum in the future. The format of these games will depend on the company style, culture, the people and the learning objectives desired. The fact is, that it is necessary to prevent at any cost, replacing the marketing myopia that many companies have experienced at some stage by the "Training Myopia" focusing on what has to be learned and forgetting the how.