Abstract:
An activity dispenser provides activity descriptors drawn from randomly selected activity categories interspersed with activity descriptors drawn from participant selected activity categories. Each activity descriptor includes an activity description and an activity consequence. Certain activity descriptions may specify a task which the participant is required to perform a task in order to receive the activity consequence. The activity descriptors enable a participant to visualize and/or perform the described activity and vicariously experience the consequence of the behavior or activity resulting in entertaining yet effective training for participating in an actual enterprise.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/140,168 entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DEVELOPING A GAME FROM SELECTABLE CONTENT” and filed on Jul. 27 th  2005 for Clay Stevens which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates generally to entertainment devices, methods, and systems and more particularly relates to systems and methods for recruiting and training associates in an amusing manner.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Recruiting, training, and retaining personnel is often a risky and expensive proposition for businesses and organizations. Individuals that appear promising may be unprepared for particular tasks and challenges. Personal aptitudes, preferences, and beliefs may limit the effectiveness of particular individuals. What is needed is a system and method to recruit, train and retain potential associates that provides meaningful experiences as well as insight into the potential challenges and opportunities of engaging in a particular enterprise.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available recruiting and training systems. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an entertainment system and method useful for recruiting and training associates that overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art.  
         [0007]     In one aspect of the present invention, a system for training participants includes a number of activity descriptors assigned to various activity categories, and an activity dispenser that provides activity descriptors drawn from randomly selected activity categories interspersed with activity descriptors drawn from participant selected activity categories. Each activity descriptor includes an activity description and an activity consequence. Certain activity descriptions may specify a task which the participant is required to perform in order to receive the activity consequence.  
         [0008]     The activity descriptors present information or content to the participants. Examples of activity descriptors include playing cards, multimedia content, and software data structures. The activity dispenser presents the activity descriptors or the information contained therein to the participants. Examples of the activity dispenser include a playing board, a software module, and a media player. In one embodiment, the activity dispenser adjusts a category frequency according to predetermined achievement criteria. Adjusting a category frequency facilitates tailoring the experience for various levels of competence or training.  
         [0009]     The activity description may include one or more one activity qualifiers that must be achieved to receive the activity consequence. The activity consequence may also be dependent on a performance rating provided by another participant. Examples of an activity consequence include a change in a personal effectiveness metric, a change in resources, a change in customers, a change in associates, team, group, or colleagues, a change in sales, a change in profit margin, a change in rank, and a change in compensation.  
         [0010]     The system may also include a participant evaluation module that facilitates tracking various metrics such as a personal effectiveness metric and a current compensation. The current compensation may be based on a variety of factors such as organizational size, total revenue, revenue balance, sales conversion rate, profit margin, customer satisfaction, team responsiveness, and personal effectiveness. In one particular embodiment, the activity categories include personal improvement (e.g. skills, knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs), team development, organizational development, practice, prospecting, sales, marketing (e.g. advertising, publicity, and brand development), and networking.  
         [0011]     The present invention facilitates recruiting and training associates in a low-key entertaining manner. It should be noted that references to features, advantages, or similar language within this specification does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.  
         [0012]     Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.  
         [0013]     The aforementioned features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     To enable the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of a training system of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart diagram depicting one embodiment of a training method of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a layout diagram depicting a particular example of some elements of the training system of  FIG. 1  namely a network marketing board game of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 4   a - 4   d  are layout diagrams depicting particular examples of activity descriptors of the present invention; and  
         [0019]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are layout diagrams depicting a particular example of a participant evaluation module of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     Some of the functional units described in this specification have been explicitly labeled as modules, (while others are assumed to be modules) in order to emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits, MEMS devices, or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete electrical or mechanical components. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices or systems such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, and programmable logic devices.  
         [0021]     Modules may be implemented in various media such as printed material or digital media incorporating various forms of content such as audio, video, text, and graphics. Modules may also be implemented in software for execution by various types of processors such as embedded processing units, microcontrollers, or the like. An identified module of executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module.  
         [0022]     Indeed, a module of executable code may be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within modules, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network.  
         [0023]     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of a training system  100  of the present invention. As depicted, the training system  100  includes an activity dispenser  110 , one or more participants  120 , and one or more participant evaluation modules  130 , and may optionally include one or more control modules  140 . The training system  100  facilitates training participants such as associates in a non-threatening game-like environment.  
         [0025]     The activity dispenser  110  provides activity descriptors  112  to the participants  120 . The activity dispenser  110  may be a software equipped computer, a media player, a game board, or the like. The activity descriptors  112  describe an activity or behavior and a resulting consequence of engaging in that activity or behavior. The activity descriptors  112  may be embodied as printed cards, digital content, software data structures, or similar information delivery means.  
         [0026]     In certain embodiments, the participants  120  are assigned specific roles or characters to assume during the activity sessions. The participants  120  may receive or retrieve the activity descriptors  112  in round robin order, verbalize the associated content, and possibly perform a described task. In certain instances, participants awaiting their turn may be required to interact with, and/or judge a performance of, the participant engaged in the described activity.  
         [0027]     Some activity descriptors  112  may be purely educational and help the participants to visual the activity and associated consequences without actually engaging in the activity. Other activity descriptors  112  may describe a task such as role playing that the participant must complete to receive the associated consequence. Receiving the activity consequence may be dependent on a performance rating provided by another participant.  
         [0028]     Certain activity descriptors  112  may also include one or more activity qualifications (not shown), The activity qualifications detail particular qualifications that the participant must achieve in order to engage in the activity and/or receive the associated consequence. Specifying one or more activity qualifications communicates to the participants particular achievements, resources, and behaviors that facilitate achieving desirable consequences and motivates to the participants to become fully qualified to engage in such activities and behaviors.  
         [0029]     The activity descriptors  112  may be logically organized into various categories  114  to facilitate self-directed training. In the depicted embodiment, the activity dispenser  110  intersperses activity descriptors drawn from participant selected activity categories with activity descriptors drawn from randomly selected activity categories. Interspersing activity descriptors selected from participant selected activity categories with randomly selected activity categories increases personal growth by showing the power of personal choice as well as the value of adaptability to a variety of experiences.  
         [0030]     The participant evaluation modules  130  may receive information provided by each participant and track various metrics associated with each participant such as a personal effectiveness level, a skill level, a compensation level, and the like. The optional control module or modules  140  may control the flow of one or more activity sessions conducted in conjunction with the training system  100 . In some embodiments, the control modules  140  communicate instructions to the participants  120  and monitor each activity session. The functionality of the control module  140  may be performed partially or wholly by a designated person such as a moderator who may also be a participant  120 . In some embodiments, the control module  110  may not be necessary and may be omitted.  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart diagram depicting one embodiment of a training method  200  of the present invention. As depicted, the training method  200  includes providing  210  one or more activity descriptors, determining  220  a current activity category, dispensing  230  an activity descriptor, updating  240  one or more participant metrics, and advancing  270  to a next participant. The training method  200  may be conducted in conjunction with the training system  100  or the like.  
         [0032]     Providing  210  one or more activity descriptors may include organizing activity descriptors into various logical categories. Determining  220  a current activity category may include randomly selecting an activity category or allowing a user to select a particular activity category. Dispensing  230  an activity descriptor may include presenting content associated with the activity descriptor. In one embodiment, dispensing  230  an activity descriptor involves directing a user to a particular dispensing area on a game board. In another embodiment, dispensing  230  an activity descriptor involves displaying content on an electronic display.  
         [0033]     Updating  240  one or more participant metrics may include computing and/or tracking particular metrics or scores associated with a participant such as personal effectiveness, available resources, number of customers, number of associates, sales, profit margin, rank, and compensation. In one embodiment, compensation is based on a variety of factors such as organizational size, total revenue, revenue balance, sales conversion rate, profit margin, customer satisfaction, team responsiveness, and personal effectiveness.  
         [0034]     Subsequent to updating  240  one or more participant metrics, the method may continue by testing  250  if the game has ended. If the game has not ended, the method continues by advancing  270  to the next participant. If the game has ended, the method ends  260 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 3  is a layout diagram depicting a particular example of some elements of the training system of  FIG. 1  embodied as a network marketing board game  300 . As depicted, the network marketing board game  300  includes an inner track  310 , an outer track  320 , and a number of dispensing areas  330 . The network marketing board game  300  is one example of the activity dispenser  110  depicted in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0036]     Each participant  120  may move tokens (not shown) around the inner track  310  until a specified level of competency (or similar metric) is achieved. Participants who achieve the specified level of competency may proceed to the outer track  320 . Other embodiments may use more than 2 tracks in order to adjust the experiences of participants of particular levels of training or effectiveness.  
         [0037]     In the depicted embodiment, each position within the inner track  310  and outer track  320  contains a graphic or symbol that identifies the current options for the participant. For example, some symbols indicate that the participant must engage in an activity from a specific activity category corresponding to a particular dispensing area  330 . Other symbols indicate that the participant is free to select an activity category and draw a card from participant selected dispensing area.  
         [0038]      FIGS. 4   a - 4   d  are layout diagrams depicting particular examples of activity descriptors  420  corresponding to particular activity categories and symbols shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4   a  depicts activity descriptors  420  corresponding to a ‘personal effectiveness’ activity category and a dispensing area  330   a .  FIG. 4   b  depicts activity descriptors  420  corresponding to a ‘prospecting’ activity category and a dispensing area  330   b . Similarly,  FIG. 4   c  depicts activity descriptors  420  corresponding to a ‘team development’ activity category and a dispensing area  330   c  while  FIG. 4   d  depicts activity descriptors  420  corresponding to a ‘chance’ activity category and a dispensing area  330   d.    
         [0039]     The activity descriptors  420  include an activity description  422  and an activity consequence  424 . The activity description  422  may also include an activity qualifier  426  that must be achieved to receive the activity consequence  424 . In some cases the activity description  422  describes a particular scenario but does not require performing an actual task. In other cases, the activity description  422  describes an exercise or task that must be performed to reap the activity consequence  424 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 5  is a layout diagram depicting a particular example of a participant evaluation module  500  of the present invention. As depicted, the participant evaluation module  500  includes a job title  510 , a personal effectiveness metric  520 , a prospect list  530 , a set of customer metrics  540 , a set of associate metrics  550 , a networking rank  560 , and a set of income metrics  570 . The participant evaluation module  500  is useful for tracking various metrics for a participant and is one example of the participant evaluation module  130  depicted in  FIG. 1 . By tracking various metrics the participants are able to experience the effect of various activities, attitudes, and behaviors and learn key factors for success in an actual real world enterprise.  
         [0041]     The present invention facilitates recruiting and training associates in an entertaining manner. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.