Notes to the trainer
Consider sections 6–15 as a menu of advanced topics, and discuss which are of most interest to the current audience. The instructions for these exercises are intentionally concise. If the trainee hasn’t already figured out the STEM techniques spelled out earlier, then this will force them to ask!
Discuss which ‘headline applications’ are of most interest to the audience and make sure that these are adequately covered in the modelling workshop.
Consider inserting some advanced options during the modelling workshop, especially if you run out of time in the first two days.
A good side exercise for fast learners is for them to build a simplified model in parallel from scratch. You should suggest starting with DSL and WiMAX sub-models (driven by generic ports and bandwidth, respectively). Then add the service breakdown, and the market layer, together with the basic technology scenarios. This exercise will provide valuable experience of working from a blank sheet, which will lower the fear factor when starting on their first real model. It will also encourage people to experiment with multiple views and copy and paste in whichever way suits them. It may be helpful to demonstrate functions such as ‘copy drag’ and ‘show in new view’ in advance.
Maybe demo ‘copy drag’ to link elements before Exercise 4: Forecast demand and equipment installation.
Present Excel techniques first before the exercise on exporting to Excel.
Maybe demo advantage of aggregator resource over sum transformation?
Demonstrate service layers in the 2.3.14 Service costing and profitability analysis exercises.
This icon appears in the text to remind you about the demo spots listed above. Use general discretion as to which other exercises may be best presented – either in advance, to make sure people know what to do, or to save time if you think it may be best to skip to the next group.