The Challenge

Meyer Turku operates in an exceptionally demanding leadership environment. The shipyard employs a large network of subcontractors, brings together people from many different nationalities, and manages highly complex shipbuilding projects. In this context, effective performance management is critical but also challenging.

To support managers in navigating this complexity, Meyer Turku offers a dedicated leadership program. As part of this initiative, the organization wanted to give participants a chance to practice performance management in a practical, hands-on way—but within a safe, controlled environment.

Solution

In collaboration with LessonLab, Meyer Turku developed an AI-powered simulation exercise focused on performance management. In the simulation, participants engage in three progressive conversations with an AI-based employee who is underperforming. Each conversation grows increasingly challenging, helping participants build confidence and refine their approach in a realistic but risk-free setting.

The simulation was first piloted with a training group as part of the leadership program in September 2025, allowing participants to test the tool in a real learning environment.

The Impact

Participants found the simulation extremely valuable, describing it as a fresh and engaging way to practice giving feedback and managing difficult conversations. Following the successful pilot, the simulation was formally incorporated into Meyer Turku’s leadership program, becoming a permanent and highly appreciated component of the organization’s performance management training.

The simulation was incredibly easy to integrate into our leadership program, and it gave our managers a unique opportunity to practice what they had learned in a realistic, engaging, and safe environment. The feedback from participants has been extremely positive—they really appreciated being able to experience challenging conversations firsthand.

Sara Huldén, HR Specialist, MEYER TURKU Oy