The simulator-style drills piloted this summer reflect new thinking at Infosys as the company tries to move beyond the commoditized work of building and managing corporate computer systems. For Infosys competition is stiffening as rivals big and small snag digital services contracts. When Infosys set out to remake its internal training program, instructors visited flight schools to see how professional pilots are taught to deal with fast-changing situations. That led the outsourcing giant to model classes on flight simulators that teach recruits to work faster, think for themselves and anticipate corporate customers' needs. They're put through multiple scenarios, and no two training days are alike. "It gets trainees excited and removes the fear of the unknown," says Arpan Patro, who helped design the classes and motivates his students with the aviation aphorism: "Take-offs are optional, landing is mandatory." The simulator-style drills piloted this summe...