Strategic Management Simulation

In the simulation, participants will:

• Analyze comprehensive industry reports, financial statements, and competitor intelligence.

• Formulate a coherent multi-period strategy and set measurable strategic objectives.

• Make integrated decisions on product portfolio, pricing, marketing spend, production capacity, human resources, and R&D investments.

• Negotiate priorities and resource trade-offs within their management team.

• Respond to randomized market shocks, competitor actions, and stakeholder demands.

• Present their strategic vision and business results to a simulated board of directors.

• Critically evaluate their performance and adapt their strategy each round based on outcomes and feedback.

• Apply core frameworks for internal and external strategic analysis.

• Develop and execute a integrated business strategy in a competitive market.

• Understand the financial implications of strategic choices and their impact on key metrics (e.g., market share, profitability, ROIC).

• Make effective trade-off decisions under conditions of uncertainty and limited resources.

• Enhance skills in executive teamwork, leadership, and persuasive communication of strategy.

• Build the strategic agility required to adapt plans in response to market feedback.

1. Receive the Business Scenario Teams are given control of a company within a defined industry, complete with historical performance data and a market overview.

2. Analyze and Plan Teams analyze their starting position, market research, and competitor data to craft their strategic plan for the coming period.

3. Make Executive Decisions Using a dedicated interface, teams input simultaneous decisions across all business functions, from R&D projects to pricing and financing.

4. Process and Compete The simulation processes all team decisions, simulating market competition and generating results (financial statements, market share reports, competitor dashboards).

5. Review and Reflect Teams receive their performance reports, analyze outcomes versus plan, and receive facilitator-led debriefs on key strategic lessons.

6. Adapt and Repeat Teams use their insights to refine their strategy for the next decision round, experiencing the continuous cycle of strategic management.

• Who is the Strategic Management Simulation designed for? It is perfect for MBA students, executive education participants, and high-potential corporate leaders who need to understand how functional decisions integrate to drive overall corporate strategy and performance.

• What prior knowledge is required? A basic understanding of business fundamentals (finance, marketing, operations) is helpful but not mandatory. The simulation includes introductory materials to bring all participants to a common starting point.

• How long does a typical simulation run? A complete experience typically requires 6-8 hours, which can be delivered across multiple sessions (e.g., two half-days or several weekly modules). Duration is flexible based on program needs.

• Is this an individual or team-based exercise? It is primarily designed as a team-based simulation to replicate real-world executive team dynamics, collaboration, and decision-making processes. Team sizes can be adjusted.

• How is the competitive environment created? Participants compete against the strategic decisions made by other teams in the same simulated market. The simulator calculates market outcomes based on the interplay of all teams' actions.

• Can the simulation be customized for our specific industry or learning focus? Yes. Core parameters like industry dynamics, company starting points, and key strategic levers can be tailored to emphasize specific sectors (e.g., tech, manufacturing, consumer goods) or strategic themes (e.g., innovation, globalization).

• What technology is needed to run it? Participants only need a standard web browser and an internet connection. The platform is cloud-based and device-agnostic.

• How does this simulation support SEO for our program? Integrating this cutting-edge simulation enhances your program's online content with relevant keywords like "hands-on strategy training," "executive decision-making simulation," and "competitive business strategy exercise," improving search visibility for prospective students seeking applied, experiential learning.

• Achievement of strategic goals measured by metrics like revenue growth, profitability, market share, and shareholder value creation.

• The logical consistency of the strategy and the effectiveness of its implementation across decision rounds.

• Depth of market and competitive analysis supporting strategic choices.

• Ability to diagnose performance gaps and effectively pivot strategy in response to market changes.

• Quality of collaboration within the team and clarity in presenting the strategic rationale to stakeholders.