A business strategy simulation for leadership teams, with a free version for charities

If you are an L&D manager weighing up a business strategy simulation, the useful question is not whether it is enjoyable. It is whether teams face real trade-offs, see the consequences straight away, and have something worth debating afterwards.

This article explains how Compete does that, what to look for in any business strategy simulation, and how voluntary sector organisations can use a free version.

How Compete works

Compete is one of our signature business simulations. Each team runs a coffee stall in an artisan food market, competing head to head over four trading days. The whole simulation can be played in a single two-hour session, or across several shorter ones.

Each round, teams decide on:

• Pricing
• Strategy
• Management priorities
• Collaboration investment

Their decisions are entered into the simulation, which instantly calculates market share, revenue, and profit for the round. The teams are in direct competition, so any share one team gains comes at the expense of the others.

Collaboration investment gives teams a real choice between spending on how they work together and spending on the market. That gives the debrief something concrete to work with.

What to look for in a business strategy simulation

Whichever provider you choose, these are the questions worth asking:

• Do teams compete directly, so that one team's decisions have consequences for the others
• Are results calculated instantly, so teams can adjust from round to round
• Is there a facilitated debrief that links the decisions to real work
• Is the set-up light enough that learning, not logistics, takes the time
• Can the scenario be configured to your own business

Compete can be configured to represent any type of business and set of decisions. It can be fully played and debriefed in two hours, and it needs just a single computer connected to the internet, normally projected on a large screen. There are no software downloads and no other equipment required.

Who it suits

Compete suits L&D managers and senior leaders who want teams to practise strategy, commercial judgement, and collaboration together. If that is your goal, start with the strategic thinking challenge or the financial acumen challenge, which show how Compete sits alongside our other business simulations.

If you need a scenario built around your own industry, products, or terminology, a tailor-made simulation is the better route.

A free version for the voluntary sector

We offer a business acumen simulation free to voluntary sector organisations, for staff development and team building.

You are eligible if:

• Your organisation is a registered voluntary enterprise or charity
• All potential participants are over the age of 18
• You would be willing to provide feedback or testimonials
• Your organisation is not an educational institution

If that sounds like you, please contact us.