Business War Gaming – Magic or Myth?

If you’ve never participated in a Business War Game, it might be time to reconsider. War Gaming can quickly become your company’s preferred method for testing strategic options – and even for anticipating your competitors’ next moves. Both can be daunting tasks, but War Games make them engaging, structured, and insightful.

So, what exactly is a Business War Game?

In short, it’s a simulated competitive exercise in which teams of participants represent key market players – competitors, suppliers, customers, and, of course, your own organization. Each team operates according to a Playbook, an instruction manual that defines the rules of the game, team profiles, assessment criteria, and objectives.

Designing this Playbook requires careful balancing of parameters such as the number of rounds, the initial market conditions, and the ultimate goals of the teams. When done well, it creates a realistic, dynamic environment where strategies are tested under competitive pressure.

While War Games are highly engaging and often great fun, they also demand significant preparation and coordination – from developing the Playbook to aligning with contributors and integrating the exercise into your organization’s strategy or product development process. Experience in War Game design makes all the difference between a good session and a transformative one.

The ICI-30 Workshop (Nov 18, 2025) is a hands-on, train-the-trainer program designed to equip participants with the skills to plan, design, and run Business War Games effectively. You’ll explore different War Game formats and learn to address all critical design questions. By the end, participants will understand both the magic and the method behind this powerful managerial approach.

The workshop is available on-site or remotely, and as part of the ICI Strategy Certificate, participants can later upgrade to the full program.

Learn more and sign up:  ICI-30 Workshop