The ability to anticipate, manage risks and adapt to market changes is a major asset. What if, to become a better strategist, it was enough to … play? Strategy games, whether serious games, interactive simulations or even military games, offer ideal training ground to develop these skills. Here’s how business leaders can take advantage of the games to refine their strategic approach.
Les Serious Games: playful simulations
Serious Games are games specifically designed to have educational or professional utility, far beyond the simple entertainment. These games allow players to simulate complex business environments and experience situations that they may meet in reality. For example, a business management simulation game allows a player to take the role of a director general of a company, to make budget decisions, human resources management, marketing or export . This, while reacting to unforeseen events, such as an economic crisis or a media scandal. The decisions made in these games directly influence the results of the virtual company, providing immediate feedback and a chance to learn errors.
A striking example of serious game in this area is the Simcity game, which allows players to manage a developing city. If urban management seems far from the business world, concepts are similar: it is a question of making investment decisions, allocating resources effectively, and creating an environment where citizens (employees and customers in business world) can prosper. In this context, business leaders can learn to anticipate the side effects of each decision (e.g. environmental or social effects) and balance long -term resources.
Another excellent example is the game The Business Model Game. This game allows players to create and manage virtual companies, browsing in realistic economic scenarios. It highlights the importance of a solid business model and strategic decisions adapted to market developments, and can be an excellent way for a business manager to test different growth strategies, market penetration or ‘Innovation produced in a risk without risk.
Military simulation: adaptability and crisis management
Although military simulation games are often perceived as war games, their usefulness goes far beyond the battlefield. These games have been used for centuries to train military strategists, but their principles are perfectly applicable to the business world. Indeed, a large part of the military strategy is based on concepts such as the management of limited resources, rapid adaptation to the unknown, field analysis, and unforeseen crisis management.
Games as a command:
Modern Operations or War in the Pacific are examples of simulations that plunge the player into environments where each decision must be carefully considered, because it has direct consequences on the outcome of the game. The player must plan long -term movements, manage human and material resources, while remaining flexible in the face of the unforeseen actions of the opponent. In a professional setting, a business manager could use these games to refine his ability to react under pressure, manage crises in real time, and to implement effective contingency plans.
The Risk game, although much more simplified in its war mechanics, also has its place in this category. He asks players to conquer territories while maneuvering their armies strategically. The analogy with the business world is obvious: companies must navigate global markets, occupy niches, and take calculated risks to secure new markets while defending themselves against competitors. Resource management and strategic decision -making under pressure are highlighted, in a fairly similar way to the challenges that a manager meets in economic reality.
Resource management games: to deal with rarity
Resource management games, such as Settlers of Catan or Monopoly, are perfect examples of strategy games where the management of limited resources is at the heart of the strategy. In Settlers of Catan, players are led to harvest resources (wood, wheat, clay, etc.) and exchange them to build roads, colonies or cities. Resources management is essential, but the art of negotiating with other players and anticipating their movements is another strategic facet which can directly be transposed into the business world.
As part of a company, a manager is constantly faced with limited resources: money, time, staff, etc. Learning to use these resources optimally is a useful skill. Games like Catan teach the importance of choosing investments judiciously and not to disperse too much, while emphasizing relationship management (resource exchanges). A business owner can learn from this about how to manage a limited budget, negotiate with partners, or even be creative in the face of the shortage of resources.
In Monopoly, the management of money and properties illustrates the importance of good financial management. This game offers a first approach to accounting and investment planning. It also makes it possible to learn to assess the profitability of an investment while taking into account the risk factor, a fundamental aspect for business leaders when they assess projects or expansion opportunities.
Cooperation games: collective intelligence
Cooperation games, where players work together to achieve a common goal, such as Pandemic or Forbidden Island, are increasingly popular and offer unique strategic lessons for managers. These games focus on collective management, the anticipation of team needs, the distribution of tasks and collaborative decision -making.
In Pandemic, for example, players work together to contain the spread of diseases worldwide. Each player assumes a specific role with specific skills, and victory depends on the ability to communicate, coordinate efforts and prioritize actions according to the rapid development of the situation. This dynamic teaches team management, the importance of delegating and trusting its employees, as well as the necessary agility in the face of crises.
A business manager can use these games to learn how to strengthen collaboration in his teams, promote shared decision -making and develop a business culture based on cooperation rather than competition. In an increasingly complex environment, the ability to work collectively to solve problems is a precious strategic competence.
