Business Acumen

Engineers and scientists play a vital role in solving some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges. From designing energy-efficient systems to developing pollution-prevention technologies, their work directly shapes how we use natural resources and mitigate environmental risks.

Yet, technical expertise alone is no longer enough.

To lead in today’s complex business environment, non-business professionals must also understand the broader organizational context in which their solutions are deployed. Those who combine engineering and scientific know-how with strong business acumen are better equipped to advance within their companies, lead cross-functional teams, and align technical innovation with long-term business and sustainability goals.

Bridging Technical Expertise and Business Strategy

In The Green Business Lab, scientists and engineers step into executive roles to experience how strategic decisions are made across an entire company. Working as an Executive Team, participants explore the business as a dynamic, interconnected system and gain insight into how decisions impact not only product development and operations, but also finance, marketing, supply chains, and stakeholder relationships.

This systems-level view allows engineers and scientists to:

  • Understand the triple bottom line—the financial, environmental, and social dimensions of their work
  • Predict the business and stakeholder impacts of technical solutions
  • Collaborate effectively with leaders across all business functions
  • Practice decision-making in real-time business scenarios

Building Business Acumen

Business acumen is more than understanding financial statements. It’s the ability to make informed, strategic decisions under pressure. It involves striking a balance between technical precision and commercial insight, sound judgment, and a clear understanding of how businesses operate.

In the Lab, participants gain hands-on experience with essential business skills, including:

  • Setting strategic direction, defining goals, and tracking key performance indicators
  • Interpreting financial reports like Income Statements, Balance Sheets, and Cash Flow Statements
  • Evaluating cross-functional performance, understanding how each department supports company-wide sustainability objectives
  • Framing technical challenges in business terms to communicate value and drive action

Why It Matters

As sustainability becomes increasingly central to business success, companies are seeking technical leaders who can operate at the intersection of science, engineering, and strategy. Non-business professionals with business acumen are well-positioned to drive innovation, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to long-term competitive advantage.

The future belongs to those who can see the big picture, speak the language of business, and apply their technical expertise to create sustainable value.

The business acumen sustainability simulation game.

Working together, participants learn new ideas, practice new skills, and discuss new approaches with their colleagues.

  • Executives plan their marketing business strategy.
    Set a long-term direction and implement a strategy for the company based on company values and market analysis.
  • Marketing and supply chain are taught in the sustainability simulation game.
    Connect concepts such as life cycle thinking, industrial ecology, circularity, and sustainable systems to the company's business strategy and objectives.
  • Teach supply chain skills with the business simulation game.
    Compose messaging consistent with the company's brand and values for Social Media and other marketing purposes.
  • Teams use the marketing business simulation game.
    Understand how each business function contributes to company performance and how to optimize cross-functional effectiveness.
  • Track supply chain strategy in the sustainability simulation game.
    Analyze the essential elements of company financials, including the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement, and how they relate to a triple bottom line.
  • The simulation is a business leadership strategy game.
    Demonstrate business management skills such as teamwork, decision-making, communication, innovation, and analyzing performance metrics.
  • Participants plan their leadership business strategy in the simulation game.
    Evaluate business competitors and determine the appropriate company response using SWOT analysis.
  • Business strategy goals in the marketing simulation game.
    Identify significant stakeholder interests and opportunities for engagement.
Diagram of the sustainability simulation game work process.
View the "Process" graphic
Description of the sustainability simulation game work flow.
Download the "Process" PDF

The following table describes in detail 3 Lab formats: Half-Day, Multiple-Cycle, and In-Depth.
Labs with longer formats have more options for available features, content, and interactivity.

View this page as a PDF

Team Activity
Formats for Business Acumen
Half-Day Multiple-cycle In-Depth
Design and manufacture a product and make operational decisions.

1.Select a design and make operational decisions for a product using data about component cost, pollution and energy impact, and customer preferences.

1.Select a design and make operational decisions for a product using data about component cost, pollution and energy impact, and customer preferences.

2. Make operational decisions, including circularity.

1.Select a design and make operational decisions for a product using data about component cost, pollution and energy impact, and customer preferences.

2. Make operational decisions, including circularity.

3. Design the product to earn green labels or certifications that align with the company’s business strategy.
Market the product. 1. Create either a storyboard or 30-second video commercial.

1. Create either a storyboard or 30-second video commercial.

2. Implement sustainability decisions that are aligned with the company strategy.

1. Create either a storyboard or 30-second video commercial.

2. Implement sustainability decisions that are aligned with the company strategy.

3. Make sure that supply chain performance aligns with company quality standards.
Promote the company and product through Social Media. Not Available. This is an optional activity described in the In-Depth format. 1. Post comments about the company and product to the Lab’s internal Social Media feed and comments on the other posts.
Engage with stakeholders designed into the Lab. This is an optional activity described in the Intermediate format. 1. Consider scripted stakeholder perspectives related to company activities.

1. Consider scripted stakeholder perspectives related to company activities.

2. Engage interactively with stakeholders played by the instructor via the Lab’s internal email app (optional).

Make leadership decisions for your company.

(The instructor selects the topics. For the In-Depth format, we can also create custom topics based on instructor input.)

 1. Make decisions for 1 leadership topic.

1. Make decisions for up to 3 leadership topics from the following list:

  • Life Cycle Innovation.
  • Water Stewardship.
  • Supply Chain Disruption and Ecosystem Services.
  • Product Take-back.
  • Remanufacturing and Circularity.
  • Supply Chain Safety.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility.
  • Product as a Service.

1. Make decisions for up to 8 leadership topics from the following list:

  • Life Cycle Innovation.
  • Water Stewardship.
  • Supply Chain Disruption and Ecosystem Services.
  • Product Take-back.
  • Remanufacturing and Circularity.
  • Supply Chain Safety.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility.
  • Product as a Service.

2. Make decisions for custom topics (optional).

Propose a solution to a business opportunity related to engineering management.

 

(The instructor selects the topics. For the In-Depth format, we can also create custom topics based on instructor input.)

 Not Available. This is an optional activity described in the In-Depth format.

1. Propose a solution to a business opportunity that relates to course content. Here are some examples:

  • Implement a process to reduce environmental impact.
  • Propose and adopt new technology.
  • Implement a process to increase energy efficiency.
  • Reduce the environmental impact of your supply chain.
  • Create training for employees to develop skills for new technologies.

2. Propose a business solution to custom topics (optional).

 

Complete Debrief Questions & Surveys about company, team, and peer performance.

(For the In-Depth format, we can create custom surveys based on instructor input.)

Answer questions and surveys:

1. Business Acumen Debrief Questions.

Answer questions and surveys:

1. Business Acumen Debrief Questions.

2. Peer Evaluation Survey.

Answer questions and surveys:

1. Business Acument Debrief Questions.

2. Peer Evaluation Survey.

3. Team Evaluation Survey.

4. Answer custom Debrief Questions or Surveys that we create for the instructor, based on their input (optional).
Make a final presentation to the Board of Directors. Not Available. This is an optional activity described in the In-Depth format. 1. Present company business strategy, progress-to-date, and future direction to a volunteer Board of Directors.
Use the simulation to teach business sustainability.
The simulation game teaches business acumen engineering lessons.
Use simulation to teach business strategy.
Use the simulation to teach about leadership.
Use the simulation to teach about marketing.
Use the simulation to teach about sustainable supply chains.

Participants explore topics in greater detail and interactively as time allows.

View this page as a PDF
Data that describes the sustainability simulation game.

Focus Areas

Use the simulation to teach business sustainability.
The simulation game teaches business acumen engineering lessons.
Use simulation to teach business strategy.
Use the simulation to teach about leadership.
Use the simulation to teach about marketing.
Use the simulation to teach about sustainable supply chains.

Use in virtual, in-person, or blended classes.

Use in virtual, in-person, or blended classes.

The Green Business Lab logo for the simulation.

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