Business Strategy

Traditional corporate strategies about products, markets, and competition are being re-examined due to the growing demand that firms take greater responsibility for the impacts of their practices.

Customers and investors continue to set higher environmental and social performance standards, raising the bar on competitive requirements. 

As a result, Triple Bottom Line strategies are being implemented throughout the business landscape in operations, supply chains, marketing, finance, HR, and accounting.  These strategies increase firm value by reducing cost and risk and generating new top-line revenue.

Further, companies can gain a competitive advantage through innovative sustainability strategies that are not easily copied or create a unique market position. 

In the Lab, participants work as an Executive Team to set their strategy, implement decisions, and analyze opportunities for competitive advantage. 

Changing customer needs, new technologies, and competitor activity all require the Executive Team to assess the cost and benefit of different approaches and analyze key success factors.

The executives will lead their company through changing and evolving expectations, adapting and adjusting strategy and operational alignment.

They may use various strategic frameworks and techniques such as Value Chain Analysis, PESTEL Analysis, Strategy Mapping, Balanced Scorecards and others to improve their performance.

While they work, they receive financial, environmental, and social performance results to evaluate their progress toward their goals.

The simulation is used to teach business strategy.

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

  • Participants plan their leadership business strategy in the simulation game.
    Apply business strategy concepts and models to analyze the industry.
  • Executives plan their marketing business strategy.
    Set a long-term direction and strategy for the company based on company values and market analysis.
  • The simulation is a business leadership strategy game.
    Integrate functional area goals & perspectives to solve problems at the organizational level.
  • Leadership strategy for supply chain, the environment, and the planet.
    Predict how various external forces can influence company decision-making.
  • Business strategy goals in the marketing simulation game.
    Evaluate competitors and predict their response using SWOT and other analytical models.
  • Leadership strategy and supply chain are important in the simulation game.
    Identify opportunities to engage stakeholders in shared value projects.
  • Strategy and supply chain are topics in the simulation game.
    Analyze company strategy and results using triple-bottom-line metrics.
  • Track supply chain strategy in the sustainability simulation game.
    Explain the rationale for company strategy through debrief questions and presentation.
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.

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Team Activity
Formats for Business Strategy
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 that are aligned with the company strategy.

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 that are aligned with the company strategy.

3. Make sure that supply chain decisions are consistent with the company 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 marketing decisions that are aligned with the company strategy.

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

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

3. Qualify for green labels or certifications based on footprint and energy 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 comment 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 business strategy.

 

(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 company strategy. Here are some examples:

  • Use an idea from SWOT analysis to improve company positioning.
  • Use core competencies to gain a competitive advantage.
  • Start a project with external stakeholders to create shared value.
  • Strengthen your supply chain.
  • Empower women and minorities in your company and supply chain.

2. Propose a 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 Strategy Debrief Questions.

Answer questions and surveys:

1. Business Strategy Debrief Questions.

2. Peer Evaluation Survey.

Answer questions and surveys:

1. Business Strategy 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 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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