War Gaming

War Gaming - Chess Pieces on Map A business War Game allows organizations to test their beliefs and assumptions about their business environment.

The process allows organizations to build a better understanding of industry issues and helps them identify emerging opportunities and threats. It is a tool that is of particular use when the competitive environment is undergoing a process of change, as it allows decision makers to consider how different organizations can react to the change, and each other. It also tests corporate assumptions about the business and competitive environment - helping guard against making decisions that are not based on reality.

The objective of a War Game should be to improve corporate planning processes, and use the lessons learned from the War Game in business strategy.

War Games often involve a number of teams with each representing different “players” operating in the industry environment. Typically, but depending on the actual purpose and scope of the game, these teams represent different competitors. They can also include key customers, or other organizations such as regulatory bodies. However there is no single way to arrange a War Game - and each should take into account the particular circumstances involved. Some War Games may involve several different players, while others can be much simpler and only focus on one key competitor.

War game benefits

Depending on the purposes and scope of the War Game a number of benefits can be expected:

AWARE War Games

Effective War Gaming requires considerable work to prepare effective information packs that will allow each team to role-play their chosen or allocated organization. This pack generally includes details about the organizations’ resources, current strategies and leadership. The pack may also highlight any particular strengths and weaknesses known – for example, the possession of particular patents, joint-venture agreements, experience in technologies, strengths in particular market or customer segments, etc. Economic, political, social and country information will also be needed, especially if part of the game focus is to look at external markets. Gathering such information is a key element of the process, and is perhaps the most time-consuming and difficult element. At the same time, ineffective information gathering will lead to poor and less credible War Games.

AWARE can help plan and facilitate a number of different types of War Game, depending on the business need.

In all cases, AWARE acts as a facilitator, communicating with teams, setting scenarios, time-limits and chairing post-round discussions. The precise format for the War Game will depend on the business needs, resources and capabilities.

AWARE can also help prepare the briefing packs for each player or team & either by advising on the content and format, or also by collecting the data to be used in the briefing packs.