Business Strategy Games and the "Just Do It" Principle

Why Experiential Learning is the Best Way to Build Business Acumen

Humans learn best by playing and doing—not just by watching and listening.

That’s why it’s difficult to teach business fundamentals through seminars, software, or assigned reading. Managing a business is like riding a unicycle—no amount of explanation will build core competencies. If someone wants to master it, they have to do it.

The Power of Learning by Doing

We talk a lot about importance of experiential learning, and how difficult it is to explain its power. This got me thinking about how the "do it" principle permeates everything we do at Income|Outcome.

We believe that people learn best through action—not because it’s just another training method, but because humans are wired to learn this way.

How Business Simulations Reinforce Learning

A hands-on business simulation allows participants to:

• Engage with business concepts in a tangible way—seeing and touching how a business operates.
• Make business decisions and immediately measure the results.
• Build a mental framework that helps them retain and apply financial and strategic concepts long after the workshop.

When learners see cause-and-effect relationships firsthand, they make faster, deeper connections and develop their business acumen more effectively.

What Weakens Learning in Simulations?

Not all business simulations truly deliver on experiential learning. Here’s where learning can break down:

• If the gap between decision and outcome is too long, participants forget why they made a choice in the first place.
• If too many factors influence a single result, learners struggle to identify which decisions mattered most.
• If most learning happens through lectures or multimedia rather than direct experience, the impact is reduced.

Questions to Ask About Any Business Simulation

Not all simulations are equally effective. If you're evaluating a business acumen simulation, consider these questions:

• Is the learning happening through the game itself, or primarily through facilitator lectures and written materials?
• Between rounds, do participants engage with structured learning that connects to the game and the real world?
• Are participants actively involved in the simulation, or are they primarily spectators?
• At the end of the experience, do all teams arrive at the same result, or do unique decisions create unique outcomes?

A Deeper Dive into Effective Business Acumen Training

I’ve written a longer piece about common pitfalls in business acumen training—and how to avoid them.

If you’re interested, check out the guide: Building Business Savvy: Choosing the Best Simulation for Business Acumen Training.

Experience the Difference of Learning by Doing

Want to see how experiential learning can transform business acumen in your organization?

Contact us today to learn more.

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updated Jan 2024