ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how to design and execute business war games. Any business war gaming follows a basic four-step process: design, preparation, execution, and debriefing/documentation. Usually clients commissioning the design of a war game have a broad idea of what they are seeking to discover through the game. In the sense business war gaming is also a means to overcome organizational blindness. However, on some occasion's even functional managers, such as heads of business development, HR directors may opt to commission a game. The majority of the time required is used for preparing the game, collecting information, structuring the documents and setting up the models, boundaries, logistics and schedule. The game books contain information about the client company and the competitors in the game and a market overview, as well as the most important trends, regulation and technological developments in the industry. Once buy-in is obtained, thorough work needs to go into the preparation of the game book and models.
