Corporate War Games: Next-Level Survival Strategies
During a recent and very long overdue catch up with my friend Trina, I had one of those ‘Aha moments’. To be fair, as someone who spends a lot of time interviewing experts, these moments happen to me a lot, but this one was different. In the 20 years Trina and I have been friends, she’s developed marketing strategies for global brands including Coca Cola, Virgin Atlantic, Nestlé and IKEA . Impressive stuff, but it’s what she’s working on now that really got me thinking…
Taking inspiration from the military and politics, Trina and her business partners set up The Competitive Wargaming Team and now deliver secret, scenario-based ‘corporate war rooms’ for senior leaders designed to predict and outmaneuver competitor moves. My mind was blown, I loved it. When I asked Trina what led her into the (corporate) war business, she said, “It was my associate Ben who spotted the niche, and we all thought it was worth a shot! We all had lots of experience trying to land competitor strategy both in house for brands and either as consultants or (in my case) at advertising agencies… but it was Ben who realised that there was room in the market for a simple and straightforward solution to helping clients focus on beating their competition.”
Origins and Military Inspiration
Following my call, I did a quick Google search and fell down multiple rabbit holes. I discovered that the concept of a war room traces its roots back to military strategy, where such spaces were used for planning and executing operations in times of conflict. America’s 34th President, General Dwight Eisenhower actually held his base of operations deep within Gibraltar’s tunnel network during part of WW2. These war rooms were central hubs where military leaders would gather to strategise, make decisions, and plot the progress of their armed campaigns. The corporate adaptation of this concept translates these strategic planning and decision-making processes to the business environment, allowing companies to navigate the competitive landscape more effectively.
All Out (Corporate) War
At the heart of many global firms, corporate war rooms serve as nerve centres for strategic planning. These spaces are equipped with tools for data analysis, simulation, and real-time decision-making. Companies like McKinsey have highlighted the use of war games as a powerful tool in the corporate strategy arsenal. Through simulations, businesses can anticipate the moves of competitor firms, explore potential market scenarios, and plan their counter-strategies. This is all sounding pretty Machiavellian right? But I guess the higher the market cap the higher the stakes…
According to Trina, the success of a war game depends on how well it’s delivered; “Our process is designed to interrogate existing perceptions and help clients identify their key competitors. That might sound like a simple thing but it’s not always that clear! We do this by interrogating all of the available intelligence a client already has about their market competitors, or stuff that’s available in the public domain, interviewing key stakeholders, and combing through our own knowledge and experience. That process usually throws up several key ‘battlegrounds’ – e.g. areas where there’s a real asymmetry between the client and their competition, or areas that all organisations in that sector will need to give focus to.”
Simulated Scenarios
Once that insight becomes obvious, her team helps the client to create a clear and compelling narrative out of it and design an interactive workshop that lets participants from the client organisation role through a simulated scenario. “For example, we might start a war game with the assumption that a big tender has just been announced by one of the client’s pre-defined competitors” says Trina, “we get participants to address and answer a number of questions. What will the client organisation do to counter or respond? How do we think the competitor will react? The game is played out under time pressured conditions with participants playing roles against type, both within their own organisation and that of the competition.”
Following several intense rounds, participating teams are left with a clear picture of what opportunities they have and what threats they might face. For Trina, the final stage is the one that ensures her clients achieve a tangible outcome from the war game. “After the scenarios, participants usually have a number of ideas and strategies they can take back their business. It’s at this point where we ask participants to share and commit to an action that capitalises on market opportunities or diminishes the threats.”
Small Business Battleground
While the war games concept might seem suited only to the vast resources of global corporations, Trina assures me that small businesses can also apply this ‘big business’ strategic practice. “Although many of our clients are big brands, lots of business problems are pretty universal. We see the same competitor themes coming up again and again. Profit-sapping price wars, scrapping over the same geographies, how to deal with the cost of doing business, regulation change, Tech with a capital T, new entries to the market… which will all feel familiar to anyone in business. And in fact smaller businesses are even better poised in some respects to make change. They may not have the massive budgets or huge global clout of the big corporations, but they have agility and accountability and a sleeves-rolled-up attitude that some of their bigger cousins could do well to borrow!”
Run Your Own War Game
1:Define the Objective: Clearly articulate what you aim to achieve with your war room sessions. This could range from exploring new market opportunities to devising counter-strategies against a competitor’s moves.
2: Gather the Right Team: Having a skilled facilitator is key! Include individuals with diverse perspectives and expertise to ensure a comprehensive analysis of scenarios.
3: Use Available Tools: Leverage technology and data analytics tools to gather insights about market trends, competitor behaviour, and potential opportunities.
4: Stay Focused: This is where the facilitator’s role really comes into play. Ideally this could be someone who doesn’t work with or for you. They can keep discussions balanced and on track.
5: Simulate Scenarios: Conduct simulations or war games to explore different competitive strategies and their potential outcomes.
6: Develop Action Plan: Based on these simulations and the ideas they generate, develop actionable strategies that can be implemented to address identified challenges and opportunities.
This piece has opened my eyes and has got me feeling inspired. It seems the corporate war room offers a structured approach to strategic planning and competitive analysis. While global firms may have pioneered the practice, its principles are universally applicable and its methodology can be scaled to fit.
By adopting a tailored approach to the war room concept, companies can enhance their strategic agility, better understand their competitive landscape, and position themselves for success in today’s dynamic market environment.
SHARE THIS
OTHER
Whether you’re building a business from the ground up or hoping to grow an existing operation, having a strong business development strategy is the foundation of success. But real, sustainable growth doesn’t come from chasing the next big thing, it comes from getting the essentials right. So, what are the fundamentals you can’t afford to ignore? In my view, this starts with something I call the “Holy Trinity” of small business marketing...
Gibraltar has long been home to many international businesses. Gaming giants, UK-based insurance companies and far-flung fintech firms are all drawn here thanks to our strategic location and business-friendly environment. Carl Clavering moved his insurance business to Gibraltar, and it’s safe to say, it’s transformed his life. When I caught up with Carl, it was clear that his decision to relocate wasn't just about tax advantages or access to the UK market —it was about finding a place that felt like home, both for his business and his family.
One of the most dangerous things anyone can say in business is, "We've always done it this way." This phrase doesn't age well and puts businesses at risk. "We've always done it this way" can quickly look like "flogging a dead horse." This doesn't always mean that businesses need to change everything. Some things, like great service, never go out of fashion. But when sales start to slow down, it's always a good idea to consider taking a new approach. Rebranding a product, service, or entire enterprise can be part of this process. But rebranding should never be taken lightly.
The world of work is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the accelerating capabilities of Generative AI. While robots taking over our jobs might be a sci-fi trope, AI’s ability to learn, create, and automate tasks is undeniably impacting various industries. Generative AI is the umbrella term used to describe the type of AI that can create new content and ideas. This can include text, images, music, code and other types of content. We are now seeing how powerful this tool can be. But is this a threat or a powerful tool waiting to be harnessed? We set out to find out, what does the use of Generative AI look like in Gibraltar?
Eran Shay's journey is emblematic of the modern entrepreneur. A self-confessed ‘out-of-the-box’ thinker, he swapped a successful corporate career and a senior role at Deloitte to pursue his own projects and business opportunities.
If, like me, you spend more time than you should doom scrolling LinkedIn, you could be tempted into thinking no-one fails. LinkedIn has become a hyperbolic haven and a place to scream and shout about success. But what about failures - why aren’t we talking about them? In business, failure is inevitable. I mean it. Whether it's a product flop, a marketing misstep, or a company on the brink of collapse, every entrepreneur will face moments that test them. Yet, history has shown that these failures can often be the starting point for something extraordinary.
Finding time to sit down with a book can feel like a luxury sometimes. We seem to be pulled in all sorts of directions, yet many of us still want to learn and stay exposed to new ideas. Podcasts have filled part of that gap. They’re accessible, conversational and easy to consume while commuting or […]
In an increasingly digital work environment where we have more emails, WhatsApp messages & interruptions than ever before, many business leaders started looking at ways of alleviating the stress that comes with this increased workload. Relaxing the dress code and letting your team dress down and wear in more casual clothing is one way of doing this….Or is it?
When it comes to ideation in business, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Every business, team, and leader has their own way of generating and refining ideas. Whether it’s through structured brainstorming sessions, casual conversations, or solo reflection, the goal is to unlock creativity and find solutions. We’ve asked four GFSB members to share how they approach ideation in their fields. As you read, think about how you generate ideas and remember that sometimes, the best results come from trying something new.
Two decades is a long time for any business - with all the strife that businesses large and small have had to endure these past four years, it seems that anxiety among business owners has never been higher. I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Garren Thompson, co-owner and co-founder of Gibraltar hair & beauty salon Miss Shapes, based on Bishop Rapallo’s Ramp. As the business recently hit the 20-year milestone, we discussed the highs and lows of creating a successful salon in a saturated market, how he and his team created their new range of Miss Shapes branded Hair & Beauty products and how this will help build success for another 20 years.
Starting and running a small business is rewarding but comes with its fair share of challenges. The path of entrepreneurship is often characterised by immense dedication, long hours, and tough decisions. As a small business owner, you're not just responsible for the operations and growth of your company and team, but also for your own wellbeing.
Success doesn’t just happen; it’s built on a strong foundation of preparation, clarity, and taking consistent action. Whether you’re launching a new business, taking your current side-hustle full-time, or looking to scale in a competitive market, having the right plan in place is essential.
Artificial Intelligence promises unprecedented opportunities for small business owners in Gibraltar. As the digital landscape faces constant evolution, understanding AI becomes not just beneficial but essential for businesses aiming to thrive in 2024. In this article, we aim to demystify the complexities surrounding AI, offering an approachable guide to its fundamentals, history, and practical applications for businesses, providing you with the knowledge to embrace this technology confidently.
Pets are like family, right? As a proud cat dad, I’d actually go further and say that they are family. Over the years, I have spent my well-earned money on (many) toys, beds, treats and vet bills for my two feline furballs Nacho and Drake. And I am not alone. According to a recent Fortune Business Insight report, the global pet care market was valued at a massive £171.78 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from £180.06 billion in 2023 to £269.29 billion by 2030.
“People want to know the stories behind the products they buy. It’s not just about what’s on the shelf, but the journey it took to get there.” – Stella, Spirit of The Rock As consumer habits shift towards mindfulness and sustainability, the concept of slow shopping has emerged, offering both challenges and opportunities for small businesses. Slow shopping encourages consumers to take their time, make more thoughtful purchases, and focus on quality over quantity.
Last month marked eight years since the UK voted to leave the European Union. I remember the exact moment I read the headline ‘UK Votes to Leave the EU’ on my phone and the feeling of shock that started to set in. My first thought was, “Er, now what?” Little did I know I would still be asking that question eight years later… Eight years of uncertainty, negotiations, grace periods, frameworks, and meticulously crafted non-statements. But still no solution.
When you’ve been running your own business for a while, you know what works, and it’s easy to rely on the skills that got you to where you are. Chances are, you’re comfortable doing things in a certain way, and your team knows what to expect from your leadership style.
Who doesn’t love a good office gossip? Hushed conversations by the coffee machine, knowing glances across the office, colleagues who "just thought you should know" – it’s all just harmless banter, right? Not quite. While gossip might seem like an inevitable part of office life, the reality is much less entertaining. Workplace backbiting can destroy trust, drain morale, and impact team productivity. Few people understand this better than Norwegian psychotherapist Glenn Rolfsen. With over two decades of experience in psychotherapy, Glenn has dedicated his career to helping businesses tackle workplace negativity head-on. His innovative "Gozzip" method has been transforming office cultures worldwide, earning him recognition at TEDx talks and WHO conferences.
Imposter syndrome is a psychological behaviour where individuals, including many high achievers, struggle with persistent feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, or the fear of being exposed as a fraud. Despite their achievements, those experiencing imposter syndrome believe they are undeserving of their success or worry that they've misled others into overestimating their abilities.
From the increasing influence of AI to the rise of social commerce and sustainability-driven consumer demand, the key to success lies in adapting strategically rather than chasing every new trend. This guide breaks down the most impactful trends for the year ahead—offering insights on how to integrate them into your business without losing sight of what already works. Smart adaptation, not blind reinvention, is the name of the game. Here's what to expect and how to make it work for you.