This MBA LiveCase immerses participants in the critical challenges of strategic adaptation within a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Acting as the Executive Vice President of Global Strategy for AxiomTech Solutions, a well-established multinational technology giant, learners are tasked with navigating an existential threat to the company's long-held market dominance in affordable feature phones. The simulation demands a comprehensive strategic recommendation to counter the disruptive emergence of a competitor's 'smart device,' forcing participants to confront the dilemma between sustaining a highly profitable traditional business model and pivoting towards an uncertain but potentially lucrative future.
The simulation unfolds through a series of escalating scenarios designed to build strategic decision-making acumen. The initial scene immediately places the participant in a high-stakes environment, receiving an urgent briefing from the CEO on the nascent threat and the establishment of a critical task force. Subsequent scenes introduce a deep ideological schism within the leadership team, featuring sharp clashes between the Head of R&D advocating for aggressive innovation and the Head of Sales defending established markets. This internal tension is amplified by real-time market alerts confirming the rapid acceleration of the disruptive technology's adoption, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
As the case progresses, the challenge intensifies with the Chief Financial Officer presenting stark financial analyses of potential strategic options. Participants must grapple with the immense capital requirements of a full pivot versus the gradual decline projected for the existing business, all while managing the company’s cash reserves and shareholder expectations. Simultaneously, external pressures mount as a crucial business partner signals their growing anxiety and potential shift to the competitor, highlighting the complex interplay of financial, operational, and relational risks that define strategic adaptation.
The culmination of the LiveCase arrives at a pivotal crossroads where participants must make their final, crucial strategic recommendation to the CEO. This moment involves selecting from a range of defined strategic options, each with distinct implications for the company's future. Following the decision, learners engage in an AI-powered role-play, where they must articulate and rigorously justify their chosen strategy to a skeptical CEO, directly addressing the concerns and risks raised by their leadership team and demonstrating their capacity to lead through profound uncertainty. This interaction emphasizes the critical skill of defending a strategic vision under pressure.
Upon completion, the simulation provides a comprehensive debrief, connecting the decisions made to core principles of strategic management, market foresight, and organizational adaptability. Participants gain practical experience in analyzing complex market disruptions, evaluating the trade-offs between current profitability and future growth, and formulating robust strategic responses. The LiveCase equips future leaders with the ability to balance competing stakeholder demands, anticipate emergent trends, and cultivate the organizational flexibility necessary to thrive in dynamic and unpredictable global business environments.
Learning objectives
- Analyze the strategic challenge companies face during market disruption, explaining the dilemma between sustaining an existing successful business and adapting to new technologies.
- Outline a strategic response that allows a company to remain competitive in a rapidly changing market, focusing on anticipating future trends and building organizational flexibility.
Who is this for?
Executives and MBA
