The Innovation Lab immerses student teams in the role of senior leaders at a mid-size technology company facing industry disruption. Over 5 simulated years (played across 5 weeks), teams must sense the need for change, generate creative solutions, build stakeholder buy-in, prototype and pivot under pressure, and ultimately scale sustainable innovation. Every decision affects four scoring pillars: Innovation, Adaptability, Stakeholder Trust, and Financial Health. Random events force teams to adapt mid-cycle, rewarding those who pivot wisely with bonus points.
Your company faces declining market signals, rising customer complaints, and aggressive competitors. Identify which signals matter and diagnose the real problem before it is too late.
Generate innovative solutions under budget, time, and cultural constraints. Decide how to allocate R&D resources and choose between incremental improvement and bold transformation.
Pitch your vision to skeptical stakeholders. Navigate resistance from middle management, address investor concerns, and build a coalition for change.
Allocate resources to build and test your ideas. Handle unexpected setbacks — a key supplier drops out, regulations change, or a competitor launches first. Adaptability is key.
Implement your innovation across the entire organization. Manage culture clashes, training gaps, and feedback loops. Prove that your change initiative can endure beyond the initial excitement.
Log in to start playing with your team. Make strategic decisions and compete on the leaderboard.