Starting a business game from scratch is not easy - we know. We started the process three years ago, and looking back, we are proud of the result. Of course, we have encountered our share of challenges, questions and doubts as well. Here are 10 tips and tricks that could kickstart your plan to start your own business game:

1. The 10
commandments
of organizing a
business game

2. You get to know
potential
applicants
POTENTIAL
Students get
to know your
company
culture
CULTURE
You reach a lot of
students in a
short
time span
(employer branding)
SPEED
Students get
more insight
into their
potential future
job
FUTURE JOB
APPLICATION IS AN INFORMED CHOICE OF BOTH PARTIES
WHY INVEST IN
A BUSINESS GAME FOR STUDENTS?

3. 10 COMMANDMENTS
HOW TO FOLLOW THEM
COMMANDMENT 1
Start with a proof of concept, start small
Dream big, but start at around 50% of your own maximum capacity
COMMANDMENT 2
Limit your target audience
Focus on a limited target audience,
optimize your content
and understand the impact you have on your
audience
50%

4. 10 COMMANDMENTS
HOW TO FOLLOW THEM
COMMANDMENT 3
Start from their needs
What experience are they looking for?
What information do they lack?
What do they want to know about
your company and the jobs you offer?
COMMANDMENT 4
Focus on what makes the game unique
Understand the business games of competitors and create
a unique one, for example by combining operations & IT
UNIQUE

5. 10 COMMANDMENTS
HOW TO FOLLOW THEM
COMMANDMENT 5
Promote heavily
Organize a long-term and intensive campaign.
Try to reach the students via different channels.
COMMANDMENT 6
Start simple and define a growth path
Start with assignments and games that have
low-risk-of-failure and mature during the next years.

6. 10 COMMANDMENTS
HOW TO FOLLOW THEM
COMMANDMENT 7
Start with a small and focused core team
Create a team of 2 people that takes care of everything
and is backed by a budget
COMMANDMENT 8
Upon reaching maturity, change the core team every 2 years
Involve the new core team in the organization of the second year
and give them full responsibility for the next
2 years
every

7. 10 COMMANDMENTS
HOW TO FOLLOW THEM
COMMANDMENT 9
Collect feedback from students and use it wisely
Organize moments and events where students can give their feedback
and apply 1 or 2 changes every year
COMMANDMENT 10
Dare to invest
Get support from top management from day 1 day1
from

8. TRUST YOUNG
EMPLOYEES
WHO ARE CLOSE TO THE
STUDENTS
AND
GIVE THEM FULL
RESPONSIBILITY

9. FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF THE
DELAWARE GAME OF OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
We have tried to apply
these commandments
as much as possible
from the very start
sometimes by
trial and error

11. The concept is
questioned and
improved (based
on students’
feedback)
IMPROVED
Target audience
is expanding
(although it’s
important to
maintain focus)
EXPANDING
Organization (of
events,
communication,
content, etc) is
professionalized
PROFESSIONALIZED
Knowledge is
institutionalized
within the
organization
INSTITUTIONALIZED
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS GUARANTEE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
BY CHANGING THE CORE TEAM EVERY 2 YEARS
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

12. CONTACT
Alexander & Simon
alexander.naessens@delawareconsultin
g.com
simon.nuttin@delawareconsulting.com
12
MORE INSPIRATION?
How it all started:
A business game that breathes the delaware
culture