08. Promote Collaboration with Whole Business Thinking
Eliza Helweg-Larsen
Published Date
Choosing the Best Business Acumen Simulation is our comprehensive 17-part guide to evaluating, selecting, and achieving meaningful results with business simulations. In this installment, we examine Whole Business Thinking — how connecting all parts of the business encourages collaboration, breaks down silos, and builds strategic awareness.
Unified Vision: The Benefits of Whole Business Thinking
The purpose of business acumen training is to have everyone thinking about the long-term health of a company. This requires a comprehensive understanding of how all components of the business work together to achieve results. Decisions in one area don’t just impact the bottom line; they also influence the ability of other departments to make sound decisions.
For example, if Finance decides not to raise more capital, Operations can’t expand, and Sales can’t pursue the largest and potentially most profitable customers. A simulation that focuses solely on one department encourages silo thinking and may inadvertently harm other departments.
Similarly, if a simulation gives weight only to the views of a few stakeholders, it may distance learners from engagement and accountability. Including a variety of stakeholders helps create a big-picture understanding of the business’s needs and ensures that participants understand the interconnectedness of their roles.
Stakeholders to Include
- Customers want low prices, high quality, and extended payment terms.
- Salespeople aim to increase market share.
- Operations focus on improving efficiency.
- R&D and Marketing drive future growth and innovation.
- Finance manages cash flow needs and financial health.
- Suppliers need timely payments to sustain their own businesses.
- Investors accept risks for potential rewards (dividends, long-term growth).
- Senior Managers are responsible for ensuring cohesive operation.
Key Questions to Ask
- Does the simulation represent the views of all key stakeholders?
- Does the simulation demonstrate the interconnectedness of business functions?
- Can participants see how their real-world decisions affect different parts of the business, no matter which department they work in?
When business simulations provide a holistic view that includes internal and external departments, participants gain a better understanding of how all components work together to achieve business success. This comprehensive perspective fosters whole business thinking, breaking down silos and promoting a more integrated approach to decision-making.
By emphasizing the interconnectedness of all business functions, business acumen training can significantly improve the strategic thinking and collaborative capabilities of participants—ultimately driving the long-term success of the organization.
The Bottom Line
Simulations that highlight whole business thinking help participants see beyond their own functions and make decisions for the benefit of the entire company. This perspective strengthens collaboration, accountability, and long-term results.
See Also
If you’d like a deeper dive on this topic, explore our related article: Whole Business Thinking: Why the Big Picture Isn’t Big Enough
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Avoid: Silo Thinking Because… it will lead to isolated decisions which ignore broader business needs. |
Look for: Whole Business Thinking Because… it promotes decision-making to benefit the company. |
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