Sapien was approached by a top 10 US University Business School known for its rigorous Executive MBA program. The challenge was to bridge the gap between real-world business challenges brought on by the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and the academic themes and outcomes of their Global Markets and Institutions course.
Executive-level students were struggling to apply their academic learning to the evolving global crisis. The second-order effects – the downstream impacts of decisions aimed at containing the virus – were not adequately addressed in their existing curriculum. The simulation would require the students to grapple with the practical complexities of distributing a $1.9 trillion stimulus, curbing the infection curve, and meeting international aid demands simultaneously.
We set out to bridge the gap between the course content and the real-world dynamics of the pandemic. Our primary tool was a simulation platform designed to expose students to the direct and indirect effects of their strategic decisions in a controlled yet dynamic environment.
We developed a custom model incorporating a 'Resilience Score' metric. This innovative measurement tool gauged the quality of decision-making which could potentially lead to positive outcomes, utilizing real-world data emerging from the global crisis.
The simulation allowed students to grapple with critical decisions involving stimulus distribution, virus containment, and international aid. This experiential learning environment connected students' real-world experiences with their academic studies, offering an unmatched hands-on understanding of the complex interplay between global markets and institutions during a crisis.
As a capstone, we included a post-game bonus round where groups encountered an 'edge-case' bio-terror event in a future post-COVID world, further enriching their understanding of crisis management and strategic decision-making.
Our transformative approach to executive education paid off significantly. The School reported that students demonstrated a clearer understanding of course themes and outcomes, leading to more insightful discussions and improved application of concepts.
The Resilience Score offered a practical measure of decision-making quality, aiding students in refining their strategic approach. The bonus round equipped them with a futuristic perspective, preparing them for unforeseen crises.
The project served as a testament to our potential to elevate executive education, enabling students to apply theoretical concepts to real-world crises, thereby producing leaders who are ready to navigate the complexities of global markets and institutions.
Case Study 1
Sapien collaborated with one of the leading telecom and mass media companies, commanding a market cap of US$29 billion and employing over 23,000 professionals. Our task was to revolutionize their strategic planning process by introducing an advanced simulation platform. The audience was the company's top 120 senior executives and their most influential leaders. The main theme was to strengthen strategy formulation and execution
Case Study 3
Sapien partnered with a $210 billion Fortune 50 technology company that employs over 83,000 individuals. The task at hand was to catalyze an enterprise-wide strategic transformation using our cutting-edge simulation platform. The company was seeking to transition from a hardware sales model to a recurring revenue software business model.
Case Study 4
Sapien joined forces with a $28 billion top-tier healthcare technology provider to revamp the stakeholder engagement at their virtual conference. The conference was for an expected audience of over 500 stakeholders. Our brief was to provide a compelling, engaging, and thought-provoking simulation experience that would highlight the client's position as a thought leader in the healthcare technology space and emphasize their commitment to population health initiatives.
Case Study 5
Sapien partnered with SIG, a leading strategic intelligence firm to support a Private Equity business facing a significant portfolio decision. The company was evaluating the value of a $30 million asset, and our mission was to employ our cutting-edge simulation technology to enhance their decision-making process.
