The client recognised that one of their biggest challenges wasn’t technical skill or product knowledge, it was the way their teams communicated across departments. Employees often worked in silos, focused on their own goals without fully understanding how their actions impacted others upstream or downstream. Manufacturing, sales, and supply chain teams rarely had the opportunity to step into each other’s shoes, which led to misalignment, slow decision-making, and friction during high-pressure situations. This lack of cross-functional awareness was beginning to affect agility, efficiency, and overall performance on the ground.
They didn’t want another one-way training session or a series of slides filled with abstract principles. What they needed was an experience—something hands-on, energising, and real. They were looking for a programme that could bring people from different departments into the same room, challenge them to think beyond their own function, and help them see the bigger picture of how their roles connected. It had to be practical and engaging, something that would simulate real business tension while encouraging collaboration, strategic thinking, and mutual respect. Above all, it needed to shift mindsets and not just teach new processes.
This wasn’t just a game. It held a mirror up to how we work in real life, how quickly we jump to conclusions, or forget to check in with other teams. I left the session thinking not just about the simulation, but about how I show up at work every day.
PPEARL designed and facilitated a high-impact business simulation. Using a fictional ice cream company as a learning vehicle, the workshop provided a neutral yet relatable scenario for employees from different functions to come together, solve real-time business problems, and understand the dependencies of cross-functional operations.
The simulation included:
• Two progressive rounds simulating real-world business operations
• Department-specific KPIs for manufacturing, sales, and supply chain
• Crisis cards to test team response under pressure
• Decision-making around procurement, production, shipping, and quality
• Facilitated debriefs after each round to extract real-world insights
The competitive spirit and immersive format kept energy levels high, but it was the debrief sessions that turned gameplay into growth. Facilitators guided participants in reflecting on what worked, what didn’t, and what could be done differently back at work. These conversations solidified the learning, helping participants not only enjoy the experience but take away practical insights they could apply immediately in their roles.
By the end of the simulation, participants walked away with far more than just a fun team activity, they gained a lasting appreciation for how interconnected their roles truly were. Many admitted they had underestimated how much their decisions could ripple across the business, affecting timelines, customer satisfaction, and team morale. For the first time, employees from manufacturing, sales, and supply chain functions were able to experience the pressure, trade-offs, and priorities their colleagues faced daily. This newfound understanding helped break down assumptions, encouraged empathy, and fostered a sense of shared accountability.
Teams began communicating more proactively and collaborating more effectively, even under tight constraints. As they navigated the simulation’s rounds, they built consensus faster, debated ideas more constructively, and adapted quickly to shifting scenarios. The addition of gamified crisis cards injected moments of unpredictability that forced teams to think on their feet, make swift decisions, and stay agile under pressure.
Layers of Real-time Reflection
Shifted in the Way They View Other Functions
Real-Life Crisis Scenarios
At PPEARL, we turn training into experience. Our simulation-based learning creates safe but impactful environments for cross-functional teams to practise real-world collaboration. With engaging formats and deep debriefs, we ensure lessons last far beyond the workshop.