Why do some business simulations create passionate, engaged learners while others leave participants feeling disconnected and uninvested? The answer often lies in one crucial design choice: open versus closed decision-making.

In this episode of our 17-part series on choosing the best business acumen simulation, we explore how giving teams real autonomy over pricing, capacity, customers, and other business operations transforms learning from a passive exercise into an emotionally engaging experience. When participants truly own their decisions—and their results—learning sticks.

We examine the pitfalls of closed decision-making: scripted scenarios that funnel everyone to identical outcomes, rigid decision trees that eliminate meaningful choice, and facilitator-driven paths that rob learners of agency. Even worse? Simulations that replace strategic thinking with dice rolls and card draws, where luck trumps logic and accountability vanishes entirely.

Discover the critical questions to ask when evaluating any simulation: Who actually makes the decisions—teams, individuals, the facilitator, or the software? Do participants genuinely own their outcomes? Can they apply what they've learned through direct action?

Because here's the truth: if you want people to take responsibility at work, you have to give them responsibility in training. Open decision-making isn't chaotic—it's the foundation of learning that creates lasting impact.

Perfect for L&D professionals, corporate trainers, and business educators seeking simulations that build real accountability and business acumen.

Read the full blog post.