Should Business Simulations Portray the Ideal or the Imperfect?

What Makes Experiential Learning Work

When designing a business simulation like FLIGBY, a key question emerges: should the virtual world reflect an ideal corporate or team environment, or should it instead immerse users in a setting where things go wrong, where virtual colleagues make mistakes, and where situations are far from what most decision-makers would see as optimal? At first glance, this might seem like a simple matter of client preference—whether to present scenarios aligned with what organizations want to experience or to challenge their expectations with less-than-perfect realities.

However, the issue is more complex. It dives into how experiential learning functions and what it takes to create a digital environment that truly engages and develops its users. Choosing between a perfect and an imperfect simulation is not just about whether clients might disagree with certain scenarios. It’s about how people learn, how they get immersed, and how they are challenged to grow as leaders and decision-makers.

Experiential learning, as used in FLIGBY and other advanced business simulations, is based on the idea that real growth comes from dealing with complexity, ambiguity, and even failure. The best simulations do not just reinforce best practices in isolation; they put users in dynamic, sometimes chaotic situations that demand critical thinking, reflection, and adaptation. This approach is backed by Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, which highlights the importance of concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. In short, learning is most effective when it is active, immersive, and reflective—when users are not just told what to do but are given the opportunity to make decisions, see the results, and learn from them.

Furthermore, the psychological aspects of immersion and engagement in digital learning environments indicate that users are more likely to be deeply involved—and therefore learn more—when they experience a sense of presence, ownership, and emotional commitment to the scenario. This is often achieved not by creating a perfect world, but by designing situations that feel real, with all the unpredictability, interpersonal challenges, and imperfect information characteristic of actual business life. When virtual teammates behave unexpectedly or situations diverge from the textbook ideal, users are pushed to think critically, adapt, and reflect—essential elements for meaningful learning and leadership growth.

The Imperfect World of FLIGBY

FLIGBY stands out as a serious game because it intentionally mirrors the complexity and ambiguity of real-world leadership. Here are the three key features, with your specific examples, that make FLIGBY a challenging and valuable experience. These features are sometimes considered “failures” in game design because they can feel frustrating or confusing. However, they are crucial design elements that deepen experiential learning and enhance player immersion into the story. By embracing imperfection and ambiguity, FLIGBY creates a realistic leadership simulation that challenges players to think critically and respond thoughtfully to complex situations.

1. Manipulative characters with hidden agendas – Each character in FLIGBY has their own personal motivations and agendas, which are often hidden from the player. This means the player must carefully identify these underlying drivers to successfully navigate conflicts. For example, when deciding on business matters like giving the green light to the “Night Harvest” idea, every choice inevitably harms some personal interests. This forces players to weigh options carefully, knowing that pleasing one character may upset another.
2. Non-ideal situations and difficult dilemmas – The situations presented in the game are deliberately far from ideal. Sometimes, maintaining Flow requires decisions that don’t seem “good” or appropriate by conventional standards. A memorable dilemma is the decision about promoting the executive assistant, Jen, in front of others. Here, the optimal decision to sustain Flow might clash with what players would usually consider the right or fair choice, reflecting the complexity of real leadership.
3. Unexpected dialogue and outcomes – Players often notice that although they make a decision from the available options, their character’s response may differ from what they expected. This is an intentional design element. This unpredictability helps players experience how things don’t always evolve as planned in real life, encouraging them to adapt and rethink their strategies.

Together, these elements make FLIGBY not just a game, but a powerful virtual space for testing decision-making under pressure in an imperfect world.

Imperfection Fuels Critical Thinking and Growth

A perfect virtual world would be sterile and uninspiring. Imperfection is at the heart of effective experiential learning—it challenges, engages, and connects players, all while providing a safe environment for growth and development. By embracing imperfection, virtual learning spaces like FLIGBY create powerful, memorable experiences that prepare learners for the realities of leadership and teamwork:

1. Imperfection drives authentic learning – Real life is full of ambiguity, conflicting interests, and imperfect information. If a virtual learning space were perfect and predictable, it wouldn’t genuinely prepare players for the messy, nuanced decisions they’ll face outside the simulation. Imperfection doesn’t mean the learning environment is unsafe. In fact, the beauty of a virtual space is that it allows learners to make mistakes, experiment, and learn from tough scenarios—without real-world consequences. This “safe-to-fail” environment is where the deepest learning happens.
2. Engagement is rooted in imperfection – Characters who are awkward, unpredictable, or even challenging evoke genuine emotions in players. Whether it’s frustration, empathy, or curiosity, these reactions are essential for true engagement. Imperfect characters and situations generate drama, uncertainty, and stakes that keep players invested. This narrative tension is what makes the experience memorable and transformative, rather than routine or forgettable.
3. Imperfection fuels critical thinking and growth – In a perfect world, choices would be obvious and outcomes predictable. Imperfection forces players to think critically, weigh trade-offs, and justify their decisions—skills that are essential for growth. By encountering characters with conflicting agendas or awkward behaviors, players are exposed to diverse viewpoints and must navigate interpersonal dynamics, just as they would in real teams.