Apples & OrangesTM

Business Finance for Everyone

Equip your employees with the knowledge they need to think like business owners through playing this world class simulation.

In Apples & OrangesTM, each team is the incoming management company who will lead A & O Inc — an established company facing some tough but realistic challenges. Teams are tasked with running the business over 2-4 fiscal years, with simulated exercises about the foundations of business.

Through the simulations participants will learn the importance of cash flow and how to monitor it, better utilise resources and much much more.

At the end of each simulated year, teams create their own balance sheets and income statements allowing them to measure results, analyse their performance and understand how their daily decisions impact the company financially.

Everyone’s a winner in Apples & OrangesTM — a playful approach to serious business results.

 

Apples & OrangesTM: Versions

based on different business logics

Apples & OrangesTM Manufacturing

– focuses on issues that arise when scaling a manufacturing company for profitable growth. Participants see how small changes in operations—such as enhancing information flow, optimize cash flow and working capital—can significantly change the outcome and improve bottom line results.

Apples & OrangesTM Manufacturing-Sales

– highlights how to buiild a customer base that will yield short-term profit and long-term sustainable growth and how the organization benefits from better sales and forecasting. Participants understand which customers to pursue by monitoring issues like volume, loyalty, image, price and payment terms.

Apples & OrangesTM Service

– explains how the bottom line is affected by the utilization of staff and better procedures for forecasting and planning. Participants realize how configuring the customer base (in terms of volume, loyalty, image, price and payment terms) affects cash flow, short-term profitability and long-term market value.

Apples & OrangesTM Retail

– ensures comprehension of inventory capital management and how the effective use of personnel impacts customer satisfaction and profitability. Participants make decisions to improve financial success in areas like distribution optimization, stockroom and checkout efficiency, scheduling, store traffic, customer service and point-of-purchase display.

Quick Facts

Key themes

Key themes

Business acumen, financial literacy, big picture view, operational decision-making.

Target group

Target group

Anybody who will gain from learning about business finance. Employees at all levels.

Material

Material

Board-based business simulation with digital support.

Time

Time

8 to 12 hours corresponding to 3-4 simulated fiscal years.

Number of participants

Number of participants

2-6 teams, 8-24 participants per facilitator. Unlimited number of participants in total. Multiple games can be held simultaneously to illustrate for example different continents, markets or business units.

Languages

Languages

Cayenne is available in a great number of languages.

Versions

Versions

Apples & Oranges is available in four different versions, based on different business logics: Apples & Oranges Manufacturing-Sales, Manufacturing, Service and Retail. Please contact us for more information.

“Put into a nutshell, Apples & OrangesTM demystifies finance: complex principles are clarified within one day without previous knowledge being required. But more important, our people are highly enthusiastic about the program and the gut-feel understanding it provides, especially when transferring the key learning points into the daily business.” Business Services Consultant, Siemens

“In one of our factories we came up with £1 million worth of potential improvements as a direct result of the Celemi business simulation.” Manager, GlaxoSmithKline

“Apples & OrangesTM surpassed our expectations by a wide margin. It not only gives us a foundation to build on – it also creates enthusiasm and gets people involved. These are essential components for us as we launch our development program.” Personnel Manager, Volvo Car Corporations