Course Description
Apollo 13® Business Simulation
Apollo 13® focuses on end-to-end service management, organisational collaboration and strategic thinking. Using the famous NASA mission as its backdrop, the simulation challenges participants to manage complex services under pressure while improving communication, decision-making and cross-functional collaboration. It is particularly valuable for organisations undergoing transformation or seeking to strengthen leadership, break down organisational silos and improve enterprise-wide service delivery.
Apollo 13® Business Simulation
Transform the Way Your Teams Think, Collaborate and Deliver
The Apollo 13® Business Simulation is an immersive, hands-on learning experience developed by GamingWorks, the creators of some of the world's most recognised business simulations for IT Service Management, Agile, DevOps and organisational transformation.
Inspired by NASA's legendary Apollo 13 mission, this highly engaging simulation helps technology professionals develop the skills, behaviours and mindset needed to deliver exceptional service in today's complex business environment. Participants work together under realistic operational pressure, making critical decisions, solving problems and continuously improving the way they work.
Rather than learning through presentations alone, participants experience the challenges of service delivery firsthand, creating practical insights and lasting behavioural change that can be immediately applied back in the workplace.
Course Objectives
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
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Understand end-to-end service delivery from a business perspective
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Improve cross-functional collaboration and communication
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Analyse, simplify and improve service delivery processes
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Develop more agile and adaptable ways of working
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Strengthen strategic thinking and business alignment
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Build stronger business cases for service improvement
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Improve knowledge sharing across teams
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Create a culture that encourages learning, innovation and continuous improvement
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Increase confidence in leading and supporting organisational change
Apollo 13® Business Simulation
Course Content:
Participants become NASA Mission Control, responsible for supporting the Apollo 13 crew throughout one of the most challenging space missions ever undertaken.
Working across multiple specialist roles, teams must:
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Design and deliver critical services
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Respond to unexpected challenges
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Balance operational demands with strategic priorities
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Manage limited time and resources
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Review performance and improve after every mission phase
As the simulation progresses, participants experience increasing complexity, encouraging them to collaborate, innovate and
continually refine their approach.
The experience closely mirrors the pressures faced by modern technology and service organisations.
What You'll Experience:
The workshop is delivered across four interactive rounds, following a continuous Plan – Do – Review – Improve cycle.
Participants will:
Plan the Mission
Understand customer requirements, define priorities and prepare services for mission success.
Deliver Under Pressure
Support mission operations while responding to changing demands, operational challenges and unexpected events.
Learn Through Continuous Improvement
Review performance using real-time data, identify opportunities for improvement and implement practical changes.
Achieve Mission Success
Apply lessons learned to improve collaboration, service delivery and overall mission performance while safely bringing the crew home.
Each round is followed by facilitated discussions that connect the simulation directly to participants' own organisational challenges.
Who Should Attend?
The Apollo 13 Simulation is suitable for organisations that want to strengthen collaboration across technology and business teams.
Typical participants include:
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IT Operations teams
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Service Management professionals
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Service Desk teams
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Technology Managers and Team Leaders
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Project and Programme Managers
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Change Managers
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Technology Transformation teams
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Business stakeholders working alongside IT
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Cross-functional leadership teams
The simulation is particularly valuable for organisations undergoing technology transformation, service improvement initiatives or cultural change.
When Should You Run Apollo 13?
Apollo 13 is highly effective as:
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A technology transformation kick-off
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A leadership or management development programme
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A team development workshop
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A service management improvement initiative
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A cross-functional collaboration event
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A strategic planning or organisational change workshop
It provides an engaging, practical environment where teams can safely explore new ways of working before applying them within their own organisation.
Why Choose Simulation-Based Learning?
People learn best by doing.
Rather than sitting through presentations, participants make decisions, solve problems, collaborate under pressure and immediately experience the impact of their choices.
This hands-on approach creates stronger engagement, deeper understanding and learning that is far more likely to transfer into the workplace.
Ready to Launch Your Next Transformation?
Whether you're preparing for a technology transformation, improving service delivery, developing future leaders or building stronger collaboration across your organisation, Apollo 13® provides a practical, engaging learning experience that delivers lasting results.
Contact us today to discuss your objectives, explore how Apollo 13 can support your organisation, and book a workshop tailored to your team's goals.
