Download Did you feel yourself controlled by forces in the system from time to

Debriefing . . .
• How do you feel now? How did you feel
while playing the game?
• Did you feel yourself controlled by forces in
the system from time to time?
• Did you find yourself “blaming” the person
next to you for your problems?
• What is the total cost of your team? Why the
large discrepancy between teams? What
caused large inventories and backlogs?
• Did you notice any patterns on your graphs?
Typical Beer Game Results
Typical Beer Game Results
Back to the Beer Game . . .
• What or who do you think caused the
supply chain dynamics that we
observed?
How could such
a small perturbation in
one part of the system create
such havoc in the
rest of the system?
Reflection and Knowledge Capture
• What can your team and organization
learn from the exercise?
• Take ten minutes to discuss with your
team.
• Capture 3 to 4 lessons learned.
Beer Game Lessons I
• The structure of any system governs
human behavior within the system.
 Changing people without changing the
system structure may not lead to
desired or permanent improvement.
Beer Game Lessons II
• To effectively manage a system a
“systems” perspective should be adopted:
Realize that . . .
Often, . . . a lag between what one observes
and what caused that observation.
Ripple effects within and across organizational
boundaries.
Volatility directly proportional to distance from
market.
Beer Game Lesson III
• The amplification in the supply chain is
called the “Bullwhip effect.”
• Suggested Solutions?
Improved communication
Reduced lead-time
• What does research and experience tell
us?
Beer Game Lesson IV
Characteristics of top Supply Chain
performers?
Agile: able make quick adjustments in
output in response to the market.
Adaptable: able to adapt supply chain
structure and facilities to changing needs.
Alignment: Partners in the supply chain are
aligned in their objectives & incentive
structures.