When we at Insight Experience design business simulations with our clients, many assume the simulation should exactly reflect their business. Through nearly three decades of experience, we’ve learned that fictional simulations, those built around a metaphorical business, are often more effective than realistic ones for achieving learning objectives.
What's the Difference?
A realistic simulation seeks to replicate a client’s business as closely as possible. It mirrors the industry, business model, products and services, and even the organizational structure.
By contrast, a fictional or metaphor-based simulation uses a business that only resembles the client’s. This metaphor presents learners with challenges and decisions they recognize from their real work, without being tied to specific company details.
A simple metaphor might be a lemonade stand. A more sophisticated one could be an autonomous vehicle manufacturer or a message management service. Regardless of its complexity, the key is that the learner can see themselves in the story.
A Simulation Metaphor in Action
For one client, Insight Experience created a simulation business that develops autonomous trucking technology. During the simulation, participants are challenged to develop, scale, and roll out the technology globally.
While autonomous transportation exists in the real world, it remains in its infancy. This futuristic metaphor resonates with participants because it feels exciting and forward-looking — and because it mirrors the dynamics of their own technology-based business.
Why Fiction Over Fact?
Over time, we’ve found that fictional simulations outperform realistic ones for several reasons.
They Eliminate Distractions
When learners participate in realistic simulations, they often fixate on details. “That’s not how our business works” or “Our customers wouldn’t behave that way” are comments we often here from them.
This is fair criticism, but they pull attention away from the learning objectives. A fictional business eliminates these distractions. Participants understand it’s not meant to be a replica, freeing them to focus on learning new skills and applying new behaviors.
They Avoid Bias
Realistic simulations can trigger bias. Learners often make decisions based on what they would do back at work, informed by ingrained assumptions and organizational habits.
In a fictional business, those assumptions fall away. Participants base their decisions on evidence and analysis, not existing norms. This shift produces clearer thinking and better learning outcomes.
They Avoid Obsolescence
Businesses evolve constantly. External forces change the industries in which our clients’ businesses operate. Organizations reorganize to operate more efficiently. New products and services are introduced, and others are discontinued. Realistic simulations, tied too closely to today’s realities, can become outdated within months.
Fictional simulations, however, are timeless. Because they don’t depend on the exact details of a specific industry or company, they stay relevant even as real-world conditions change. If the metaphor reflects enduring business and leadership challenges, it withstands changes that make realistic simulations obsolete.
They Encourage Experimentation and Risk-Taking
Simulations create a safe environment for exploration. We challenge participants to explore new strategies, try out new skills and behaviors, and take chances they would be reluctant to take back at work. But when the simulation too closely resembles participants’ real business, they can hesitate: “We’d never make these decisions at work. They are too risky.”
Fictional simulations reduce that fear. Because the setting isn’t “their” business, participants feel freer to experiment, test new strategies, and make mistakes without consequence. This is where meaningful learning happens.
They Are Engaging
A well-designed fictional business can be exciting for learners. When the metaphor feels unique, futuristic, or simply fun, it sparks curiosity and engagement.
We want to evoke reactions like, “What a cool business!” or “I wish this existed.” That engagement translates directly into energy, focus, and stronger learning retention.
Turning Fiction Into Insight
The use of metaphor-based simulations can feel counterintuitive at first. Clients often expect a simulation to be a mirror. But once they experience the difference, they see the benefits clearly.
At Insight Experience, we remind clients that:
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Metaphors can be creatively designed to reflect relevant business challenges that resonate with learners.
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Fiction doesn’t mean irrelevance. When designed effectively, fictional businesses are relevant, recognizable, and relatable.
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The goal isn’t realism but reflection. The best simulations create safe, insightful practice opportunities that lead to real-world change.
To learn more about how simulations accelerate leadership development, visit our page on why organizations use business simulations.
