Value Stream Multi-Project Kanban Simulation

It’s a 4-hour live, online workshop where you and other participants run through a realistic multi-project scenario using Kanban practices.

We call it a “simulation” because it’s like a role-playing game for project management – you’ll take on roles in a fictional company and work together to complete projects using Kanban boards, policies, and metrics. It’s designed to show you how Kanban works in a complex environment (multiple projects, multiple teams) in a very practical, hands-on way.

Think of it as both a training and an experiment lab – you learn by actually doing and seeing the outcomes in real time.

No prior experience is required. The simulation is beginner-friendly and guided so that anyone can participate, whether you’ve never heard of Kanban or you’re a seasoned project manager.

In fact, the simulation is a great way to learn Kanban basics through experience rather than theory. We introduce concepts as we go, and the facilitator ensures everyone can follow along.

If you are experienced, you’ll still find it valuable (you’ll just tackle more advanced experiments), but it might be worth considering a private simulation to address your specific questions and scenarios.

Public simulations are limited to 10 participants per session. We’ve found this group size is ideal to ensure everyone is engaged and has a role, without causing confusion or idle time. If a session has more demand, we may open an additional date or suggest a private session.

Private sessions can accommodate up to about 15 people comfortably (we’ve done a few larger ones), but if your group is much bigger, we might split it into multiple sessions or a custom workshop format for the best experience.

We allow each organization to send up to two people to a public simulation for free (once). This is to encourage companies to try out the simulation and see the value before investing in training a whole team. It is also ideal for change agents or decision makers to find out if Businessmap or "this Kanban thing" is for you or if you would like to engage with Xuviate for other services. 

For example, you and a colleague can book a session and use a free seat code, and you won’t be charged the €300 fee for those two seats. If you have a third person from your company who also wants in the same session, that third person (and beyond) would be paid. The idea is to make it risk-free for a team lead and perhaps their manager (or any two stakeholders) to evaluate the experience.

Note: The free seats are not meant to be used repeatedly by the same company across many sessions – it’s a introductory offer. But after using them, we often see clients decide to enroll a bunch more people (paid) or schedule a private session, once they’ve witnessed the impact.

That’s great! You have a couple of options:

• If it’s just a few extra (say 3-5 total), you can certainly all join the same public session. The first two can use free slots, and the others would register at the standard rate. It’s actually quite beneficial to have multiple colleagues share the experience – you’ll have common reference points and can support each other in implementing ideas afterward.
• If you have a larger group (or you simply prefer a closed setting), a private simulation might be more cost-effective and tailored. For a team, the private session might make more sense than paying per person. Plus, in a private session we can focus on your specific questions and even extend the time or split sessions to cover more depth. We’ve done private runs for entire departments which proved to be fantastic team-building and upskilling events.

Either way, contact us if you are unsure and we’ll help figure out the best arrangement.

The simulation is delivered live online via a video conferencing tool (usually Zoom or MS Teams) and the Businessmap web application. You will need:

• A computer (Windows, Mac or Linux all fine) with a modern web browser (Chrome recommended) and a stable internet connection. The experience involves looking at Kanban boards and possibly interacting with them, so a decent-sized screen (laptop or larger) is imperative – mobile phones are not suitable! Ideally you even have two screens so you can see our screenshare and still follow in Businessmap at the same time.
• It is also important that we can see and hear each other, which is why your computer needs to be equipped with a camera and microphone and these should be permanently on.
• A quiet, comfortable environment for the 4-hour duration - sit as far away as possible from other participating colleagues to avoid echoes. We do include short bio breaks, but you’ll want to be free from major distractions to get the most out of it. Consider having a coffee or water handy!
• We will provide you with a login link or credentials for the Businessmap simulation environment a day before the session. You do not need to purchase any software or have a Businessmap/Kanbanize account beforehand – we’ve got a dedicated instance ready for you.

In short, if you can join a Zoom / MS Teams meeting and browse a website, you have everything you need. We handle the rest.

Four hours is the standard length we’ve found works well for the core simulation - it’s enough time to experience multiple cycles of planning → execution → improvement without exhausting people. By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of the fundamentals and some advanced concepts.

However, 4 hours is just the beginning if you wish to dive deeper. We offer extended/private simulations where we run additional rounds, often on a separate day or as part of a series, to explore things like advanced metrics analysis, or to iterate further on improvements. For example, a private team might do two 4-hour sessions on consecutive days, picking up where they left off. We can also schedule follow-up workshops (post-simulation) to help translate insights into an actual implementation plan for your projects.

So, think of the 4-hour simulation as a highly concentrated learning experience – and if your appetite is whetted for more, we have options to continue the journey. Many teams indeed use the simulation as a kickoff, then engage in our Kanban Bootcamp or coaching to implement what was learned in their own work environment.

We strongly recommend that you join when you have the full time available, as the simulation is interactive and builds through several stages. Missing a portion can disrupt not just your experience but the team dynamic.

That said, we understand emergencies happen. If you have to leave unexpectedly, the simulation will continue (our facilitators can adjust roles if needed).

If you know in advance that you can’t stay for the entire session, it’s best to reschedule to a different date. We’re quite flexible with rebooking – just let us know. Our aim is for everyone to get the full value, so don’t try to squeeze this into an unrealistic time window.

Plan for the 4 hours as dedicated training time for yourself and your team. (Also, make sure you won’t be interrupted – perhaps inform colleagues that you’re in a workshop, just as you would in an in-person training.)

Not at all. This simulation is a standalone educational experience. Yes, we do use the Businessmap software during the sim (because it’s a powerful platform to demonstrate Kanban at scale), and we mention our other offerings like Bootcamps as logical next steps, but the session’s focus is on learning and practical insight. There are no sales presentations! 

In fact, many participants join purely for the learning and we never “pitch” them anything beyond answering their questions. Of course, if you enjoy the simulation and want help implementing these ideas, we’re happy to discuss follow-on support (and many do take that path).

But you will get full value from the simulation itself regardless. The feedback we hear often is “This was incredibly useful on its own – I have lots to think about now.” That’s our goal: deliver standalone value. Everything else is optional.

We won’t leave you hanging!

After the simulation, you will have access to the simulation board data/metrics for a few days, so you can analyze or show your team what you did. 

Additionally, we offer:

• Businessmap Trial: If you like the platform and want to play a bit on your own, we can provide you with an extended 30-day trial account.
• Kanban Bootcamp: an 8-week guided program where we help you build a real multi-project Kanban system for your organisation (the next logical step for many, to turn the simulation learning into reality).
• Coaching & Consulting: If your organisation wants more hands-on help, we can provide coaching sessions, reviews of your current process, or even build a tailored consulting engagement.
• Newsletter & Events: We publish articles, videos, case studies, and host webinars (e.g., see the BASF Tamol case webinar) – plenty of resources to keep the momentum going.
• Follow-up Q&A: You’re welcome to arrange a free follow-up call with us to discuss any specific questions that arose when you went back to work. We love hearing how you plan to apply the ideas and can often provide a pointer or two to help.

In short, the simulation is just the beginning of your journey to more effective project delivery – and we’re here to support you all the way, as much or as little as you need.