Wargaming for aircraft manufacturer product and industrial strategy

Abstract

Purpose: Air Transport Systems (ATS) are complex sociotechnical systems with dynamic stakeholder interactions and non-linear relationships. Traditional analytical planning methods often oversimplify these complexities, limiting decision-makers’ ability to understand system dynamics. This study introduces a wargaming framework, adapted from military practices, to help aircraft manufacturers align product development and business strategies with airline competition.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Developed collaboratively by Cranfield University and Airbus UK, the framework consists of seven elements: objectives, players, game components, game mechanics, scenarios, facilitation and feedback. Its development followed structured engineering project stages design, preparation, testing and evaluation allowing for iterative refinements.

Findings: The wargaming provides an interactive platform to simulate airline competition and stakeholder interactions, enhancing strategic decision-making. Validation exercises demonstrated its ability to model ATS dynamics, revealing insights into stakeholder behaviour, decision processes and competitive influences on aircraft development. The framework offers both epistemological benefits (deeper system understanding) and pedagogical benefits (improved strategic thinking and decision-making skills).

Practical Implications: The framework serves as an analytical and educational tool, enabling aircraft manufacturers to assess market dynamics, stakeholder behaviours and competitive strategies in a structured environment.

Originality/Value: This study presents a novel adaptation of wargaming approach that captures ATS complexities, supporting strategic planning for aircraft manufacturers. By positioning military-inspired wargaming within the broader game science literature, the study provides a methodological bridge between Design-in-the-Large (high level strategy) and Design-in-the-Small (specific game design elements), supporting future advancements in product and business strategy within ATS.