Event Name: Guest Lecture on “Business Policy and Strategy
Objective::The primary objective of the session was to introduce students to the Cesim Global Challenge—a real-time business simulation designed to help students develop cross-functional strategic decision-making skills in a competitive global market setting. The session aimed to provide an in-depth orientation on how to navigate the Cesim platform, make informed managerial decisions, and work collaboratively as a team under dynamic business conditions.
Outcome: The session successfully equipped students with the knowledge and skills required to participate in the Cesim Global Challenge Simulation. Students gained a deep understanding of the platform’s technical structure, strategic decision-making areas, and the importance of teamwork. The live demonstration and real-world insights shared by Mr. Patil bridged the gap between classroom theory and applied learning. As a result, participants now feel more confident and prepared to engage in the simulation rounds, with a clear understanding of how to analyze results, assign team roles, and approach competitive business scenarios strategically.
Report
On 14 th July, 2025, the two sessions began at Section A – 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM and Section B – 3:10 PM to 4:40 PM, with a warm welcome of Mr. Varun Patil to the students. Mr. Patil Director of India Operations at CESIM, served as a comprehensive orientation to the Cesim Global Challenge business simulation platform for the students of SIBM Hyderabad. The session aimed to familiarize participants with the structure, purpose, and strategic depth of the simulation while also highlighting the technical aspects of the platform and its relevance in developing cross-functional business acumen.
Mr. Patil, with over a decade of experience in business strategy, AI/ML, product management, and simulation-based learning, brought immense insight to the session. His extensive background includes collaborations with major corporates such as Indian Oil Corporation, ArcelorMittal, Kirloskar Group, and Adani Group. He has designed and conducted simulation-based courses at premier institutions including the IIMs, and has also been part of the core team at Zoomcar during its early growth stages. Currently, he oversees Cesim’s operations in India while being actively engaged in consulting for global firms and supporting the startup ecosystem.
During the session, Mr. Patil introduced the students to the Cesim Global Challenge platform—a powerful educational tool that simulates the operations of a multinational company. The simulation allows student teams to take charge of a virtual company operating across various global markets. The decisions span across production, marketing, logistics, finance, and R&D, reflecting real-world strategic challenges. Mr. Patil emphasized how the platform enables students to experience and understand complex interdependencies among business functions while also learning to navigate uncertainty, competition, and financial constraints.
The interface of the platform, as demonstrated live during the session, includes several key sections: Home, Decisions, Results, Schedule, Teams, Readings, and Forums. Mr. Patil walked students through the homepage layout, where each team’s information, such as team name (e.g., Team Pink), members, instructor (Mr. Tanmoy De), and remaining time for decision submission (e.g., 5 days for Practice Round 1), is displayed. The activity panel shows updates such as team members submitting decisions, helping maintain coordination and transparency
Students following the instructions given by sir
Students asking their questions to Mr. Varun Patil
In terms of the structure of the simulation, there are a total of ten rounds, with the first few serving as practice rounds. Each round simulates a year in the life of the company and requires collaborative decision-making from all five team members. The platform encourages students to divide roles among team members—finance, operations, marketing, strategic planning, and analytics—to ensure effective decision-making. Mr. Patil stressed the importance of analyzing past round results (via the “Results” tab) to understand market dynamics and improve future performance.
Mr. Varun Patil in an interactive session with the students
A crucial component of the session was the strategy and decision-making insights shared by Mr. Patil. He advised students not to focus solely on revenue but to align decisions with a long-term strategy that balances efficiency and adaptability. He elaborated on how decisions must factor in external challenges such as currency fluctuations, regional demand shifts, competitor pricing, and production bottlenecks. Students were encouraged to use platform-provided tools and analytics, including trend graphs, balance sheets, and KPI dashboards, to inform their decisions. Key performance indicators that teams must monitor include net profit, ROCE, market share, and customer satisfaction.
He also highlighted the importance of using the “Readings” section to understand theoretical underpinnings, market behaviour, and product segmentation. The platform not only simulates a business environment but also encourages critical thinking, application of classroom learning, and teamwork—skills essential for future managers.
Overall, the guest lecture was highly interactive and informative. It prepared students to engage with the Cesim Global Challenge simulation with confidence and strategic awareness. The hands-on demonstration, combined with Mr. Patil’s industry anecdotes and strategic frameworks, provided students with a clear understanding of how to approach the simulation rounds systematically. The session effectively bridged the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical decision-making, making it a valuable learning experience for all participant.
