By Prudence Lui
FreshBiz is a game-based workshop that requires participants to think multidimensionally with the help of a boardgame. The aim of the game is to mimic a constantly changing business environment, where different skills are required to solve problems.
Concept Unlike the traditional Monopoly boardgame where the goal is to win by bankrupting the other players, FreshBiz is a play-to-win activity where collaboration, cooperation and sharing success together is the main aim.
Each game requires four or five people to play as a team. Multiple teams can play simultaneously and the winner is the first team in which all players have reached the “Winner” lot in 90 minutes.
To start with, participants are offered action cards and chips. They then pass from section to section – paying tolls to pass. During the game, participants have to exercise their entrepreneurial skills by taking loans, trading stock, negotiating and closing deals.
MICE application Players will have to be creative and smarter in handling their budget, cash flow, and strategise in order to turn their original capital into the profits they need to move ahead in the game.
The game emphasises that collaboration is the new competition, and is promoting the development of entrepreneurial thinking and smart businesses sense in the New Shared Economy.
Take my team for example. We chose to play as a team by sharing all our resources and investing collectively in order to ensure all members reach the destination in the shortest time possible. We also learnt how creativity with money is more important than the amount of money itself.
Service Throughout the game, there were certified and qualified facilitators on hand to answer our queries, in addition to the written instructions.
After the game, an event director guides participants through a reflection. Participants share their thoughts on the game and learn how to implement them in their businesses.
While this activity is typically held indoors, holding it outdoor in a cafe is also feasible. It costs US$160 per person for a half-day workshop. A minimum of 30 pax is required, while the maximum of participants is 100.
