Course overview

This course provides a dynamic, fast‑paced simulation that brings DevOps principles to life, empowering teams to break down silos, accelerate delivery, and transform the way IT and business work together.

Who should attend

• IT managers, project managers, Scrum Masters, Product Owners.
• Development and Operations teams.
• Business leaders seeking to understand DevOps.
• Organizations adopting or improving DevOps practices.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Apply core DevOps principles to improve workflow, collaboration, and delivery performance.
• Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and systemic issues within IT value streams.
• Prioritize work effectively and manage incidents, changes, and business demands under pressure.
• Use visual management techniques such as Kanban to optimize flow and reduce interruptions.
• Balance business priorities with technical debt, risk, and operational stability.
• Strengthen communication and cooperation between Development, Operations, and Business teams.
• Make data‑driven decisions that enhance both IT performance and business outcomes.
• Translate lessons from the simulation into actionable improvements for their own organization.

The objectives of this course are to enable participants to:

• Understand and apply the core principles of DevOps, including Flow, Feedback, and Continuous Learning.
• Experience real‑world IT challenges through an immersive business simulation and learn how to respond effectively.
• Improve collaboration and communication between Development, Operations, and Business stakeholders.
• Visualize work, manage workflow efficiently, and reduce bottlenecks using DevOps and Lean practices.
• Strengthen decision‑making under pressure by balancing business priorities, risks, and technical constraints.
• Recognize the impact of technical debt and learn strategies to manage and reduce it.
• Implement practical improvements that enhance stability, delivery speed, and overall IT performance.
• Translate insights from the simulation into actionable steps for improving their own organizational environment.

Course Details

Introduction (30–45 minutes)

• Overview of the fictional company Parts Unlimited and the failing Phoenix Project.
• Explanation of roles (CIO, Development Manager, Operations Manager, Retail Manager, Finance, Scrum Master, etc.).
• Introduction to simulation rules, work types, incidents, changes, and business demands.
• Short DevOps principles briefing.

This structure matches the typical setup described by SERVIEW and Xebia.

Round 1 – Chaos and Traditional Silos (60–90 minutes)

Objective: Experience the dysfunction of traditional IT environments.

Activities include:

• High volume of incidents, urgent requests, and bottlenecks.
• Poor communication between teams.
• Frequent interruptions and unclear priorities.
• Business pressure due to Phoenix Project delays.
• Measurement of performance (flow, incidents, revenue impact).

Learning Focus:

• Why traditional siloed approaches fail.
• Identifying systemic constraints and bottlenecks.
• This mirrors the “ever new ideas, problems and external challenges” described by SERVIEW.

Reflection & Improvement Planning (20–30 minutes)

• Review of Round 1 results.
• Group discussion on improvements: visualization, WIP limits, communication, prioritization.
• Introduction of initial DevOps practices.

Round 2 – Applying DevOps Principles (60–90 minutes)

Objective: Implement improvements and observe their impact.

Activities include:

• Introducing Kanban boards and visual workflow management.
• Clear prioritization of work.
• Improved coordination between Dev, Ops, and Business.
• First steps toward automation and standardization.
• Faster incident resolution and fewer interruptions.

Learning Focus:

• DevOps as a cultural and behavioral shift, not just technology.
• Importance of stabilizing the system and improving flow.
• This aligns with GamingWorks’ emphasis on mindset and behavior change.

Reflection & Next Improvements (20–30 minutes)

• Compare Round 1 and Round 2 performance.
• Identify next improvements: automation, testing, CI/CD, feedback loops.

Round 3 – Automation, Stability, and Faster Value Delivery (60–90 minutes)

Objective: Introduce advanced DevOps practices.

Activities include:

• Automated testing and faster deployments.
• Standardized environments and improved change management.
• Better handling of technical debt.
• Increased stability and delivery speed.
• Learning Focus:
• Importance of feedback loops.
• Balancing business goals with technical constraints.
• Building a culture of trust and collaboration.
• Skillsoft’s course description highlights similar themes of cultural and behavioral change.

Reflection & Optimization (20–30 minutes)

• Review Round 3 results.
• Introduce continuous learning and improvement practices.

Round 4 – High Performance and Business Value (60–90 minutes)

• Objective: Achieve high performance and strategic alignment.
• Activities include:
• Advanced automation and orchestration.
• Aligning strategic goals with operational work.
• Fast, stable, reliable deployments.
• Maximizing business value from the Phoenix Project.
• Learning Focus:
• DevOps as a strategic business advantage.
• Direct connection between IT performance and business outcomes.
• This reflects the “real added value for your business” emphasized by SERVIEW.

Final Review & Closing (30–45 minutes)

• Compare results across all rounds.
• Discuss how to apply lessons in real organizations.
• Identify concrete next steps for participants.

Prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites for this course. However, participants will benefit from having:

• A basic understanding of IT environments, processes, or project work.
• Experience working in or with Development, Operations, or Business teams.
• Familiarity with concepts such as Agile, Lean, or IT Service Management (helpful but not required).
• A willingness to collaborate, communicate, and engage actively in a fast‑paced simulation.

The course is designed so that both technical and non‑technical participants can fully participate and gain value.

Participants who complete The Phoenix Project – DevOps Business Simulation will receive an official Certificate of Completion issued by the accredited training provider.

Please note:

• The simulation does not include a formal exam.
• GamingWorks (the creator of the simulation) does not offer an official DevOps certification tied to this course.
• The certificate confirms participation, learning outcomes, and practical experience gained during the simulation.

This makes the program ideal for organizations focused on skills development, team alignment, and practical DevOps capability building, rather than exam‑based certification.

Yoram Meijer

About

He helps organizations realize their digital ambitions by putting people, governance, and execution rhythm at the center — not by adding more technology. He designs and leads change programs that make transformation predictable, measurable, and adopted across the organization.

By combining Digital Leadership with Adoption by Design, he gives executives and teams real control over transformation: from strategic decision-making to daily execution. He works closely with CIOs, COOs, and executive teams to translate strategy into results — projects delivered on time, technology that is actually used, and teams aligned around shared priorities.

His belief is clear: digital transformation is not a project, but an organizational capability. By connecting structure with the human dimension, he helps organizations learn faster, decide better, and deliver consistent value. The result is sustainable digital agility — built for today and ready for tomorrow.