Introduction to Wargaming and Strategic Decision-Making

In an increasingly complex and unpredictable global landscape, traditional planning often fails to prepare organizations for unexpected crises. This written course introduces you to the power of wargaming—a structured, simulation-based approach used by strategists to stress-test plans and anticipate competitor moves. By completing this course, you will learn how to design, execute, and analyze strategic wargames to make better decisions under uncertainty. Through structured readings and analytical exercises, you will develop a framework to evaluate risks and opportunities in geopolitical and competitive environments. What you'll learn: Understand the fundamental principles, history, and terminology of strategic wargaming; Analyze different wargaming methodologies, including matrix games and seminar games; Design realistic scenarios that incorporate modern hybrid threats and cyber domains; Apply red-teaming techniques to challenge assumptions and identify hidden vulnerabilities; Evaluate simulation outcomes to derive actionable insights for policy or planning. This text-only program begins with foundational definitions and concepts, exploring the history of simulation-based strategy before moving into scenario design and facilitation techniques. Designed for beginners, this course requires no prior experience in defense, international relations, or strategic planning. Start reading today to master the art of strategic foresight through wargaming.