ACADEMY
Not every great idea fits into the calendar – or the budget
When everything feels important, how do you decide what truly drives impact? Many organizations juggle dozens of digital initiatives while working to stay aligned, strategic, and resource-aware.
Enter Anderson MacGyver’s Portfolio Game
A high-energy, hands-on experience that helps leadership teams explore the art of prioritizing change initiatives. It zooms in on the most critical (and often most debated) aspect of portfolio management: how to make smart decisions about what to do, when, and why—especially under real-world constraints like limited IT capacity, competing interests, and shifting strategies. The Portfolio Game is an interactive simulation where participants step into the role of a portfolio team. Teams navigate a diverse mix of initiatives—from agile experiments to large-scale projects—and must collaborate to prioritize, plan, and adapt their portfolio based on strategic goals, business value, and resource.
What you’ll learn
Through the Portfolio Game, participants will:
Understand the complexity and necessity of portfolio management
Learn how to navigate strategic decisions under resource constraints
Distinguish between different types of initiatives
Projects or Agile teams? Understand their roles, differences, and how to manage both effectively
Collaborate as a cross-functional team
Plain initiatives in context, not in isolation
Prioritize based on strategy – not instinct and accelerate value creation
Stick to strategic intent—and achieve better outcomes and discover how short feedback loops lead to faster wins and a more adaptive portfolio
Participants leave the game with stronger alignment between business and IT, a deeper appreciation of prioritization challenges, and actionable ideas for evolving their portfolio practice.
Set-up & Gameplay of the Portfolio Game
Who is it for?
The game is ideal for:
- C-level leaders guiding digital transformation
- Portfolio managers and change leaders refining decision-making
- Technology and data teams driving execution
How does it work?
- Teams of 4–8 players manage a simulated change portfolio
- Multiple teams can play at once for dynamic interaction
- A facilitator guides the process to boost insight and engagement
Why it works:
The Portfolio Game turns abstract strategy into concrete experience. It creates a safe, engaging space to test priorities, feel the pressure of limited capacity, and align around what truly drives value.
Ready to experience it?
More info? Connect with an Academy Expert
Lisa Folkertsma-Sijtsma
Practice Lead Organization & Sourcing