Learn to Apply DevOps Principles
In the book “The Phoenix Project: A Novel About IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win,” the company Parts Unlimited is in deep trouble.
Faced with troubling financial performance, Parts Unlimited puts its hopes in the Phoenix Project, an IT-enabled business digital transformation project to achieve their financial potential. The Phoenix Project is the de facto standard for business leaders to learn about DevOps and the benefits it can bring to an organization.
The book is told in a fictional story form about the transformation of a legacy technology organization that is seeing its competition eat away its market share and the transformative effects DevOps has on the business. It drives home DevOps through the principles of lean software development, collaboration, and rapid reliable deployments.
We have partnered with GamingWorks, a leader in business simulation game development, to offer a simulation based on this book. Learn more about the course below.

What is The Phoenix Project Business Simulation Workshop?
With your business and technology teams at odds, you’ll need a cultural shift for DevOps to work. Read a related blog
The Phoenix Project Business Simulation Workshop can help. It’s a learn-by-doing workshop in which teams work on challenging issues within a simulated environment. The goal: To learn how to apply DevOps principles and values.
Each participant will play a role with specific tasks, responsibilities and authority. The facilitator will provide support and instructions and help the team reflect on their experiences and what they have learned.
How the Workshop Works
Your team will act in different roles within the “Parts Unlimited” organization. You can play a business role in either retail operations, human resources or finance departments. Or you can even serve as VP of IT operations or an IT team member charged with developing applications and solving IT issues.
Your challenge is to apply DevOps principles in this business simulation. In four rounds, you will work on the IT projects and issues to ensure “The Phoenix Project” is finished on time. But, beware, the business keeps coming up with new ideas and demands. External developments outside your control can also become an issue.
The Phoenix Project Business Simulation Workshop takes one day. We also offer half-day sessions, but highly recommend full-day sessions. To participate, you need eight to 12 team members. More details on the simulation below:
Why participate in this simulation?
- Gain practical hands-on experience.
- Learn more about DevOps and apply it in a real-life simulation.
- Learn more about the practical implementation of DevOps.
- Learn how to develop collaboration within your teams.
- Experience how DevOps can bring value to your business.
- Develop people skills to act in a DevOps culture.
- Demonstrate the business responsibility in making IT projects more successful.
What will your team get out of it?
- Learn how to apply DevOps principles in a real-life situation.
- Learn to find the right balance between SLA requirements and IT projects.
- Experience the serious value DevOps can bring your business.
- Learn how to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of your IT department.
- Gain understanding on how to create a better flow in your teams.
- Develop people skills to act in a DevOps environment.
- See the role the business side plays in making IT projects more successful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are there prerequisites for participating in the simulation?
A: No, expect to bring a willingness to participate and learn.
Q: Is reading the book a prerequisite? Does it help?
A: It is not. Reading the book does not impact the learning outcomes of the simulation workshop.
Q: Does this simulation include any tools?
A: No, this is not a technical course. It is a cultural development course focused on DevOps principles and values. It also includes aspects of high-performing team development.
Q: Can we send less than eight people?
A: Due to the nature of the simulation and the number of roles involved, it is not possible to offer classes smaller than eight people. We can work with other companies to get a full class.
Q: Can we hold a class of more than 12?
A: It is not feasible for people to double-up on stations. We are happy to work with you on offering more classes, so we stay at 8-to-12 participants.
Q: Who should take this course?
A: Anyone who wants to learn about DevOps culture and high-performing teams in a learn-by-doing environment.
Beat the competition by implementing a DevOps strategy today. We can help.
Are You Ready for Hands-on Learning about DevOps Principles?
Let’s talk about how The Phoenix Project Business Simulation Workshop can be beneficial and transformative to you and your organization.