This is a strategy game about strategy. Trade Secret will challenge your foresight, decision-making, and competitive spirit. It is designed for the seasoned game-lover, continuously learning leader, and business student alike. There is more than one way to learn something by playing this game. All of the strategies in this game are real and promote best practices in Organization Development. Read each strategy description as you introduce new strategies to the game. Imagine you are the CEO of your new start-up, a strategy guru, ready create the direction for your organization. Your industry is complex and changing. Just last year, the biggest player in the industry unexpectedly collapsed. The first order of business is to gain awareness about your Management, Environment, Communications, Innovation, and Culture. These are five of the most important influences on strategy. The game itself mirrors a common strategic planning exercise in the business world: the SWOT Analysis. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats and the exercise is designed to increase your awareness of your internal and external environment. A good SWOT Analysis then takes the following critical step. You must take that newfound awareness and implement useful strategies for your organization. But beware, no competitive advantage lasts forever—Except the ability to adapt. Welcome to the world of business psychology and strategic planning. May the best strategies win! —description from the designer