In this online simulation, you will step into the shoes of an entrepreneur aiming to run a successful food truck in the city of Boomtown. You can work individually or in a team, competing over five simulated weeks to generate the highest revenue and win the "Food Truck Challenge."
In each round, you'll make key decisions about Where to park & Which menu item to offer, as you try to uncover the most profitable menu-location combination.
Early on, you’ll face a strategic choice:
- Scale up right away with your food truck,
- Conduct additional research and analysis, or
- Test the waters with a low-capacity pushcart.
This challenge helps you understand the value of learning by doing, prototyping, and being open to failure as a path to growth. It’s ideal for exploring concepts like innovation, product development, design thinking, lean startup, entrepreneurship, strategy, marketing, and organizational learning.
You won’t need to do any pre-work, and the simulation takes just 20–30 minutes to complete.
Login to the Simulation
- Each learner needs to individually login to the simulation. URL: https://forio.com/app/harvard/food-truck
- Prior to playing the simulation, please run a system check here - https://forio.com/hbp-support/#check/simulations/foodtruck
- Note that the simulation is optimized for Google Chrome. If you are unable to access it in Chrome, please use Microsoft Edge.
How to Play the Simulation
- You’ll participate either individually or as part of a team, but each player must log into the simulation using their own browser window.
- When you enter the simulation, you’ll land on the Welcome page, which includes a brief overview of the simulation and its objectives. Click “Get Started” to begin the tutorial mode.
- The tutorial will walk you through the key tools and decisions you'll encounter during the simulation. You’ll be introduced to the Reports, Make Decisions panel, Leaderboard, and the Boomtown map. Click “Next” to move through each section and get familiar with the simulation environment.
- At the end of the tutorial, click “Start” to begin the simulation.
- Before gameplay starts, you’ll be asked to enter your team name. Once submitted, the simulation will begin.
- During the simulation, a timeline bar at the top of the screen shows your progress. It is divided into five weeks, each broken into five days—representing the full duration of the Food Truck Challenge.
- You can return to the tutorial at any time by clicking the Help button in the top-right corner of the screen.
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For team play: All team members have the ability to submit decisions. The first decision submitted will be counted as the team’s final choice for that round.
Tips for Success
- Don’t skip the tutorial. It teaches you how to read key data, understand trends, and make smart, informed decisions.
- Use the Reports wisely. Analyze customer preferences, location data, and your previous results to refine your approach each round.
- Test early, learn fast. The first few rounds are ideal for experimentation. Try different menu and location combinations to find what works best.
- Watch the timeline. The top bar keeps you oriented—it helps track your progress across the five weeks and five days per week.
- Align as a team. If you’re working with others, discuss your strategy before submitting any decisions to avoid overlaps or miscommunication.
- Revisit the tutorial anytime. Click the Help icon on the top right if you need a refresher during gameplay.