How Virtual Reality Is Reshaping the way Strategy Courses are thought

Strategy is often taught through cases, frameworks, and numbers on a page. While these tools remain essential, they also create distance from the environments in which strategic decisions actually unfold. Markets are uneven, contexts are layered, and critical details are rarely presented in neat, pre-structured form.

Within strategy education, virtual reality has emerged as a way to narrow this gap. Instead of learning about unfamiliar markets and operational settings abstractly, learners are placed directly inside them. Immersive VR experiences set in locations such as Kenya or large-scale warehouse operations allow strategy concepts to be grounded in observation rather than assumption.

The objective is not novelty. It is to improve how context is recognised, interpreted, and used in strategic thinking.

Making Context Central to Strategy Learning

One of the most valuable contributions of VR is its ability to surface contextual detail that is otherwise difficult to convey. Traditional teaching materials often compress complex environments into simplified representations. VR restores some of that lost richness.

Through 360-degree exposure to real business settings, learners are able to:

• Observe variation within markets rather than relying on generalised descriptions

• Notice infrastructure, scale, and operational constraints that shape strategic choices

• Engage with environments at their own pace, focusing on what they consider relevant

This shift replaces broad generalisations with grounded understanding and reinforces the idea that context is not background information, but a central input into strategy.

Connecting Theory to Practice

Strategy frameworks are designed to help structure complexity, yet many learners struggle to apply them without a concrete reference point. VR strengthens this connection by embedding theory within lived environments.

When learners observe operations, supply chains, or market interactions in VR, concepts such as cost drivers, differentiation, and positioning acquire clearer meaning. The environment gives analytical tools something tangible to attach to, making application more disciplined and less mechanical.

Rather than memorising frameworks, learners develop judgment about when and how those frameworks should be used.

Enriching Classroom Discussion

VR has a noticeable effect on classroom interaction. Because participants share the same immersive experience, discussions begin from a common reference point. At the same time, individuals notice different details depending on where they look and what they prioritise.

This dynamic leads to: 

• More focused and evidence-based discussion 

• Divergent interpretations grounded in the same context 

• Deeper debate about what matters strategically and why

Discussion shifts away from abstract opinion and toward interpretation supported by observation.

Why VR Adds Something Video and Field Visits Do Not

Video presents a curated view of reality. The camera decides what is important, and viewers follow that perspective. VR transfers that control to the learner, allowing independent exploration and interpretation.

Physical field visits, while valuable, are often constrained by cost, logistics, and timing. VR offers a practical alternative that fits within the classroom. A synchronous VR session keeps observations immediate and allows them to be analysed while the experience is still fresh, making it easier to connect context with theory and quantitative reasoning.

Developing Strategic Capabilities

Beyond content understanding, VR helps develop a core strategic capability: the ability to structure unstructured situations. Real business environments are rarely tidy, and VR exposes learners to that complexity in a controlled setting.

Over time, learners practice:

• Identifying relevant issues amid noise

• Translating qualitative observation into analysable problems

• Pausing to seek context before reaching conclusions

These habits are particularly valuable for decision-making under uncertainty, where incomplete information is the norm rather than the exception.

The Role of the Instructor

Immersion alone does not guarantee learning. The effectiveness of VR depends on how carefully it is integrated into the broader teaching design.

Instructors play a central role in guiding learners from observation to analysis. They help connect what is seen in the environment to strategic frameworks, data, and financial logic. Without this structure, VR risks becoming an engaging experience without lasting analytical value.

Well-designed facilitation ensures that immersion supports insight rather than distraction.

A Broader Perspective on Digital Learning

The use of virtual reality in strategy education reflects a wider interest in how digital technologies can support deeper forms of learning. Rather than accelerating content delivery, VR slows the learner down, encouraging careful observation before analysis.

For research centres examining digital transformation and institutional change, this use of VR highlights an important point: technology adds the most value when it reshapes how people think, not just what they see.

Used thoughtfully, VR does not replace theory. It sharpens it by anchoring abstraction in lived context and disciplined observation.