X + Y game

CategoryGame
PublishedJul 1st, 2017

trust

Summary

We have a natural tendency to optimise the world immediately around us and focus on personal or team success. Often this can be to the detriment of others and the wider organisation which ultimately affects their success. This game exploits this aspect of human nature to demonstrate that localised sub-optimisation can have a dramatic effect when we look at the bigger picture.

Materials

TV or Projector
Board or Flipchart and pens
Post it notes
Timer
Game board and scoring chart

Preparation

Print copies of the scoring chart
Make a simple decision board for each department to indicate the option they’ve chosen (E.G. | Team name | Decision X or Y | )
Two post its per team, one with X and the other with Y

Safety

Stress: This game is highly valuable and educational, but to achieve this it creates an environment of stress, frustration and conflict. Be sure that is it safe for your team to experience these emotions and take the time to follow this game with a team building exercise.
Christmas Bonus: Use a box of chocolates as the “Christmas Bonus” in this game, and when nobody actually wins (company has failed) at the end of game, share the chocolates during the reflection to begin to defuse.

HOW TO PLAY

SETUP

Form into 3 or 4 teams (departments). 4 works best.
Ask the teams to name themselves
Add the names to both the game board spreadsheet and the decision board
Have the scoring chart on the screen / projector
Hand out copies of the scoring chart
Hand out X and Y post it notes

GOAL

The department who earns the most money after 10 calendar months will receive a Christmas bonus and will win the game.

RULES

Each department will work independently to decide whether to produce X or Y this month.
One one person from each department in an interdepartmental discussion before announcing their products.
All departments will announce simultaneously.

FACILITATION

Set the scene: “All of the teams are departments in XY Inc. Every month each department can produce either product X or product Y. The amount of profit each product will earn depends on saturation into the market, illustrated on the screen.”
Every month all departments will announce what they will build
Every month all departments will have a brief opportunity to collaborate on strategy

Round 1

Each department has 1 minute to discuss which product they will make
Each department, please send a representative join the interdepartmental discussion.
You have 1 minute to discuss anything you need to
At the count of 3, please indicate your decision an X or a Y post it on the board.

Round 2 - 10

Each round follows the format of round 1
Start the timer immediately following the announcement
Insight: This keeps the game moving and tight, it also keeps the tension up
While they are deliberating, update game board spreadsheet and hand back the post it notes

Bonus rounds

Rounds 5, 8 and 10 are bonus rounds, where the teams will receive additional profit. Round 5: 2 times, round 8: 3 times and round 10: 10 times.
At the beginning of these rounds, announce to all teams the potential bonus.
Insight: This helps tease out the local sub-optimisation :)

Ending the game

There are three outcomes to each round in this game
- All departments play X - The company as a whole loses money
- One or more departments play X - The company breaks even, generating zero profit
- All departments play Y - The company as a whole makes money
At the end of the game, the company's profit is the sum of all the departments profit. This is likely to be very low.
Celebrate the department with the most profit, but then inform everyone that regretfully the company is going out of business :(