The 'prisoners dilemma' is a sophisticated game with three possible outcomes - if I move, I do OK at your cost; if we both move, we lose together, but if we both hold fast, we both maximise our benefits.

• In 'free riding', some car drivers are uninsured so the cost of their traffic accidents is paid for by the insurance premium of law-abiding drivers.
• Currently our
  Asking: A Key to Your Business Success
  Many small business owners like us have a difficult time asking for business. It's not that we don't want the business, but wouldn't it be so nice if people just handed over their money for our product or service rather than our actually having to ask them for it?And this is one of the most common ways that small businesses stay really, really small, and sometimes peeter out altogether. Th
  Sometimes I use games theory to help the owners of small businesses gain an insight into business behaviour.

  Often they start by denying any games are invovled and we always have an enlightening discussion. There are three rough groups of games that I usually see played in business:

  Zero sum - I win, you loose

  The Zero Sum game is the common situation where one player's success reduces the returns for the others. Typically this happens anywhere where people compete in a limited market.

  • Recently in my home town, the two resident butchers have been impacted by the arrival of another butcher: a sales increase for any butcher reduces the sales made by the others.
  • Similarly, as the supermarket at the edge of town sells only high-volume, low-price goods, our independent hardware store has been restricted to high-priced, low-volume lines.
  • Many UK charities have suffered since the National Lottery creamed off a lot of the 'pocket money' that the public used to put into charity donation boxes.

  For the Zero Sum Game, wherever the size of the cake is fixed, if I cut a big slice, you always get less.

  Unconditional contracts - we win or loose together

  Wherever people share goals that lead to common outcomes, they can trade by swapping something that the other values.

  • This happens every time I trade my cash for a shopkeeper's goods that I want to buy - we both benefit.
  • It also happens where team members contribute their individual skills and knowledge to the team effort - the MD, sales person and production worker need each other for the whole business to thrive.

  For Unconditional contracts, the size of the cake is elastic, and if we work together, we all get larger slices.

  Conditional positive sums - we choose how we win or loose

  The 'prisoners dilemma' is a sophisticated game with three possible outcomes - if I move, I do OK at your cost; if we both move, we lose together, but if we both hold fast, we both maximise our benefits.

  • In 'free riding', some car drivers are uninsured so the cost of their traffic accidents is paid for by the insurance premium of law-abiding drivers.
  • Currently our f
    Community Involvement and Franchising
    Every small business knows that you participate in the community, then the community will shop in your store. In a franchise business, the franchisor should also encourage, if not require a franchise outlet to do community service and stay involved with the community that will support them.It is for this reason that in my company, we required as per the franchise agreement, as well as the
    ppens anywhere where people compete in a limited market.
    • Recently in my home town, the two resident butchers have been impacted by the arrival of another butcher: a sales increase for any butcher reduces the sales made by the others.
    • Similarly, as the supermarket at the edge of town sells only high-volume, low-price goods, our independent hardware store has been restricted to high-priced, low-volume lines.
    • Many UK charities have suffered since the National Lottery creamed off a lot of the 'pocket money' that the public used to put into charity donation boxes.

    For the Zero Sum Game, wherever the size of the cake is fixed, if I cut a big slice, you always get less.

    Unconditional contracts - we win or loose together

    Wherever people share goals that lead to common outcomes, they can trade by swapping something that the other values.

    • This happens every time I trade my cash for a shopkeeper's goods that I want to buy - we both benefit.
    • It also happens where team members contribute their individual skills and knowledge to the team effort - the MD, sales person and production worker need each other for the whole business to thrive.

    For Unconditional contracts, the size of the cake is elastic, and if we work together, we all get larger slices.

    Conditional positive sums - we choose how we win or loose

    The 'prisoners dilemma' is a sophisticated game with three possible outcomes - if I move, I do OK at your cost; if we both move, we lose together, but if we both hold fast, we both maximise our benefits.

    • In 'free riding', some car drivers are uninsured so the cost of their traffic accidents is paid for by the insurance premium of law-abiding drivers.
    • Currently our
      Residential Telecom Audits
      No business can flourish without an efficient and advanced telecommunications infrastructure in its offices and factories. All employees need a communication device to maintain their efficiency and save precious time. Obviously it means the establishment of an extensive telecom network in your offices. A big chunk of your budget has to be allocated for the successful operation and optimum utiliza
      ve suffered since the National Lottery creamed off a lot of the 'pocket money' that the public used to put into charity donation boxes.

    For the Zero Sum Game, wherever the size of the cake is fixed, if I cut a big slice, you always get less.

    Unconditional contracts - we win or loose together

    Wherever people share goals that lead to common outcomes, they can trade by swapping something that the other values.

    • This happens every time I trade my cash for a shopkeeper's goods that I want to buy - we both benefit.
    • It also happens where team members contribute their individual skills and knowledge to the team effort - the MD, sales person and production worker need each other for the whole business to thrive.

    For Unconditional contracts, the size of the cake is elastic, and if we work together, we all get larger slices.

    Conditional positive sums - we choose how we win or loose

    The 'prisoners dilemma' is a sophisticated game with three possible outcomes - if I move, I do OK at your cost; if we both move, we lose together, but if we both hold fast, we both maximise our benefits.

    • In 'free riding', some car drivers are uninsured so the cost of their traffic accidents is paid for by the insurance premium of law-abiding drivers.
    • Currently our
      What's a New Manager to Do?
      "I have great news for you! You’ve been promoted! Go forth and lead!"Although perhaps not in so many words, that is the essence of what new managers hear when they learn of their promotion. Organizations typically don't provide new managers with a lot of support. While promotions to highly skilled technical positions usually include additional training, mentoring, or some clear way
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    • This happens every time I trade my cash for a shopkeeper's goods that I want to buy - we both benefit.
    • It also happens where team members contribute their individual skills and knowledge to the team effort - the MD, sales person and production worker need each other for the whole business to thrive.

    For Unconditional contracts, the size of the cake is elastic, and if we work together, we all get larger slices.

    Conditional positive sums - we choose how we win or loose

    The 'prisoners dilemma' is a sophisticated game with three possible outcomes - if I move, I do OK at your cost; if we both move, we lose together, but if we both hold fast, we both maximise our benefits.

    • In 'free riding', some car drivers are uninsured so the cost of their traffic accidents is paid for by the insurance premium of law-abiding drivers.
    • Currently our
      Am I Managing Or Leading?
      I used to think that “leadership” was the graduate level of management. As you learn more about people and the skills necessary to manage, you magically become a leader. In reality, it is vital to be both a manager and a leader. Here’s a summary of what both look like.Management basically means to maintain. So as a manager, you come in every day and focus your resources to accomplish o
      b>Conditional positive sums - we choose how we win or loose

      The 'prisoners dilemma' is a sophisticated game with three possible outcomes - if I move, I do OK at your cost; if we both move, we lose together, but if we both hold fast, we both maximise our benefits.

      • In 'free riding', some car drivers are uninsured so the cost of their traffic accidents is paid for by the insurance premium of law-abiding drivers.
      • Currently our fishermen are suffering the 'tragedy of the commons': the more fish each boat takes, the less fish others find, and without common management, the sea becomes over-fished.
      • In a business network, I can help other business people link to market opportunities that I know about. They can do the same for me. Where we both help each other, we both thrive. However if either of us feel we are doing all the giving without sufficient getting, we will drop out of the network.

      For Conditional positive sums, the size of the cake is determined by our cooperation and mutual trust, and selfish actions can damage everyone's livelihood.

      We all have market forces that control our freedom to pursue our business. If you identify which games are going on around you, you may gain sufficient insight to put yourself on the winning side as the game is played out.