WIN-WIN

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A win-win game is a type of game which is designed in a way that all participants can profit from it in one way or the other.

Types of win-win games

• In mathematical game theory such games are also called non-zero-sum games.
• In the context of group-dynamic games, win-win games are also called 'cooperative games', 'new games' or 'games without losers'.

Group-dynamic win-win games

Group-dynamic win-win games have been increasingly popular since the end of the Vietnam war and have been successfully applied to all levels of society for many good uses.

Group-dynamic win-win games emphasize the importance of cooperation, fun, sharing, caring and over-all group success in contrast to domination, egotistic behaviour and personal gain. All players are treated as equally important and valuable. Win-win games often also carry an ethical message of caring for the environment and a holistic approach to life and society. Win-win games are a powerful tool to give people self-confidence and a 'we' experience, especially when they have suffered from emotional isolation.

Example: All players try to carry a huge 'earth ball' (several meters in diameter) over their head while negotiating an obstacle course. This is a typical example of a win-win game for several reasons:

• there are no losers (everyone enjoys the accomplished task).
• all players are involved (no-one is left out or sits out).
• the earth symbolises responsibility for our environment (ethics is coming into play).
• the game is psychologically working on many levels (communication, supporting each other, having fun in a group etc)
• the game is gentle on mind, body, and soul (low risk of injury or harm).

One of the strongest promoters of cooperative games has been games facilitator and author Martin Schwarz. Born in Vienna, Austria, he taught and managed between 1970 and 1980 for eight years in the USA. He joined the New Games Foundation, which was founded in order to further fantasy, creativity and communication. Martin Schwarz applied cooperative games for the first time to the lecturing of management, leadership and adult education. In 1982 Martin Schwarz received the US-prize for International Cultural Management. Later he returned to Vienna, where he taught at the university and was the head of the Management Club of the Austrian Economic Society.

Note that there are also mathematical win-win games; the mathematical name for them is non-zero-sum games. In mathematics such games are often simply represented by a matrix of pay-outs.

See also

• game
• group-dynamic game
• non-zero-sum game

Literature

• 'Der Spielende Manager', Martin Schwarz, Mainz 1987, Namokel und Tosch KG. A book on win-win games.