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Open-Book Management Games

Why Games?

The goal of games in open-book management companies is...

To teach;
To motivate; and
To increase profits.

How to Develop a Company-Specific Game

Identify a desired outcome.
Break the goal down into measurable pieces.
Formulate how the game will be played.
Determine the reward.
Display the score in a public space.
Update the results frequently.
Evaluate and modify as needed.

Rules of the Game

Make sure everyone knows why they're playing, what the game will accomplish, and how it fits with company goals.
Keep score.
Keep it fresh by starting new games frequently.
Use games to build cooperation and make sure everybody has a chance to win.
Use a variety of rewards. Don't rely solely on cash. Examples include giving extra time off, giving gift certificates, letting someone be CEO for a day, and giving passes to local attractions.
Don't pay out the bonus if you miss your goals.

Example of an Open-Book Management Game

A sales department consistently maintains sales records to track average daily orders and average monthly orders. A visual representing the two numbers is posted in the sales department where representatives can watch their progress. At the end of each day, the total sales for that day are divided by the number of orders for that day to get the daily average. Similarly, average monthly sales are calculated by dividing total sales to date for the month by the number of sales. The goal is to keep the daily average higher than the monthly average. The department earns a point for each day they are successful. At the end of the month they count up their points, if they scored higher than the previous month, the entire department gets a free lunch.

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