🚦 Project Teams and the Prisoner’s Dilemma: A Lesson in Collaboration

There is a game inspired by the Prisoner Dilemma that I like to facilitate.

What is the Prisoner’s Dilemma?

The Prisoner’s Dilemma is a classic thought experiment in game theory. Two thieves must decide independently whether to cooperate or betray each other, with the outcomes reflecting their choices:

Both cooperate: They achieve the best mutual result.(e.g., 1 year in jail),

One betrays while the other cooperates: The betrayer benefits most, and the cooperator suffers. (no punishment vs 5 years in jail)

Both betray: Both lose more than if they had cooperated. (both 3 years in jail)

This demonstrates how fear of betrayal often leads individuals to act in their self-interest, resulting in worse outcomes.

The Game
Each team had a captain at the start line. At a signal, each captain could:

1️⃣ Move forward (contributing to the team’s progress).
2️⃣ Stay still (avoiding risk but potentially gaining more individually).

Rules:

If all moved forward: Every team earned 1 point—a win for collaboration.
If some stayed still: Those who moved forward lost points, while those who stayed still gained points equal to the total moves.

The Parallels to Project Teams

In our game, captains who “stayed still” mirrored those who betrayed in the Prisoner’s Dilemma. Teams that trusted one another and all “moved forward” succeeded because collaboration maximized collective benefits.

The Lesson

Effective project teamwork demands trust, alignment, and a shared commitment to success.

#ProjectManagement#Teamwork#Collaboration hashtag#Leadership#PrisonersDilemma