Question 1.

Use SWOTT ANALYSIS to solve the case study

QUESTION 2.

Besides the public sector, can you think of other business situations were war games could be useful?

QUESTION 3.

War games could possibly play a role when preparing for strategic change at a university. what statkeholders or players would be relevant and what would their interest be ?

Game theory has not become a common strategic toolit has the moves of other teams. The aim is not primarily to deteroften been considered too theoretical and focused on single mine a winner, but to develop new insights. War games solutions to be able to cope with real-world messy manage- make participants think carefully about how they woul rial problems. However, it has been proposed that instead act, react to and interact with others under specific con of using game theory to predict a single optimal solution it tions, in this way participants gain a better understanding can be used to generally understand advantages and disad- other players' perspectives and possible actions. This help. vantages with different strategic options. them to anticipate how various actors will behave under When public-sector organisations try to change and different conditions. The participants also gain a better improve public services they frequently need to partner understanding of their own organisation's strengths and with and interact with a variety of organisations. They need weaknesses in interactions with others. to collaborate with other public-sector organisations, with The principles of game theory can thus be of mote private companies and not-for profit organisations, Success general assistance and it has been suggested that public therefore depends not only on the public-sector organisa- organisations and their leaders should: tion itself, but on several other partners. This requires an insight into partners" intentions and how they may behave. 1 Be knowledgeable about partners, their strategies, needs and decision making This is central to game theory - understanding what strategic options different players have, what their objectives 2 Be flexible adjusting their own strategies or objectives to meet the overall aim are and how they will act under different circumstances. The basic principles of game theory can thus be used 3 Develop clear lines of partnership communication and decision-making to evaluate changes and improvements of public sector services. The English National Health Service (NHS) has, for 4 Share the power equally between parties example, used war games to better prepare them for govern- 5 Get agreement on partnership operation and benefits ment reforms. War gaming began as a military preparation 6 Consider own roles and motives for engaging with the that places players in the positions of different actors (e.g. partnership enemies or allies) and ask them to play out a sequence of 7 Create partner trust moves and counter-moves as if they were the actors them- Sources: Partly adopted from T. Meaklim, Game theory, what prisoners selves. A basic principle underlying the game is that to and stags cantedeh pubicieaders, The Guardian, 27 Novem ber 2013 know your enemy you must become your enemy in the play. and international foumalof Leadership in Public Senices, 9[1/2,2013. Another consideration is that you need to test your own plan . Pp. 22-31; E. Bury, I. Harn and D. Meredith, How to use wargames as and strategy in confrontation with the (played) enemy. In a war game for healthcare systems, teams are assigned to play the role of different stakeholders including payers, Questions hospitals, physician groups, regulators and suppliers. In a 1 Besides the public sector, can you think of other busifirst round the teams are then asked to respond to a given challenge. The actions each team can consider are stipulated by the game's rules, which are based on realistic rules of the 2 War games could possibly play a role when preparing healthcare system, In subsequent rounds each team reacts for strategic change at a university. What stakeholders to the moves the other teams have made. Through several or players would be relevant and what would their rounds every team acts on its own strategies and reacts to interests be