For the last two years, we have been implementing open-book management in a small community craft center near Kruger National Park in South Africa. Fifteen years ago, I implemented open-book management in a highway construction and materials company in St. Louis, Missouri. Even though the businesses, cultures, education level, and many other things are vastly different, I have noticed some similarities between the two in ideas that work well with people on opposite sides of the planet. The Great Game approach to management is a practical science of observing what actually gets results. Through a long process of trial and error, I have discovered some universal commonalities in human behavior, despite residing on different continents.

I feel better knowing. Not knowing is scary. Many people don’t like knowing and practice living “Ignorance is bliss.” I am a bit too neurotic and controlling to accept ignorance as my default lifestyle choice. I am uncomfortable with the unknown, and, if I am left to my own thoughts, I am good at conjuring up a slew of conspiracy theories around a multitude of good and terrible things that are “going” to happen.

Business leaders often ask, “I know we need to keep people informed. But what kind of information do they really need?” I’ve been studying this issue for more than 30 years. Our research is pretty clear about what information people need to perform at their peak. There are five information categories:

In 2007, we rolled out the Zingerman’s 2020 Vision with much fanfare. As the written picture of what success would look like for our organization, we included such lofty headers as "Radically Better Service," "An Education Destination," "Changing Our World" and ... "We Put the F U in Fun." In the year 2020, Zingerman’s is planning to have increased the level of fun at work by at least 380%!

It’s official: The traditional classroom is dead! Okay, a bit dramatic, but our research at Amy’s EDU illustrates the ineffectiveness of traditional classrooms in the workplace; instructors in front, perfectly lined rows and sitting still for hours. If creating a regular business and financial literacy program seems daunting; we get it, you need valuable resources like money, time and focus. What if we told you that a break room could be more effective than traditional methods of adult education?

In the April 2017 issue of Forbes magazine, SRC Holdings, Inc. and The Great Game of Business were honored with an impressive six-page spread titled “Gaming the System: How One Manufacturing Company Saved Itself With Radical Transparency And Created A Slew Of Blue-Collar Millionaires.”

This Fall our VP, Steve Baker, attended the INC 5000 Conference & Gala in San Antonio, TX to connect and celebrate with business leaders from all over the country! Here is his interview hosted by Approyo while at the conference!

We're so pleased to hear about how OBM and The Great Game of Business has inspired yet another company's growth in this podcast by Hubstaff Blog.

No doubt your company’s top executive has “CEO” written on his or her business card. But should it? If our title really reflects the role we play in the company, then the CEO’s title should instead read Chief Culture Officer.

We all know the fundamental building blocks of the Great Game: Know and teach the rules Follow the action and keep score Provide a stake in the outcome When it comes to that third step – providing A Stake in the Outcome® – what’s the best way to do that? There are really just two choices: cash bonuses; or equity sharing.