Monday, May 14, 2012

Life is a Game

Win-win.
Win-lose.
Lose-lose.

We all hear that terms not just on games we play but also on our every day play of the game called LIFE. What does it mean, one may ask. Well, if I’m the one to answer, it refer to the possible outcomes of a game or dispute involving two sides, and more importantly, how each side perceives their outcome relative to their standing before the game.

For example, a “win” results when the outcome of a negotiation is better than expected, a “loss” when the outcome is worse than expected. Two people may receive the same outcome in measurable terms, say 100 pesos, but for one side that may be a loss, while for the other it is a win. In other words, expectations determine one’s perception of any given result.
 
Win - Win 
Win-win outcomes occur when each side of a dispute feels they have won. Since both sides benefit from such a scenario, any resolutions to the conflict are likely to be accepted voluntarily. The process of integrative bargaining aims to achieve, through cooperation, win-win outcomes.

Win - Lose
Win-lose situations result when only one side perceives the outcome as positive. Thus, win-lose outcomes are less likely to be accepted voluntarily. Distributive bargaining processes, based on a principle of competition between participants, tend to end in win-lose outcomes.

Lose - Lose
Lose-lose means that all parties end up being worse off. An example of this would be a budget-cutting negotiation in which all parties lose money. In some lose-lose situations, all parties understand that losses are unavoidable and that they will be evenly distributed. In such situations, lose-lose outcomes can be preferable to win-lose outcomes because the distribution is at least considered to be fair.

In other situations, though, lose-lose outcomes occur when win-win outcomes might have been possible. The classic example of this is called the prisoner’s dilemma in which two prisoners must decide whether to confess to a crime. Neither prisoner knows what the other will do. The best outcome for prisoner A occurs if he/she confesses, while prisoner B keeps quiet. In this case, the prisoner who confesses and implicates the other is rewarded by being set free, and the other (who stayed quiet) receives the maximum sentence, as s/he didn’t cooperate with the police, yet they have enough evidence to convict. (This is a win-lose outcome.) The same goes for prisoner B. But if both prisoners confess (trying to take advantage of their partner), they each serve the maximum sentence (a lose-lose outcome). If neither confesses, they both serve a reduced sentence (a win-win outcome, although the win is not as big as the one they would have received in the win-lose scenario).

This situation occurs fairly often, as win-win outcomes can only be identified through cooperative (or integrative) bargaining, and are likely to be overlooked if negotiations take a competitive distributive) stance.
The key thing to remember is that any negotiation may be re-framed (placed in a new context) so that expectations are lowered. In the prisoner’s dilemma, for example, if both prisoners are able to perceive the reduced sentence as a win rather than a loss, then the outcome is a win-win situation. Thus, with lowered expectations, it may be possible for negotiators to craft win-win solutions out of a potentially lose-lose situation. However, this requires that the parties sacrifice their original demands for lesser ones.

7 comments:

  1. i agree on that .. but I always try to go for the win win situation .....
    so everyone is happy...

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  2. @Simple Person, Good choice. If all of us strive for the win-win situation, then perhaps, we can all live in harmony. But, sadly, not all the time can we choose such situation.

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  3. informative...thank you for sharing!

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  4. @Sunny Toast, :)
    thanks for dropping by

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  5. Very thought provoking, like Simple Person I also tend towards the outcome that sees everyone happy.

    many thanks for all your kind comments. I'm glad to learn that you are reading a novel, do be sure to let me know how you are finding it.

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  6. I really like to win. I am a very competitive person. I think it is a positive trait that I have. I like to be at the top!!! hhhhahahahah

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  7. @Tracy, win-win situation too, eh... I wish we could always choose what situation we like....
    ...on my first novel... lol, haven't even reach Chapter 2 :( I'm such a slow reader.

    @Noblesse Key, being always wanting to be at the top is good as long as it won't go to far into your head. lol....

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