About this session
Make the Rulebook: How Incentives Shape Behavior is a 90-minute to half-day game-based workshop for teams who want to see firsthand how rules and incentives shape behavior. It runs live online or in person.
Teams design the rules and scoring for a simple game, then watch what another group starts optimizing for once points are on the line.
Participants leave with a sharper eye for how targets, metrics and rules can pull behavior away from their purpose, and ideas for designing them well.
What your people take away
- Design rules and scoring for a team game
- Watch what another group starts optimizing for
- Spot when behavior drifts from the purpose
- Revise incentives to reward what matters
- Apply the lessons to targets and metrics at work
Shared with you
See the full session
Create your free Workbliss profile to see the rest of this outline and book it. It takes a minute, with your work email.
- What each length covers, 90 minutes to half day
- Everything that’s covered, part by part
- Book online, and browse 1,500+ more sessions for your teams
Already a member? Sign in
What each length covers
90 minutes
Design the rules, then watchTeams design rules and scoring for a simple game and watch another group play it. They see quickly what players optimize for.
- Design rules and scoring for a team game
- Watch what players optimize for
Covers 2 of 4 parts: Design rules and scoring for a team game and Watch what players optimize for.
Half day
Revise incentives and apply themAdds revising the rules when behavior drifts from the purpose and a second round of play. Teams finish by applying the lessons to a real target or metric.
- Design rules and scoring for a team game
- Watch what players optimize for
- Revise incentives when behavior drifts
- Apply the lessons at work
Covers all 4 parts.
What’s covered
Design rules and scoring for a team game
Every length- Agree the game's purposeTeams write one sentence on what good play should achieve, such as cooperation or quality.
- Write rules and a scoring systemGroups design simple rules and points they believe will reward that purpose.
Watch what players optimize for
Every length- Hand the rulebook to another groupAnother team plays the game using only the written rules.
- Observe the behaviorDesigners note what players chase, where shortcuts appear and what gets ignored.
- Compare purpose and behaviorTeams compare the behavior they saw with the purpose they wrote.
Revise incentives when behavior drifts
Half day only- Find the cause of the driftTeams identify which rules or points encouraged the unintended behavior.
- Redesign and replayGroups change the rules and run a second round to see what shifts.
Apply the lessons at work
Half day only- Examine a real target or metricTeams choose a real measure and consider what behavior it might be encouraging.
- Suggest improvementsParticipants propose changes or companion measures that keep the focus on purpose.
Tools and materials
- Game kit with cards, tokens and dice, provided in person
- Online game board for remote sessions
- Purpose statement card
- Rulebook template
- Behavior observation sheet
- Metric review worksheet
Who it’s for
- Managers who set targets or metrics
- HR, reward and performance teams
- Operations and sales leaders
- Policy and process designers
How booking works
- Book online. Create a free Workbliss profile, then pay with session credits, by card or by invoice.
- Pick a date. Choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or book now and set the date later.
- Choose your expert. Within 3 working days, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date.
- We deliver it. Your expert is briefed on your people and goals, then runs the session live online or at your site.
Questions about Make the Rulebook: How Incentives Shape Behavior
How long is Make the Rulebook: How Incentives Shape Behavior?
Make the Rulebook: How Incentives Shape Behavior runs as 90 minutes or half day. You choose the length when you book. A 90-minute session covers Design rules and scoring for a team game and Watch what players optimize for. A half-day session adds Revise incentives when behavior drifts and Apply the lessons at work.
Can Make the Rulebook: How Incentives Shape Behavior be delivered online or in person?
Yes, both. It runs live online, so every office can join at the same time, or in person at your site, in any country.
How do we book Make the Rulebook: How Incentives Shape Behavior?
Create a free Workbliss profile with your work email, then open Make the Rulebook: How Incentives Shape Behavior to see the price for each length and book it. You can pay with session credits, by card or by invoice, and choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or set it later.
Who leads the session?
A vetted Workbliss expert, briefed on your people, culture and goals before the session. After you book, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date within 3 working days, so you can choose who leads it.
Can it be tailored to our company?
Yes. Every session is shaped around your goals, your people and the benefits you already offer, and delivered by experts in your people’s languages.