Playing Games

This chapter covers how foundational games from game theory—such as the Prisoner’s Dilemma and the Stag Hunt—can be used to model team behavior in uncertain, high-stakes environments. It explores how different game structures shape individual decision-making, highlighting the subtle shifts between cooperation, risk avoidance, and strategic withdrawal that often occur in innovation projects. By viewing team dynamics through this lens, project leaders can better understand how individuals assess trust, timing, and payoff in relation to others. The chapter shows how Innovation Strategy uses these models to design environments where coordination and collaboration are more likely, even when the path forward remains unclear.