A game that empowers businesses to act against social and environmental abuses

Detailed Description:
The UN Global Compact Dilemma Game is a board game for businesses, educational institutions and NGOs that encourages players to create a more inclusive and sustainable marketplace. The game aims to close the gap between commitment and action, because businesses need guidance on how to implement good corporate responsibility practices. The game uses real business dilemmas to illustrate the risks and benefits of managing human rights, labour standards, environmental and corruption issues.

Know drawbacks of design:
None

Website:
http://www.responsiblebusinesssolutions.com/en/un-global-compact/un-global-compact-dilemma-game.aspx

Designed in:
2010

Status of realization:
In production

Keywords:
communication, economics, education, energy, environment, equality, ethics, fair-trade, games, gender, globalization, health, knowledge, leadership, social

Form
The Global Compact and MDGs were used as the framework for the game because of their universal appeal and the range of issues covered. The colours for the board and cards are consistent with both brands. Dilemmas are used as the primary learning tool in the game, due to their ability to easily engage players in complex issues. Great care was taken to ensure that the dilemmas were based on actual business cases drawn from developed and developing countries. The design makes it easy to create customised versions for specific companies/countries. The game incorporates non-business perspectives by including 5 stakeholder roles. A board game design was chosen over an online game, for the quality face-to-face interaction and feedback that it creates. No specialist equipment or knowledge is required to play the game. The physical game design is lightweight and compact for ease of distribution and the materials used in its production were selected for their reduced environmental impact.

Impact
Businesses have a significant impact on helping to raise living standards and uphold human rights, especially with the increase in globalisation. By helping businesses to understand the connection between their activities and significant impacts, such as climate change and extreme poverty, we can help to improve the lives of the millions of people who work for businesses, buy their products and live in the communities in which they operate. The Global Compact has over 8,000 member organisations in over 130 countries. In the 6 months since the game was launched, 500 free games have been donated to members of the Global Compact and hundreds more purchased by large multinational companies. In keeping with our aim for the game to reach as wide an audience as possible, there is no licence fee to use it. Translation of the game into local languages is encouraged and the design templates will be provided to companies who want to produce copies of the game locally.

Context
Many businesses accept they have responsibilities that encompass a wide group of stakeholders and issues, but need guidance on how to act. Other businesses do not see how they are relevant to them. The game shows businesses why such issues are relevant and what they can do. It does this through the use of real business cases and practical examples. It also makes a link between day-to-day business and the MDGs. The game offers players the opportunity to role-play complex situations in a safe environment and to explore stakeholders expectations. They are also asked to self-assess their actions. This type of learning has a proven significant impact on players and empowers them to take action. As no specialist knowledge is required to play the game, it can educate a wide variety of business people. Businesses benefit from greater stakeholder satisfaction, reduced business risks and new business opportunities. The environment and society benefit as negative impacts are reduced.

Other relevant information
For the game to reach the widest possible audience and have the greatest possible impact, it must be relevant to many cultures in both developed and developing countries. We visited businesses and ran workshops in Kenya and Slovakia to find out about their challenges. Their stories, and those we had gathered from our own experiences, were used to create the dilemmas and other content for the game. The pilot game was tested with businesses and feedback incorporated into the final design.

Proven and/or potential effects:
50 prototype games were distributed to the UN Global Compact in New York when the game was launched in June 2010, where it was played with an international group of local network coordinators and businesses - representatives from the 90+ local networks around the world were invited to attend. Since the game went into production in October 2010, 900 games have been distributed to the Global Compact local networks, Danish embassies and businesses. We have another 300 potential orders. The game has been played with businesses, NGOs and learning institutions, in Denmark, other Nordic countries, Kenya, Bratislava, Netherlands, UK, India, Brazil, South Africa, China and Vietnam. These are the countries we are aware of. Feedback regarding the game’s impact has been overwhelmingly positive.

Is the design protected by patent or ip registration?
creative commons

How has the development of the design been financed hereunto?
External investments

Is there a plan for future investments?
Yes

Is there in-house competencies to secure market roll out of the design, with regards to investment, distribution, sales, etc.?
Yes

Designed by:
Christian Honorè, Developer, www.responsiblebusinesssolutions.com, CEO/Senior Advisor, Denmark, Copenhagen, Responsible Business Solutions
Dawn Baggaley, Project director and co-developer, www.responsiblebusinesssolutions.com, Senior Advisor, New Zealand, Copenhagen, Responsible Business Solutions

Manufactured/Produced/Commisioned by:
Meyer Bukdahl designers
www.meyer-bukdahl.dk

Additional credits:
Funding: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark (Danida), A.P.Møller-Mærsk, Novo-Nordisk, & Danfoss. Content: Global Compact Kenya Network, Global Compact Network Slovakia, Global Compact Nordic Network, Global Compact Office New York