A win-win game is a game

Game

A game is structured playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements...

 which is designed in a way that all participants can profit from it in one way or the other. In conflict resolution

Conflict resolution

Conflict resolution is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of some social conflict. Often, committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest...

, a win-win strategy is a conflict resolution process that aims to accommodate all disputants.

Types

• Mathematical game theory
  Game theory
  Game theory is a mathematical method for analyzing calculated circumstances, such as in games, where a person’s success is based upon the choices of others...
  
   also refers to win-win games as non-zero-sum games (although they may include situations where either or both players lose as well).
• In the context of group-dynamic game
  Group-dynamic game
  Group-dynamic games are experiential education exercises which help people to learn about themselves, interpersonal relationships, and how groups function from a group dynamics or social psychological point of view....
  
  s, win-win games are also called "cooperative game
  Cooperative game
  In game theory, a cooperative game is a game where groups of players may enforce cooperative behaviour, hence the game is a competition between coalitions of players, rather than between individual players...
  
  s", "new games" or "games without losers".
• In colloquial speech, a win-win situation often refers to situation where one benefits, not necessarily through someone else's loss.
• Win-win-win is where both parties win, and the middleman wins as a successful negotiator.
• The TKI Thomas/Kilman Conflict Profile provides a model that reveals preferences under stress and pressure. Collaboration
  Collaboration
  Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing...
  
   style focuses on win-win outcomes.

Group dynamics

Group-dynamics win-win games have been increasingly popular since the end of the Vietnam war and have been successfully applied to all levels of society.

Group-dynamics win-win games emphasize the importance of cooperation, fun, sharing, caring and over-all group success in contrast to domination, egoistic behaviour and personal gain. All players are treated as equally important and valuable. Win-win games often also carry an ethical message of caring for the environment and a holistic approach to life and society. Win-win games are a powerful tool to give people self-confidence and a "we" experience, especially when they have suffered from emotional isolation.

An example would be a game where all players try to carry a huge "earth ball" (a ball several meters in diameter) over their heads while negotiating an obstacle course. This is a typical example of a win-win game for several reasons:

• there are no losers (everyone enjoys the accomplished task).
• all players are involved (no-one is left out or sits out).
• the game is psychologically working on many levels (communication, supporting each other, having fun in a group etc)

Note that there are also mathematical win-win games; the mathematical term being non-zero-sum games. Such games are often simply represented by a matrix

Matrix (mathematics)

In mathematics, a matrix is a rectangular array of numbers, symbols, or expressions. The individual items in a matrix are called its elements or entries. An example of a matrix with six elements isMatrices of the same size can be added or subtracted element by element...

 of payouts.

See also

• Abundance mentality
• Game
  Game
  A game is structured playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements...
  
  
• Cooperative game
  Cooperative game
  In game theory, a cooperative game is a game where groups of players may enforce cooperative behaviour, hence the game is a competition between coalitions of players, rather than between individual players...
  
  
• Group-dynamic game
  Group-dynamic game
  Group-dynamic games are experiential education exercises which help people to learn about themselves, interpersonal relationships, and how groups function from a group dynamics or social psychological point of view....
  
  
• Non-zero-sum game
• No-win situation
  No-win situation
  A no-win situation, also called a "lose-lose" situation, is one where a person has choices, but no choice leads to a net gain. For example, if an executioner offers the condemned the choice of dying by being hanged, shot, or poisoned, since all choices lead to death, the condemned is in a no-win...