April 4, 2008 at 11:00 EST - Game Theory Fundamentals

Repeated Games of Prisoner's Dilemma
The branch of game theory that forms the basis of the Open Options process - ordinal, non-cooperative game theory - can be illustrated effectively using a simple idea, the 2x2 game. The most commonly discussed 2x2 game is known as Prisoner's Dilemma. It is often taught in graduate-level courses in business or political science, and is also occasionally discussed in magazine articles.

In this Webinar, the history of game theory will be reviewed, and the nature and history of the Prisoner's Dilemma will be introduced. The ideas of individual and joint efficiency will be covered, leading to the principle of non-cooperative and cooperative stability and to solution concepts in general. Axelrod's experiments in repeated games of Prisoner's Dilemma will be used to illustrate how these ideas can provide insights into how to behave in business relationships.

Participants in this Webinar will increase their understanding of the field of game theory, and will learn some fundamental and clarifying ideas about the complexity of decision making. They will also gain insight into the theory underlying the Open Options process, and how it can be applied to business applications.

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April 9, 2008 at 13:00 EST - Game Theory Fundamentals

Using Game Theory to Predict Competitive Behavior
Some of the world's largest corporations, including companies like Chevron, IBM, GE, Microsoft, Ford, Boeing and others use Game Theory to determine the best attainable outcome for their most complicated issues and competitive challenges.

Through an IBM case study of how the company used Open Options and Game Theory to answer these critical questions and to develop a strategic action plan for their Linux strategy, this session will teach you:

1. When to apply Game Theory
2. Which industries and types of problems best match its strengths
3. What information you require and how to collect it
4. How to predict competitor behavior
5. How to identify emerging threats, workable trade-offs, hidden allies and hidden opponents

This webinar is hosted by Aurora - space is limited so please reserve your spot early!

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May 5, 2008 at 11:00 EST - Applications Series

Corporate & Government Affairs | Doing Business in Foreign Countries Any joint venture is a challenge because of the need to satisfy the interests of all participants. When the joint venture is in a foreign country and potentially subject to multiple levels of government oversight and regulation, the uncertainty and risk can be very challenging.

Game theory can help to ensure that foreign joint ventures are successful. This Webinar will review the Open Options process of applying game theory to complex business problems. It will describe how game theory can help to properly assess the power and motives of non-commercial players and how those players' interests intersect with the more familiar drivers of commercial partners. The ideas are illustrated through a real-life case called "Course Correction".

Participants in this Webinar will gain an increased understanding of the Open Options process, the dangers and opportunities of a foreign joint venture, and insight into how game theory can make foreign joint ventures more successful.

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June 11, 2008 at 13:00 EST - Applications Series

How IBM used Game Theory to construct its Linux strategy
In the fall of 2001, top executives at IBM Corp. realized they had a major problem on their hands. Something was happening to their industry that the technology giant could neither control nor predict. That fall, IBM was watching the development of the Linux operating system with trepidation. Unlike previous threats to the dominant Windows system, Linux was a cheap and easy-to-use library of code being collectively assembled by programmers around the world.

This Webinar will describe how Open Options formed a successful strategy for IBM’s Linux troubles. It will describe the process used to extract the best available information from the top executives at IBM. In addition, it will present the surprising recommendations that were made to IBM.

Participants in this Webinar will gain an increased understanding of the Open Options process and how this process was successfully applied to a problem-solving giant such as IBM.

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