KPMG Tools

KPMG Game 'Cards on the table'
As head of the Internal Training department, I often organise courses at luxurious conference centres. The manager of one of the centres I occasionally use offers to let me use the hotel the complex is part of for a weekend with my family. What should I do?
1. I decline the offer.
2. I accept the friendly offer but insist on paying for it.
3. I simply accept the offer.
4. I do something else, like…



The course of the game
The case cited above is one of the 50 dilemmas contained in the KPMG Game ‘Cards on the Table’. The game is played in groups of four people. The dilemmas, taken from daily practice, put the players in the role of the “I” figure. Every player has to say what s/he would do in the situation described. Because the choices and motivations often differ, a discussion arises among the players over what is and is not acceptable. After the discussion, the players are “paid out” in two ways.

First of all, a moral evaluation of one another takes place because the players, make their approval or disapproval obvious with the moves of their pieces around the board. Secondly, on the back of each dilemma, an economic judgement is given. Every choice costs or earns image and money points. In this way, the “capital” of the players grows or declines after each round. The game takes approximately 1 hour.

The game is a light-hearted, but serious introduction to the theme of integrity. It allows the players to become familiar in a playful way with what integrity dilemmas are and how dilemmas can arise in organisations. The game stimulates discussion of the subject of integrity. It will become immediately clear that there are different ways of thinking or judging certain topics. There is, after all, often a taboo on speaking about integrity issues. By talking about them, players learn about one another’s point of view. The post-game activities can take place in a number of different ways.

The game can be used for developing or updating a code of conduct, for implementing a code, for improving the openness and discussability in teams, as part of a training program, etc.