Prisoner’s Dilemma

Two thieves have been arrested. Because there are no witnesses, the authorities know that the only way to prove the case against them is if they can convince one to betray the other and admit to the crime.

So the police separate the two thieves and interrogate them in separate rooms.

Each thief is faced with a choice – to remain silent and essentially collaborate with their accomplice, or to defect and agree to testify against the other thief.

If they both co-operate and remain silent, then the authorities will only be able to convict them on a lesser charge.

If one testifies and the other does not, then the one who testifies will go free and the other will get five years.

If both testify against the other, each will get three years in jail for being partly responsible for the robbery.

Because the thieves don’t know what the other is doing, they’re in a prisoner’s dilemma.

This happens all the time in organizations, and on teams, albeit unknowingly.

When teammates hoard information, operate in silos, and don’t communicate, the result is that the rest of the team spends way too much time thinking about their own situation and advancement, rather than focusing on the job at hand.

As a leader, are you prioritizing collaboration or competition?