A Zero-Sum Game is a situation where one party’s gain comes at the direct expense of another party’s loss. In project management, it refers to conflict-driven scenarios where resources, budgets, or rewards are fixed, and any advantage gained by one team results in a disadvantage for another.
Examples in Project Management:
- Budget Allocation: If one department receives extra funding, another may lose its share.
- Resource Allocation: If a critical developer is assigned to Project A, Project B loses access to that resource.
- Contract Negotiations: A client negotiating a lower cost for a project may result in reduced profit margins for the service provider.
How to Avoid a Zero-Sum Approach:
✔ Focus on win-win solutions where all parties benefit.
✔ Use collaborative negotiation strategies to ensure fairness.
✔ Seek resource optimization rather than competition.
Challenges:
⚠ Can create internal conflicts within teams.
⚠ Leads to short-term wins but long-term inefficiencies.
