This project documents my work with Rak Tamachat Permaculture in Central Thailand to develop financial systems using game theory as a design strategy that integrates fun and interactivity with the achievement of financial goals. The basis for this work comes from my experience with Open Book Management acquired while managing at Wheatsville Co-op in Austin, Texas. This project will document my learning process in adapting this unique management strategy to a startup permaculture community and education centre.

Observations

During my experience as a manager at Wheatsville Co-op, we implemented a new management strategy that completely revolutionized the operations of the co-operative. After experience living, learning and working in a verity of permaculture communities it became clear to me how important sound financial planning is to organizational sustainability and success. It also became clear that, in most permaculture organizations, proper financial planning is quite possibly the most common weakest link. Read more detail here.

Goals

• Flex many of the skills within my diploma skill flex
• Adapt Open Book Management to a community living situation
• Gain more experience with Game Design and Game Theory for the benefit of permacultural development and education
• Develop a holistic financial plan for Rak Tamachat that demonstrates the strength of community engagement
  • Provide a pathway toward financial self-sufficiency within a 18 month timeline
  • Use incentive programs to build community engagement around financial goals
  • Encourage and engage financial awareness and involvement in fun and interactive ways
  • Remove the fear and apprehension around financial systems that limit growth and abundance

Analysis

This is my analysis of the financial goals of Rak Tamachat as well as an analysis of personal observations that lead to the design of the “Big Board o’ Budget” – Rak Tamachat’s financial scoreboard, goals, rewards and rules.

View the detailed project analysis here.

Design

This section details the evolution of the design over the course of 8 months of development at Rak Tamachat. From my analysis early on it was clear that Open Book Management would have a profoundly positive effect on the organization and community but it took many months of incremental design to find a system that met the goals and created the advantage I knew was possible.

Detailed description of the design process can be found here.

Implementation

When the final design came into practice the results, after only a few weeks of use, were astounding and greatly exceeded my expectations. Early results showed a great increase in understanding of financial goals and the means to achieve them; more comfort around financial tracking and the reasons for it; an energy of inspiration to meet and exceed goals;  a burst in creative idea generation for financial growth; and a general feeling of cooperation toward a unified vision.

See the detailed report here

Evaluation

The evaluation of this work demonstrates the amazing potential of game theory in financial and management design, however, it also shows a few weak links that can inhibit the ability for these systems to be successful over the long term.

See the full evaluation here

Next Steps

• Take the lessons from this project and apply it to a verity of organizational development projects via workshops and consultations
• Developing a Holistic Goal and Financial plan for my own life and applying strategies of Game Theory to inspire personal growth
• Look into options for creating a consultation group to bring Open Book Management to cooperative organizations (either working with existing cooperative consultation groups or starting a new one through my contacts with cooperative business in Austin)
• Connect with Holistic Management, the Savory Institute and Gaia University to introduce and demonstrate the value of Open Book Management and game theory design strategies

Appendix

The Appendix captures all the things that don’t fall under the above sections and provides a body of support for the richness of the information above. This section also provides a space for my assessment of this permaculture diploma project as well as peer reviews. The appendix includes:

Time & Information Resources
Process Review / Reflection
Supporting Evidence
Learning Journal Extracts
Peer Reviews