Running the Company
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 1
1. Decide What to Do
Move Chosen SOCA Markers to Chosen SOCAs space on the board.
In order to ensure you have enough working capital this period, you request an additional loan. Take 10C (in White Chips) from the CHIP VAULT and put the CHIPS into CASH. Also add a RED LIABILITY CHIP to the LIABILITIES CIRCLE to mark the new loan.
This period, you must hire 3 PEOPLE from the PERIOD 1 pool, select 2 CUSTOMER TYPES, implement 1-2 INITIATIVES and allocate at least one shape to the TRAINING SPACE.
PEOPLE you don’t hire this period will be available to you in future periods for double their individual recruiting costs. Move PEOPLE who weren’t hired to the NOT HIRED section on the board.
CUSTOMERS you don’t select this period will take their business elsewhere and won’t be available to you in the future. Place these CUSTOMER CARDS in the NOT SELECTED area of the board.
INITIATIVES you don’t implement this period can be implemented in any future period. Place non-started INITIATIVES in the NOT IMPLEMENTED SPACE on the board.
Move Capability Shapes from hired PEOPLE CARDS to selected CUSTOMER and INITIATIVE CARDS and also to the TRAINING SPACE.
2. Indicate the INTANGIBLE Results of Your Decisions
Add points to the RED AREA INTANGIBLE VALUE COUNTER in the center of the board for the new PEOPLE you have hired (per value indicated on each card).
Add points to the YELLOW AREA INTANGIBLE VALUE COUNTER in the center of the board for the new customers you are acquiring (per value indicated on each card).
Add the indicated number of RED, YELLOW or BLUE points to the appropriate INTANGIBLE VALUE COUNTERS in the center of the board for the INITIATIVES you are implementing this period (per value indicated on each card).
3. Invoice Customers
Invoice customer projects staffed this period by totaling up the forecasted revenues (+/- revenue adjustments) from each of the customer cards and then taking the total amount invoiced from the CHIP VAULT and placing it on the ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE circles.
4. Pay this Period’s Costs
from CASH to designated circles on the board:
Salaries
Recruiting and Severance Costs (Severance Costs = 1C per person)
Training costs (1C per capability shape ‘In Training’)
Overhead (1C per salaried employee)
New Customer Acquisition Costs
Materials Costs for
all
CUSTOMERS
Implementation Costs for
new
INITIATIVES
Maintenance Costs for ongoing INITIATIVES (there are none this period)
Check current INITIATIVES for any benefits and make adjustments now!
5. Did You Manage the CUSTOMERS and INITIATIVES Well?
Tally up the mismatched shapes across all CUSTOMERS and remove 1 point from the YELLOW AREA COUNTER in the center of the board for every 2 mismatched shapes.
Tally up your mismatched shapes across all INITIATIVES and remove 1 point from the BLUE AREA COUNTER in the center of the board for every 2 mismatched shapes.
Are your PEOPLE spread too thin? Remove 1 point from the RED AREA COUNTER in the center of the board for each person allocated across more than 2 projects (does NOT include training).
6. Are You Developing Your PEOPLE?
Each CAPABILITY SHAPE a person has IN TRAINING earns that person 2 points on the TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT TRACKER (on page 28 of this guide or on your company's tab on the spreadsheet).
Each shape a person has on a CUSTOMER or INITIATIVE CARD stamped DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY in the specified period earns that person 1 point.
When a person gains 4 points, he or she gets 1 additional CAPABILITY SHAPE. You will also need to physically add 1 CAPABILITY SHAPE to that person’s card and also add 1 point to the RED AREA COUNTER in the center of the board.
The CAPABILITY SHAPE added to their card will be available for use next period.
7. Were Your Actions Aligned with Your Strategy?
Add points(s) to the BLUE AREA COUNTER in the center of the board if you are implementing
new
INITIATIVES this period that contribute to your chosen SOCAs.
If the INITIATIVE contributes to 1 SOCA add 1 point
If the INITIATIVE contributes to 2 SOCAs add 2 points
If the INITIATIVE contributes to 3 SOCAs add 3 points
Add points to the BLUE AREA COUNTER in the center of the board for each
new
CUSTOMER this period with preferences that match your chosen SOCAs.
If just 1 match, add 1 point
If 2 matches, add 2 points
8. Shift Happens!
Flip (right click on the card to reveal the option to flip the card) over the SHIFT HAPPENS cards for PERIOD 1 in your management area. Carry out any implications from SHIFT HAPPENS events that have immediate consequences.
Check prior period SHIFT HAPPENS cards and take any additional consequences that are indicated for this period.
9. Close the Books:
Pay non-operational expenses on the Interplay™ board
10% INTEREST ON LOANS (Pay from CASH to INTEREST)
10% DEPRECIATION (Round to the nearest C and move value from EQUIPMENT/TECHNOLOGY to DEPRECIATION)
10. Do Your Financial Statements for Period 1
(Be certain your results reflect all SHIFT HAPPENS and INITIATIVE IMPLICATIONS).
Complete P&L and Balance Sheet (on the provided spreadsheet.)
Record Revenues from CUSTOMER CARDS
Note: This is the same amount as you have on your ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES Circle
Record EXPENSES from the various expense circles on the board
Calculate your Profit before TAXES (on the provided spreadsheet)
Physically pay your TAXES by moving that amount from CASH to TAXES on the board
Complete your Balance Sheet
Confirm that your Assets = your Equity + Liabilities
Record INTANGIBLE VALUES (from INTANGIBLE VALUE COUNTERS in the middle of the board)
People Asset Value
Organizational Asset Value
Customer/External Asset Value
Review Market Value
Record number of employees at the end of the period
Report Your results to the facilitator
(this will happen automatically via the Spreadsheet)
11. Prepare for Period 2
Remove all currency chips from cost areas (denoted by RED CIRCLES) on the board and return them to the CHIP VAULT. Be sure to leave all existing TANGIBLE ASSETS on the board.
Move all CAPABILITY SHAPES back to your PEOPLE CARDS
Move all PEOPLE CARDS from the NEW to the EXISTING space on the board
Move all CUSTOMER CARDS from the NEW to the EXISTING space on the board
Move newly implemented INITIATIVE CARDS from the IMPLEMENT to the MAINTAIN area on the board
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
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Period 2
1. Payments Arrive!
Move the chips in ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE into CASH.
In Period 2, do not attempt to repay any loans, as you will likely need the working capital. You can consider repaying 1 or 2 of your 10C loans in future periods if you have sufficient positive cash flow.
2. Decide What to Do
Decide which PEOPLE to hire or fire, which new CUSTOMERS to acquire, and which internal INITIATIVES to start or maintain. Remember: PEOPLE you don’t hire this period will be available to you in future periods for double their individual recruiting costs. Move PEOPLE who weren’t hired to the NOT HIRED section on the board.
PEOPLE you didn’t hire last period are still available to you, but at double their individual recruiting cost. CUSTOMERS you didn’t acquire last period are no longer available. INITIATIVES from last period can be implemented at any time.
New Period 2 PEOPLE you don’t hire this period will be available to you in future periods for double their individual recruiting costs. Move PEOPLE who weren’t hired to the NOT HIRED section on the board.
CUSTOMERS you don’t select this period will take their business elsewhere and won’t be available to you in the future. Place these CUSTOMER CARDS in the NOT SELECTED.
INITIATIVES you don’t implement this period can be implemented in any future period. Place non-started INITIATIVES in the NOT IMPLEMENTED SPACE on the board.
Move CAPABILITY SHAPES from hired PEOPLE CARDS to selected CUSTOMER AND INITIATIVE CARDS and also to the TRAINING space.
3. Indicate the INTANGIBLE Results of Your Decisions
Add points to the RED AREA INTANGIBLE VALUE COUNTER in the center of the board for the new PEOPLE you have hired (per value indicated on each card).
Add points to the YELLOW AREA INTANGIBLE VALUE COUNTER in the center of the board for the new customers you are acquiring (per value indicated on each card).
Add the indicated number of RED, YELLOW or BLUE points to the appropriate INTANGIBLE VALUE COUNTERS in the center of the board for the INITIATIVES you are implementing this period (per value indicated on each card).
4. Invoice Customers
Invoice customer projects staffed this period by totaling up the forecasted revenues (+/- revenue adjustments) from each of the customer cards and then taking the total amount invoiced from the CHIP VAULT and placing it on the ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE circles.
5. Pay this Period’s Costs
from CASH to designated circles on the board:
Salaries
Recruiting and Severance Costs (Severance Costs = 1C per person)
Training costs (1C per capability shape ‘In Training’)
Overhead (1C per salaried employee)
New Customer Acquisition Costs
Materials Costs for
all
CUSTOMERS
Implementation Costs for
new
INITIATIVES
Maintenance Costs for ongoing INITIATIVES
Check current INITIATIVES for any benefits and make adjustments now!
6. Did You Manage the CUSTOMERS and INITIATIVES Well?
Tally up the mismatched shapes across all CUSTOMERS and remove 1 point from the YELLOW AREA COUNTER in the center of the board for every 2 mismatched shapes.
Tally up your mismatched shapes across all INITIATIVES and remove 1 point from the BLUE AREA COUNTER in the center of the board for every 2 mismatched shapes.
Are your PEOPLE spread too thin? Remove 1 point from the RED AREA COUNTER in the center of the board for each person allocated across more than 2 projects (does NOT include training).
7. Are You Developing Your PEOPLE?
Each CAPABILITY SHAPE a person has IN TRAINING earns that person 2 points on the TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT TRACKER (on page 28 of this guide or on your company's tab on the spreadsheet).
Each shape a person has on a CUSTOMER or INITIATIVE CARD stamped DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY in the specified period earns that person 1 point.
When a person gains 4 points, he or she gets 1 additional CAPABILITY SHAPE. You will also need to physically add 1 CAPABILITY SHAPE to that person’s card and also add 1 point to the RED AREA COUNTER in the center of the board.
The CAPABILITY SHAPE added to their card will be available for use next period.
8. Were Your Actions Aligned with Your Strategy?
Add points(s) to the BLUE AREA COUNTER in the center of the board if you are implementing
new
INITIATIVES this period that contribute to your chosen SOCAs.
If the INITIATIVE contributes to 1 SOCA add 1 point
If the INITIATIVE contributes to 2 SOCAs add 2 points
If the INITIATIVE contributes to 3 SOCAs add 3 points
Add points to the BLUE AREA COUNTER in the center of the board for each
new
CUSTOMER this period with preferences that match your chosen SOCAs.
If just 1 match, add 1 point
If 2 matches, add 2 points
9. Shift Happens!
Flip (right click on the card to reveal the option to flip the card) over the SHIFT HAPPENS cards for PERIOD 2 in your management area. Carry out any implications from SHIFT HAPPENS events that have immediate consequences.
Check prior period SHIFT HAPPENS cards and take any additional consequences that are indicated for this period.
10. Close the Books:
Pay non-operational expenses on the Interplay™ board
10% INTEREST ON LOANS (Pay from CASH to INTEREST)
10% DEPRECIATION (Round to the nearest C and move value from EQUIPMENT/TECHNOLOGY to DEPRECIATION)
11. Do Your Financial Statements for Period 2
(Be certain your results reflect all SHIFT HAPPENS and INITIATIVE IMPLICATIONS).
Complete P&L and Balance Sheet (on the provided spreadsheet.)
Record Revenues from CUSTOMER CARDS
Note: This is the same amount as you have on your ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES Circle
Record EXPENSES from the various expense circles on the board
Calculate your Profit before TAXES (on the provided spreadsheet)
Physically pay your TAXES by moving that amount from CASH to TAXES on the board
Complete your Balance Sheet
Confirm that your Assets = your Equity + Liabilities
Record INTANGIBLE VALUES (from INTANGIBLE VALUE COUNTERS in the middle of the board)
People Asset Value
Organizational Asset Value
Customer/External Asset Value
Review Market Value
Record number of employees at the end of the period
Report Your results to the facilitator
(this will happen automatically via the Spreadsheet)
12. Prepare for Period 3
Remove all currency chips from cost areas (denoted by RED CIRCLES) on the board and return them to the CHIP VAULT. Be sure to leave all existing TANGIBLE ASSETS on the board.
Move all CAPABILITY SHAPES back to your PEOPLE CARDS
Move all PEOPLE CARDS from the NEW to the EXISTING space on the board
Move all CUSTOMER CARDS from the NEW to the EXISTING space on the board
Move newly implemented INITIATIVE CARDS from the IMPLEMENT to the MAINTAIN area on the board
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Period 3
1. Payments Arrive!
Move the chips in ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE into CASH.
In Period 3, do not attempt to repay any loans, as you will likely need the working capital. You can consider repaying 1 or 2 of your 10C loans in future periods if you have sufficient positive cash flow.
2. Decide What to Do
Decide which PEOPLE to hire or fire, which new CUSTOMERS to acquire, and which internal INITIATIVES to start or maintain. Remember: PEOPLE you don’t hire this period will be available to you in future periods for double their individual recruiting costs. Move PEOPLE who weren’t hired to the NOT HIRED section on the board.
PEOPLE you didn’t hire last period are still available to you, but at double their individual recruiting cost. CUSTOMERS you didn’t acquire last period are no longer available. INITIATIVES from last period can be implemented at any time.
New Period 2 PEOPLE you don’t hire this period will be available to you in future periods for double their individual recruiting costs. Move PEOPLE who weren’t hired to the NOT HIRED section on the board.
CUSTOMERS you don’t select this period will take their business elsewhere and won’t be available to you in the future. Place these CUSTOMER CARDS in the NOT SELECTED.
INITIATIVES you don’t implement this period can be implemented in any future period. Place non-started INITIATIVES in the NOT IMPLEMENTED SPACE on the board.
Move CAPABILITY SHAPES from hired PEOPLE CARDS to selected CUSTOMER AND INITIATIVE CARDS and also to the TRAINING space.
3. Indicate the INTANGIBLE Results of Your Decisions
Add points to the RED AREA INTANGIBLE VALUE COUNTER in the center of the board for the new PEOPLE you have hired (per value indicated on each card).
Add points to the YELLOW AREA INTANGIBLE VALUE COUNTER in the center of the board for the new customers you are acquiring (per value indicated on each card).
Add the indicated number of RED, YELLOW or BLUE points to the appropriate INTANGIBLE VALUE COUNTERS in the center of the board for the INITIATIVES you are implementing this period (per value indicated on each card).
4. Invoice Customers
Invoice customer projects staffed this period by totaling up the forecasted revenues (+/- revenue adjustments) from each of the customer cards and then taking the total amount invoiced from the CHIP VAULT and placing it on the ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE circles.
5. Pay this Period’s Costs
from CASH to designated circles on the board:
Salaries
Recruiting and Severance Costs (Severance Costs = 1C per person)
Training costs (1C per capability shape ‘In Training’)
Overhead (1C per salaried employee)
New Customer Acquisition Costs
Materials Costs for
all
CUSTOMERS
Implementation Costs for
new
INITIATIVES
Maintenance Costs for ongoing INITIATIVES
Check current INITIATIVES for any benefits and make adjustments now!
6. Did You Manage the CUSTOMERS and INITIATIVES Well?
Tally up the mismatched shapes across all CUSTOMERS and remove 1 point from the YELLOW AREA COUNTER in the center of the board for every 2 mismatched shapes.
Tally up your mismatched shapes across all INITIATIVES and remove 1 point from the BLUE AREA COUNTER in the center of the board for every 2 mismatched shapes.
Are your PEOPLE spread too thin? Remove 1 point from the RED AREA COUNTER in the center of the board for each person allocated across more than 2 projects (does NOT include training).
7. Are You Developing Your PEOPLE?
Each CAPABILITY SHAPE a person has IN TRAINING earns that person 2 points on the TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT TRACKER (on your company's tab on the spreadsheet).
Each shape a person has on a CUSTOMER or INITIATIVE CARD stamped DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY in the specified period earns that person 1 point.
When a person gains 4 points, he or she gets 1 additional CAPABILITY SHAPE. You will also need to physically add 1 CAPABILITY SHAPE to that person’s card and also add 1 point to the RED AREA COUNTER in the center of the board.
The CAPABILITY SHAPE added to their card will be available for use next period.
8. Were Your Actions Aligned with Your Strategy?
Add points(s) to the BLUE AREA COUNTER in the center of the board if you are implementing
new
INITIATIVES this period that contribute to your chosen SOCAs.
If the INITIATIVE contributes to 1 SOCA add 1 point
If the INITIATIVE contributes to 2 SOCAs add 2 points
If the INITIATIVE contributes to 3 SOCAs add 3 points
Add points to the BLUE AREA COUNTER in the center of the board for each
new
CUSTOMER this period with preferences that match your chosen SOCAs.
If just 1 match, add 1 point
If 2 matches, add 2 points
9. Shift Happens!
Flip (right click on the card to reveal the option to flip the card) over the SHIFT HAPPENS cards for PERIOD 3 in your management area. Carry out any implications from SHIFT HAPPENS events that have immediate consequences.
Check prior period SHIFT HAPPENS cards and take any additional consequences that are indicated for this period.
10. Close the Books:
Pay non-operational expenses on the Interplay™ board
10% INTEREST ON LOANS (Pay from CASH to INTEREST)
10% DEPRECIATION (Round to the nearest C and move value from EQUIPMENT/TECHNOLOGY to DEPRECIATION)
11. Do Your Financial Statements for Period 3
(Be certain your results reflect all SHIFT HAPPENS and INITIATIVE IMPLICATIONS).
Complete P&L and Balance Sheet (on the provided spreadsheet.)
Record Revenues from CUSTOMER CARDS
Note: This is the same amount as you have on your ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES Circle
Record EXPENSES from the various expense circles on the board
Calculate your Profit before TAXES (on the provided spreadsheet)
Physically pay your TAXES by moving that amount from CASH to TAXES on the board
Complete your Balance Sheet
Confirm that your Assets = your Equity + Liabilities
Record INTANGIBLE VALUES (from INTANGIBLE VALUE COUNTERS in the middle of the board)
People Asset Value
Organizational Asset Value
Customer/External Asset Value
Review Market Value
Record number of employees at the end of the period
Report Your results to the facilitator
(this will happen automatically via the Spreadsheet)
12. Prepare for Period 4
Remove all currency chips from cost areas (denoted by RED CIRCLES) on the board and return them to the CHIP VAULT. Be sure to leave all existing TANGIBLE ASSETS on the board.
Move all CAPABILITY SHAPES back to your PEOPLE CARDS
Move all PEOPLE CARDS from the NEW to the EXISTING space on the board
Move all CUSTOMER CARDS from the NEW to the EXISTING space on the board
Move newly implemented INITIATIVE CARDS from the IMPLEMENT to the MAINTAIN area on the board
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.