The Chinese Strategist

The Chinese Strategist is a serious game that uses the 36 Chinese stratagems to help teams approach problems from a new angle. Each participant draws a stratagem and uses it to pose a question that encourages collective reflection. This game fosters creativity and innovation in solving complex problems.

Walkthrough

1. 1

   Introduction to the game

   10 min

   The facilitator presents the concept of the 36 Chinese stratagems, explaining that they are traditional strategies used to solve complex problems. They emphasise that the goal is to use these stratagems to inspire new ways of thinking. Participants are encouraged to keep an open mind and explore unusual perspectives.

   Tip — Use a visual presentation of the stratagems to capture participants' attention.

2. 2

   Distribution of stratagems

   5 min

   Each participant randomly draws a stratagem from a selection of 36 cards. The facilitator explains that each card contains a stratagem accompanied by a brief description. Participants are encouraged to think about how this stratagem could be applied to their current context.

   Tip — Ensure that each participant has time to read and understand their stratagem.

3. 3

   Individual reflection

   10 min

   Participants take a few minutes to individually reflect on their stratagem. They must formulate a question or idea that could help solve a specific problem for the team or organisation. The facilitator circulates to offer clarifications if necessary.

   Tip — Encourage participants to jot down their ideas to facilitate later sharing.

4. 4

   Group sharing

   20 min

   Each participant shares their stratagem and the question or idea they have formulated with the group. The facilitator encourages discussions and collective reflections on each proposal. Participants are invited to explore how these ideas could be implemented concretely.

   Tip — Foster an atmosphere of trust and openness so that everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas.

5. 5

   Synthesis and application

   15 min

   The group discusses the ideas that seem most promising and explores how they could be applied to current projects or challenges. The facilitator helps structure the ideas into concrete actions and identifies the next steps.

   Tip — Use a whiteboard to visually organise the ideas and actions.

6. 6

   Closure

   5 min

   The facilitator thanks the participants for their involvement and summarises the main ideas and agreed actions. They remind everyone of the importance of applying the stratagems in daily professional life and encourage revisiting these concepts regularly.

   Tip — Suggest that participants keep their stratagem card as a visual reminder of the workshop.

Variants

• Use stratagems specific to a particular field for a more targeted approach.
• Organise the game in pairs to encourage exchanges and co-creation of ideas.
• Incorporate a collective brainstorming phase after individual sharing to enrich the ideas.