Decision Games WSE-ZP-GD
The course introduces the basic concepts of decision theory and game theory, with an emphasis on their application in politics, public administration and organisational management. The following issues are discussed, among others: the concept of a game, players, strategies, payoffs, players’ rationality, classification of games (cooperative and non-cooperative, zero-sum and non-zero-sum, with complete and incomplete information, repeated games) as well as the importance of information, trust and reputation in decision-making processes.
Classes are conducted in the form of practical exercises with elements of mini-lectures, decision games and group simulations. Students take part, among others, in games concerning the formation of governmental and local coalitions, the allocation of scarce resources (crisis budget), tenders and negotiations, and the classic prisoner’s dilemma. Each game is followed by a debriefing during which participants jointly analyse the structure of the game, possible strategies, dilemmas that arise, and the consequences of the adopted solutions for different actors in public life.
As a result, the student learns to:
- identify players, strategies and payoffs in typical political and administrative situations,
- present them in the form of matrices and decision trees,
- recognise dominant strategies and Nash equilibria,
- distinguish between zero-sum and non-zero-sum games, as well as games with complete and incomplete information,
- use game-theoretic tools to analyse conflict, cooperation, negotiation and crisis management.
At the same time, the course develops social competences: teamwork, taking on roles (negotiator, mediator, leader), responsibility for group decisions and awareness of the ethical consequences of choices made in situations of conflict of interest.
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Term 2025/26_Z:
None |
(in Polish) E-Learning
(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych
(in Polish) Opis nakładu pracy studenta w ECTS
Term 2022/23_L: (in Polish) Nakład pracy Studenta i punkty ECTS:
uczestnictwo w zajęciach -15 h
wyszukiwanie informacji - 15 h
lektura zadanych tekstów - 15 h
aktywne uczestnictwo w zajęciach i w pracach indywidualnych oraz grupowych, w tym przygotowanie wystąpień - 15 h
60 h = 2 ECTS (1 ECTS = 30 h) | Term 2024/25_Z: (in Polish) Nakład pracy Studenta i punkty ECTS:
Uczestnictwo w zajęciach -15 h
Wyszukiwanie informacji - 15 h
Lektura zadanych tekstów - 15 h
Aktywne uczestnictwo w zajęciach i w pracach indywidualnych oraz Grupowych, w tym przygotowanie wystąpień - 15 h
60 h = 2 ECTS (1 ECTS = 30 h) | Term 2023/24_L: (in Polish) Nakład pracy Studenta i punkty ECTS:
uczestnictwo w zajęciach -15 h
wyszukiwanie informacji - 15 h
lektura zadanych tekstów - 15 h
aktywne uczestnictwo w zajęciach i w pracach indywidualnych oraz grupowych, w tym przygotowanie wystąpień - 15 h
60 h = 2 ECTS (1 ECTS = 30 h) |
Subject level
Learning outcome code/codes
Type of subject
Preliminary Requirements
Course coordinators
Term 2022/23_L: | Term 2024/25_Z: | Term 2023/24_L: | Term 2025/26_Z: |
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student:
Is able to identify the main actors (players), their strategies and payoffs in typical political and administrative situations and apply the basic assumptions of rational choice theory and game theory to analyse these situations.
– (ZP1_U06)
Is able, using different decision-making strategies, to plan and organise individual and group work within games and simulations (coalition negotiations, crisis budget, tender, crisis games), taking responsibility for assigned tasks.
– (ZP1_U08)
Is able to use the acquired knowledge of different types of games (cooperative, non-cooperative, zero-sum and non-zero-sum, with complete and incomplete information, repeated games) to resolve dilemmas arising in professional work in administration, politics and non-governmental organisations.
– (ZP1_U16)
Is able to communicate effectively and participate actively in group work, take on different roles in games and simulations (negotiator, mediator, leader, analyst) and critically assess their own and the group’s actions, including the effects of the adopted strategies on different actors in public life.
– (ZP1_K04)
Is aware of the ethical dimension of decisions made in decision games (e.g. prisoner’s dilemma, tender, crisis games) and understands the value of responsible, honest and professional conduct in line with ethical standards and the common good.
– (ZP1_K05)
Assessment criteria
Pass with a grade based on a written test and ongoing class participation.
The course is delivered in on-site form. A maximum of 2 unexcused absences per semester is allowed; each additional absence lowers the final grade by 0.5. In the case of a higher number of absences, the student may be required to complete additional assignments in order to pass the course.
The test takes the form of a written exam including:
closed questions (single-choice and multiple-choice) checking the knowledge of basic concepts of decision theory and game theory (e.g. game, strategy, payoff, dominant strategy, Nash equilibrium, zero-sum and non-zero-sum games, games with complete and incomplete information, repeated games),
short open questions / problem tasks requiring the application of concepts to simple examples (e.g. writing a game in matrix form, indicating a Nash equilibrium, interpreting the prisoner’s dilemma in a political or administrative context).
Minimum pass threshold for the test: 51% correct answers.
Practical placement
Not applicable.
Bibliography
Core reading:
Z. J. Pietraś, Decydowanie polityczne [Political decision-making], Warsaw–Kraków 2000.
P. Pawełczyk, Socjotechniczne aspekty gry politycznej [Sociotechnical aspects of the political game], Poznań 2003.
J. Haman, Gry wokół nas. Socjolog i teoria gier [Games Around Us. A Sociologist and Game Theory], Warsaw 2014.
R. P. Kostecki, Wprowadzenie do teorii gier [Introduction to Game Theory], material available online.
M. Malawski, A. Wieczorek, H. Sosnowska, Konkurencja i kooperacja. Teoria gier w ekonomii i naukach społecznych [Competition and Cooperation. Game Theory in Economics and the Social Sciences], Warsaw 1997.
A. K. Dixit, B. J. Nalebuff, Sztuka strategii [The Art of Strategy], Warsaw 2020.
Supplementary reading:
T. Bodio, A. Chodubski, O prognostyce w politologii [On Prognostics in Political Science], text available online.
F. R. Barton, Wprowadzenie do symulacji i gier [Introduction to Simulation and Games], Warsaw 1974.
P. D. Straffin, Teoria gier [Game Theory], Scholar, Warsaw 2004.
Additional materials (texts, game descriptions, case studies) will be made available on the Moodle platform.
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Term 2025/26_Z:
None |
Notes
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Term 2023/24_L:
None |
Term 2024/25_Z:
None |
Term 2025/26_Z:
None |
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: