Back to top of FAQ...

Does "opening the books" mean I have to share everything, including financial compensation?
We don't think that it is necessary to share individual compensation. Instead we lump together everyone's salaries and benefits into one line on the income statement. This lump number is important for people to see and monitor, but we don't find that individual salary disclosure is necessary, or even beneficial.

You need to start by keeping things focused and simple, driving a common understanding of your company's critical number and how your troops can move that number in the right direction. Don't deluge them with too many numbers in the beginning, but don't "hide" information from them either. However, if you do not really intend to be open about sharing information about the business, don't start.

Back to top of FAQ...

Most employees aren’t even interested in their company’s numbers, are they?
Most employees never see any performance numbers, and so they become apathetic about their ability to influence them. A recent survey found that 66% of employees expressed interest in learning how their company was doing financially. And 75% said they’d work harder and smarter if they could understand their company’s financial statements. Powerful stuff.

Back to top of FAQ...

Do employees really have the capacity to understand our financials?
Sure they do. Most people can balance a checkbook, follow a household budget and plan for their children’s college education. And many know how to invest wisely and save for retirement. In short, they already use many of the skills needed in an open-book environment. They just need to learn your company’s financial language and how to apply it at work.

Back to top of FAQ...

What if our CFO can’t get real-time financial information to employees?
You get the critical numbers you need to run your business -- cash flow, billable hours, order backlog -- every day. Real-time information is actually tracked by the people closest to the numbers, rather than the accountants.

Back to top of FAQ...

If we share our financials, won’t they ultimately reach our competitors?
Thousands of small privately held companies have shared their numbers without experiencing competitive backlash. Open-book companies take a different view of this age-old fear: they see the dangers of secrecy as more problematic than the risks of openness. In fact, the level of employee engagement gained through openness can give OBM practitioners a huge competitive advantage.

Back to top of FAQ...

When people see how much we are making, won't our customers demand that we lower our prices, and our suppliers will raise theirs?
Aren't your customers and suppliers already making these demands? And if they got your detailed financials, are you sure they would demand more? There may be some risks here, but again, you have to ask if you will be better off with employees who think like owners or by keeping them in the dark.

Back to top of FAQ...

Where will we find the time to train employees, have weekly huddles, and keep our scoreboards updated?
Your commitment and investment in education and communication will pay back in the form of increased productivity and profitability. Yes, it will take time and discipline to realize these returns, but they will come in time.

Back to top of FAQ...

Can you play The Great Game of Business^® in a company that has multiple locations, commissioned salespeople, or with a very diverse language background?
YES. Many companies with a variety of issues have successfully implemented The Game. Keep in mind that the report cards of ANY business are universal -- the financial statements.

Back to top of FAQ...

Will it work in a very large company?
Yes. Getting a sense of teamwork, consensus, and open communication all become more difficult as the size of a company grows. We are experiencing this ourselves with the growth of SRC. Our hint: be sure to start by breaking down your organization into all the smaller "natural teams" that exist within your company. Getting senior management support will really help the effort. Once the business is broken down, then the process of getting started is similar to that within smaller companies.

Back to top of FAQ...

How do I implement The Great Game in my own business?
Click here to Get Started!