The Timber Game: Teaching Sustainability Concepts Using the Prisoners Dilemma


Page 215 - Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning, Volume 43, 2016 

 

ABSTRACT 
 

This paper discusses the development, goals, and administra-
tion of the Timber Game.  The Timber Game is an online simu-
lation for teaching sustainability concepts in the context of the 
Tragedy of the Commons.  The game presents players with what 
appears to be a competitive situation but which in reality is a 
“prisoner’s dilemma”.  Sufficient information is provided for 
players to identify the prisoner’s dilemma and determine the 
proper course of action in advance.  Players who analyze the 
situation in advance and recognize the meta-level problem, the 
tragedy of the commons, will adjust their game activities to sus-
tainable levels and maximize their long-run performance.  Play-
ers who fail to recognize the problem will aggressively compete, 
undermining the industry and all other players, resulting in 
depressed long-run industry and organizational performance.   

 

The Timber Game:  
Teaching Sustainability Concepts Using the Prisoners Dilemma 

 
Christopher M. Cassidy 

Sam Houston State University 
cassidy@shsu.edu 

 
Dallas Brozik 

Marshall University 
Brozik@marshall.edu 

 
Devin McCullough 

Sam Houston State University 
dlm040@shsu.edu 

 
Eduardo de Luna-Solis 

Sam Houston State University 
exd020@shsu.edu 

mailto:cassidy@shsu.edu
mailto:Brozik@marshall.edu
mailto:dlm040@shsu.edu
mailto:exd020@shsu.edu