DIN-Game: Take Off in the World of Standardization

About this game

Some think standardization is boring. But it’s not! Standardization is a very exciting universe in which you can help shape things by participating in the development of the documents themselves. Unfortunately, this is not widely known because standardization is (still) not taught in curricula. This “Serious Game” was developed to make standardization a fun experience. 1 - 2 small teams of two to five players each represent a fictitious innovation group, e.g. a start-up team or a development department. Each group is given a small start-up budget, which can now be used to place their own innovation on the market. There are options to move in the direction of patents or standardization, and to differentiate between national, European and international standards. Of course, the options can also be combined with each other. The players move forward using cards with a situation described on the front and a decision on the back. The options should be discussed and decided upon together. This is a fun way to find out what standardization actually is, why it is important for decision-makers and implementers to at least know about standardization, and what unexpected benefits can be gained from active participation. It is not about individual process steps within the standardization process and certainly not about doing "everything right". It's about having fun and getting to know this fascinating universe without the pressure of role-playing games.

Do you have any questions about the DIN game? We have the answers.

Because there are real people behind this game - and behind standardization as a whole. You can talk to us. The real objective of this game is to talk to each other. Let’s meet in Berlin at the second interactive conference on standardization in academia

Game instructions: a selection

Congratulations! You have won the coveted Innovation Trophy for your innovative idea and business plan, which includes a loan of 20 portions of money (PM) and financing for 20 months (Mon) to turn your idea into a functioning business. There are many options and unexpected twists and turns on the way from the idea to the market. You are a team of 2 to 5 players and play together, not against each other! You start on the START NOW field and move forwards based on decisions made on the basis of the “decision cards” (large cards). Some decisions cost money, some cost time, sometimes you earn time and/or money. The important thing is that you stand together behind your decisions. Some decisions not only depend on you, but the dice come into play. The probabilities of the results of rolling the dice correspond to experience gained at DIN in everyday life; therefore some events occur with many rolls of the dice, others with few results, while some are even extremely improbable. A turn is over when you have moved to the next field. The game is over when you have achieved everything you wanted to - or you have bad luck. All moves are taken from reality. The experiences and stories behind individual moves are found in the section "Stories behind the game".

The game includes (we recommend 2 to 10 players per game)

• Game instructions
• Playing board
• Playing pieces
• Playing cards
• Dice
• Play money
• Time supply

The game is intended for

• Teachers from all disciplines and institutions
• Participants in standardization bodies
• Setters of company standards
• Anyone interested in standardization
• Start-up founders
• Start-up coaches
• Start-ups