An investigation of strategic decision making in Swedish and German companies based on Game Theory

Inhaltsangabe:Abstract:Game theory was established by the mathematician John von Neumann (1903 to 1957) and the economist Oskar von Morgenstern (1902 to 1977) who in 1944 published a - among game theorists - very well known work of literaturecalled Theory of Games and Economic Behavior. However in his book Spieltheorie und ökonomische (Bei)spiele Werner Güth regards game theorynot exclusively as an economic discipline although fundamental concepts of game theory have been inspired by economic questions and have been developed by economists.Regarding game theory there are numerous applications in the areas theoretical economy operations research statistical decision theory marketing politic and military science insurance mathematics sociology and psychology.Aim of the dissertation is to give a general overview on game theory and especially to answer the following questions by analysing the Swedish and German replies of the questionnaire:1. Do strategic deciders of large companies know about game theory and do they use it as a strategic tool?2. What is the percentage of managers who are able to give correct answerswhen they are confronted with certain game situations?3. Are there any links between the characteristics of the manager and theirability to give correct answers to the game situations?4. Is it possible to find any differences between German and Swedish managers regarding 12 and 3?The dissertation does not contain all parts of game theory. Only aspects the authors think to be the most important in connection with economy will be discussed.Inhaltsverzeichnis:Table of Contents:1.INTRODUCTION12.THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK22.1FUNDAMENTAL DEFINITIONS22.2ECONOMIC RELEVANCE32.3FORMAL REPRESENTATION OF GAMES42.4SOLUTION CONCEPTS122.5STRATEGIC MOVES262.6HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF GAME THEORY273.THE PRISONERS' DILEMMA (PD)313.1THE STORY313.2COOPERATION323.3THE REPEATED PD334.EXAMPLES FOR INTERESTING ECONOMIC GAMES384.1MARKET ENTRY GAME38