Territorial Games: Understanding and Ending Turf Wars at Work

Easy to read. Provided son with copy likewise. Good gift to those entering workforce as well as seasoned employees. Recommend

Territorial Games is about destructive games people play in office environments, office politics. The book pretends destructive office behavior are games and can be described as such. The author goes on to describe ten common patterns of destructive office behavior -- games -- and then gives some suggestions on how you can deal or cope with it.The book consists of three parts: (1) Understanding the impulse behind territorial behavior, (2) ten territorial games, and (3) ending turf wars. The first part consists of three chapters that explore what territorial games are and why people play them. The book explores whether territorial games have their origin in basic territorial behavior as human beings. It defined territorial games and shares how they are usually destructive for organizations.The second part describes ten territorial games. For most people who have worked in a large organization these will be familiar. Many can probably recognize the patterns purely based upon the name. The names given to the games are: (1) the occupation game, (2) the information manipulation game, (3) the intimidation game, (4) the powerful alliances game, (5) the invisible wall game, (6) the strategic noncompliance game, (7) the discredit game, (8) the shunning game, (9) the camouflage game, (10) the filibuster game. Each game has a few chapters describing it together with some anecdotes from people who were involved in them. The part ends with a chapter called "serious sabotage" whereThe third part is the change part. How can we do something about it? Perhaps the most important advice is to expand the territory so that everyone within the company is within the same territory. That way, the natural territorial behavior can be used positively for the organization. Also, this part explores building new maps and to replace the negative, destructive games with positive ones that support the people and the organization.I felt the book was ok. The games were recognizable and well described. They gave an "ah, I've seen that before" feeling but unfortunately rarely an "ah that is what I should have done" feeling. Looking at the behavior as games and giving them names was kind-of useful though, it makes it easier to talk about them. The advice on what to do about them was sound and not groundbreaking. It often stayed relatively abstract.All in all, a good book on territorial behavior in organizations or office politics, yet not a book that wow-ed me. If you are interested in the subject then this is worth reading. 3 stars.

Simmons provides "names" for this evolutionary adaptation of behavior that we experience everyday such as the strategic noncompliance game, the occupation game, the camouflage game and the intimidation game. Territorial Games defines how behavior in the workplace is driven from physiological, survival instincts that over-power rational thinking. With humor and insight, Simmons reviews the emotions involved in protecting "territory" in today's organizations. The 10 games are reviewed using real-life, painful and funny examples of business situations. The book will aid you in spotting the behavior in others, because "of course you don't do this." Well, you can check that using the self-tests provided for each game.Simmons' practical approach does not suggest that the games will go away. She does suggest that you can understand them better, develop better ways to deal with the games and begin playing more constructive games. Recommended for everyone who has ever felt like they were in a sporting competition, on a battlefield, or playing survivor in the workplace. It certainly provided me with a renewed clarity about law firm dynamics. You are sure to have a laugh reading and recognizing yourself and others. More importantly, this can be a new lens to understanding behavior in the workplace.

It is true that the author makes a point to declare beforehand that this is not an academical book on the subject. It contains a useful list of all the tactics people can use to defend their territory, so from this point of view it is one of the very few books on the subject of office politics focusing on strategy.I found it kind of difficult to finish reading because of lengthy repetition and filling sometimes.Overall useful to have a complete view of tactics but I do not see have I can use any advice from it.

Book brings a very good perspective on how people play games and dirty tricks in the work environment.

The book is very old and provides anecdotal advice on various scenarios, nothing much.