Effectuation Cards | English Game Instructions

These game instructions are supposed to give you a first idea of how to use the effectuation cards for yourselves and for your projects. You could use them to accompany idea development, starting a new venture or change processes. Or you use them to develop and reflect your own entrepreneurial mindset. Take the following instructions as inspiration and feel free to adapt them to your own objectives. If you develop new game ideas or exciting adaptations, send them to us, we will be happy to make them available to the effectuation community here.

Using the Effectuation Cards as a team

Please note: if you are already coming together as a team for regular meetings („jour fixes“, sprint retrospectives, etc.) you can simply introduce or integrate the Effectuation Cards there.

1. Develop Your Project With The Effectuation Cards

  • A gamemaster is named. They have to be able to moderate and to record the process. (Alternatively: 1 gamemaster, 1 recorder)
  • Decide within the team what joint project you want to develop. What “case for action” does exist?
  • Lay down the cards on the table in five stacks, sorted by color (each stack contains only cards from one category, briefly shuffle each stack of cards)
  • Now draw one card of each stack, stack by stack, the recommended order is:
    • CO-CREATE FUTURE
    • MEANS
    • AFFORDABLE LOSS
    • CONTINGENCIES
    • PARTNERSHIPS
  • Take a little time for each card (e.g. 15 minutes) to either directly complete the challenge or to simulate it with the team or to discuss it and decide who will be doing it and until when – depending on the type of challenge at hand.
  • Record the results and findings during the process.
  • During the next meeting the results and findings of the completed challenges are presented and reflected together: what can you learn from the challenge and adapt for your project?
  • This process can be repeated as often as you like, you simply begin drawing new cards after the reflection and so on and so forth …

2. Dynamically Shape The Effectuation Process (Variation of No. 1)

  • A gamemaster is named. They have to be able to moderate and to record the process. (Alternatively: 1 gamemaster, 1 recorder)
  • All cards are distributed equally among the team members.
  • You hold your cards with the face to you (as if you were playing poker) and carefully read them without talking about the challenges.
  • A random player starts with a card that especially speaks to them:
    • The card is placed openly in the middle, so everyone can read the challenge
    • The teams completes the challenge together: either directly complete the challenge or simulate it within the team or discuss it and decide who will be completing it and until when – depending on the type of challenge at hand.
    • Next, someone else (again randomly chosen) “plays” a new card that – in their opinion – fits well after the previous challenge
    • And so on and so forth … ideally you will co-create an entrepreneurial story together
  • The results and insights are recorded throughout the process

3. The 4-Weeks-Effectuation-Secret-Santa

  • Before the Advent season (or independent thereof) everyone in the team draws four cards each from the complete deck (secretly). 
  • During the Advent season every team member “gifts” another team member with one Effectuation Card and challenge per week.
  • You may also choose to draw names at random to ensure an „fair“ and even distribution of the challenges to all team members.
  • Every week, come together for a team reflection meeting to talk about the experiences made completing the challenge.

4. The Co-Worker-Challenge-Meeting

  • The whole team is sitting together at a table or in a circle
  • Taking turns, everyone draws three cards each from the (thoroughly shuffled) complete deck of cards
  • Each person may …
    • … put one card aside (sort it out)
    • … complete a challenge themselves
    • … “gift” one card to a co-worker 
  • Complete the challenges one after the other or simulate them within the team
  • At the end of the game or after the completion of the challenges you reflect both the process and the results. If challenges are to be completed only after the meeting, set a date for reflection. Incomplete or „failed“ challenges and the reasons why may be subject of the reflection as well.

Using the Effectuation Cards by yourself

Note: Take yourself some time on a regular basis to make use of the Effectuation Cards, set fixed dates in your calendar.

1. One Day – One Challenge

  • Draw one card each day from the five categories, one after another (randomly or in the recommended order: CO-CREATE FUTURE, MEANS, AFFORDABLE LOSS, CONTINGENCIES, PARTNERSHIPS).
  • Start to complete each challenge as quickly as possible.
  • Reflect the results and findings at least once a week. Think about what you learned and if you should adapt your specific projects based on your new insights. Maybe you have a coach or mentor or sparringpartner you can share your experiences with?

2. Focus And Connection

  • Shuffle all cards thoroughly.
  • Draw a few card (e.g. five) from the deck and read them all.
  • Try to connect the cards with each other and try to connect as many of the drawn challenges as possible to complete them together or in a useful order.