Week 3: Money Matters

Before playing another round of Pandemic, our team members sat together to write down specific strategies, roles we've selected, and the reasons for our choice. The game was a smooth win, since we looked at our written notes while playing. After the game, we reflected on the strategies, and the characteristics of leaders and managers. Our instructor then gave us a price list that we are required to follow, for our next game. 

The total budget for the game is QR950,000. We have a chance to get an extra QR25,000 for each additional Epidemic card. This is quite tempting, but it reminds me of those leaders that try to justify collateral damage, saying it was necessary for the 'greater good'. Or maybe I am just overthinking. 

Our obvious costs would include QR320,000 (to cure all diseases), QR300,000 (to hire Scientist, Researcher, Medic, and Quarantine Specialist), and QR150,000 (to build at least three Research Stations). This adds up to QR770,000, leaving us with QR180,000 to use for shuttle flights, direct flights, treating diseases, and sharing knowledge.

We can minimise costs by driving or using the ferry whenever possible, and by using direct flights only when absolutely necessary. We'll use shuttle flights, and avoid using charter flights. If this sounds confusing, you can find the difference between the flights here.

We've to keep in mind that curing diseases can cost more than the above-mentioned amount, since we've seen team members other than the Scientist, end up curing diseases in most of the previous games. We also need a team member with a calculator, to act as an accountant, to keep track of the expenditure.

Interestingly, this news article talks about how the WHO spent more on travel, than to combat diseases, in 2016. According to the article,

"The UN allocates an annual budget of $2bn for the WHO. In 2016, the agency spent $200m on travel [...]. In comparison, the report said, WHO spent about $71m on AIDS and hepatitis last year. On malaria, it spent $61m, and to slow tuberculosis, it invested $59m".

It turns out that the staff members were breaking rules by booking business class plane tickets and five-star hotel rooms. We need to be careful to not do the same when playing our game!