ACS - 2nd Advance Manual Project #5: The Judges' Dilemma: Game Theory Application

Note:

• Similar to what I have done while working ACB, I started three Advance Manuals at the same time; two intended for ACS and the other for ACG.   
• The reason why I opted to start multiple manuals is to break the monotony of working on a single manual. 
• This is my graduation speech for the Educational Award of Advance Communicator Silver

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Advance Manual : 226-B  Speaking to Inform
Project # 5    : The Abstract Concept
Title          : The Judges' Dilemma:  Game Theory Application
Delivered at   : PICPA Riyadh Toastmasters Club
Evaluated by   : ACB/ALB John Erick Tapales
Target Norm    : Advance Communicator Silver

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<<Slide 1>>

Few days ago, I attended a competition here in Riyadh.   Like any competition that I’ve been, the fight was fierce, emotional, and full of color!   When the winners were announced, mixed reactions echoed in the floor.  Some booed saying the judging was bias… while others silently agreed that the judging was fair. 

Good evening, fellow Toastmasters.  Guests, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to PRTC! 

While all of this things were happenings, I was there in a corner smiling.  The situation reminds me of a game theory application called the Judges’ Dilemma.  You may ask, what is this theory all about and what is its impact to human behavior?

<<Slide 2>>

John Von Neumann established the Game Theory in his book “Theory of Games and Economic Behavior”.  This field of applied mathematics became essential in predicting behavioral response in the field of social science, economics, biology and more importantly military applications.    Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher noted a fundamental problem “why two people of set of people may not cooperate even if it is far more beneficial if they do cooperate”?  Albert William Tucker formalized the problem statement as the Prisoner’s Dilemma.

In 2010, TM Nathan, renamed it as Judges’ Dilemma.  Seriously, TM Nathan just renamed it.  All the principles and concepts belongs to the mathematicians, not that handsome cute guy over there.  

<<Slide 3>>

To illustrate what is the Judge’s Dilemma, allow me to quantify the statement.

Say we have two judges – A and B.  They are given two choice:  Fair Judging and Bias Judging.  The possible decisions would yield with the following results:

• If judge A chooses Bias and judge B chooses Fair  = judge A gets a trophy, while judge B gets nothing

• If judge B chooses Bias and judge A chooses Fair  = judge B gets a trophy, while judge A gets nothing

• If both judges chooses Bias, both of them get nothing

• If both judges chooses Fair, both of them receives a ribbon

If you are a judge, what will be your decision?  Let’s take a look.

<<Slide 4>>

Assuming you play this only for one time – single game.  

Obviously, with the given, the best choice would be to play Fair – that is, both of the judges gets a reward.   The payoff may not be greater, but the salient implication is … both judges will be happy!  Is it?  Well, that is the theory!

However, in real life, experiments shows that human has 40% tendency to maximize his/her benefit regardless of what the other would choose.  Hence, in this single game, the rational choice is to choose Bias!  Is this statement familiar: “I’m better off with both of us ending nothing, than you having everything”?  

<<Slide 5>>

For multiple games, the strategy changes dramatically, particularly, if the number of games played is unknown.  What is the best choice?  Bias all the time.  

Allow me to illustrate.  Let say Judge A chooses to stay Bias all the time.  If in game 1, Judge B chooses Bias, both of them gets nothing.   If along the way, Judge B made a mistake of choosing Fair, Judge A will have a reward.  Assuming both judges stayed Bias, Judge A already wins.  Greedy, isn’t it?  

 Theoretically, that is the juxtaposition of best possibilities.

<<Slide 6>>

In real life, however, staying Bias rarely exist.   Even in the harshest competition, the participant, being a rational being, considers the following decision making factors:

• Previous decision

Is this the first time? Does he/she does this all the time?

• Negotiation

You talk to the opponent and try to achieve common ground

• Level of Trust

Confidence that your opponent will honor the negotiation

• Big Brother

Is there someone who can force the players to choose a particular option

<<Slide 7>>

Using these four factors, you strategize your play as follows 

• Nice

You play FAIR. 

When your opponent plays BIAS, your decision strategy will be:  Revenge and Forgive.

• ·Revenge

Revenge is an action that retaliates to the defection done.  In our case, Judge A will now decide to be Bias, until Judge A retort back to nice or Fair.   If the both judges continues to choose Bias, the game became useless and the little gain that Judge B achieved becomes insignificant.

• Forgive

During negotiation, a player may forgive the opponent depending on the gravity of the defection.   Possible, it was unintentional, miscommunication, or lapse of judgment… all of which can be forgiven as long the offending player promise not to repeat the defection.

• Non-envious

The player chooses to be nice all the time.   This is considered a weak strategy because he/she can be manipulated by the other player and is particularly dangerous during multiple players games.  One may choose to lose so one particular player get undue advantage.

<<Slide 8>>

Just a quick look.  This is a simulation of multiple games showing several playing strategies.  The game matures with Nice strategy adopted by both players.

<<Slide 9>>

You may ask:  With all this analysis of Judges’ Dilemma, is it applicable to the TM competition?  Certainly!

• Is TM competition a multiple n-games scenario?

We just concluded our 9^th annual competition, and certainly there are more competition to come… perhaps even after our lifetime.

• What is our Rational Choice when selected to participate as judge?

Choose Fair!   

• What if they other judges are bias?

Strategize!

o   Negotiate and inform the offending judge about the Bias choice, then forgive

o   If offense is continued, use “Big Brother”, then forgive

o   Continue to Nice Strategy

• Who is our “Big Brother”?

Chief Judge, Club Officers, Area Officers, Division Officers, District Officers, TI Officers

In parting my fellow Toastmasters, next time we participate in any competition check if this is a single game or multiple game event.  If this is a single game, then expect biases or unfair competition.  If this is a multiple game event, then be glad!   Even if there are biases, unfair competition during your time,  the players will mature eventually as the games progresses.  

TM competition?  It is fair.  This is proven in science and not a wishful thinking.

Back to you evening master

ACG - 1st Advance Manual Project #2: Donatello & Donot-tell-you

Advance Manual : 226-A The Entertaining Speaker

Project # 2    : Resources for Entertainment

Title          : Donatello & Do-not-tell-you

Delivered at   : ToC Speechcraft Batch 3

Evaluated by   : ACB/ALB Jayanta Kumar Mog

Target Norm    : Advance Communicator Gold

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Note:

• I lost the original script for this prepared speech.
• This speech was delivered twice
• First, during the Ma'asalamah party of the Area 1 governor
• Second, as a demonstration of a prepared speech during the third batch of Toast of Comsofil Speech craft.
• Below is the close approximation on the outline of the speech

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Introduction 

• Ask audience if they are familiar with the famous Sculpture Donatello
• Brief hint of who is donatello - not the ninja turtle
• "Did you know"... another famous sculpture donot-tell-you
• Greet audience

Body 

• Profile of Donatello
• Italian sculpture, known in the medieval times, and he is famous
• Describe his style of sculpture - 
• starts from the top towards the base/foundation
• face first, make it perfect then move to the body
• this became the standard 
• all other styles were gauge base on Donatello works
• Finish product is perfect

• Profile of Donot-tell-you
• Italian sculpture, works in remote area, virtually unknown
• Describe his style of sculpture
• starts from the bottom towards the top
• he argues that he wants to make sure foundation is solid before proceeding
• his style was different and generally not accepted
• Finish product is also perfect

• Comparison of finish products
• similar with almost no difference
• both achieves their purpose

• Toastmasters and individual styles
• Indians do it differently
• Focus on form, delivery, and structure
• Positive feedback is highly encourage
• More encouraging
• Filipinos does it different
• Focus on message and content
• Constructive strong feedback is encourage
• Less on positive - argues that the speakers will not grow on this
• More on recommendation - argues that these are something that the speaker can benefit and can grow on
• Finish product of both styles are same - perfect Toastmasters 

Closing

• Lessons learned
• Filipinos should not seek their own style among Indians, vis-a-vis
• Adapt to the style of club, area, or culture
• Arabs may need improvement on the command in language, but they are rich on ideas, confidence, etc
  
• Read or understand beyond the black-and-white 
• Try to fill yourself in their shoes
• Leadership should be the bridge not the walls
• Expose their clubs to others
• Cross-membership (dual membership) with other nationalities
  
• Pick up and learn from different clubs
  
• We are here to learn, help and encourage each other, and provide a stage for improvement
• Competition is not the main aspect of Toastmastering, growth is!

ACS - 2nd Advance Manual Project #4: IT Service Continuity Management

Advance Manual : 226-B  Speaking to Inform
Project # 4    : A Fact Finding Report
Title          : IT Service Continuity Management
Delivered at   : Toast of Comsofil
Evaluated by   : CC/CL Benjie Cabaya
Target Norm    : Advance Communicator Silver

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Note:  

*  These speech was delivered impromptu, hence there was no prepared speech script

*  Use the slides below to follow the context of the presentation.
*  The speaker use these slides during his technical report at his workplace (office)

*  All data, person, organization mentioned in the presentation were changed due to confidentiality


<< Prologue: ask the Toastmaster of the Day to read the prologue script before starting>>

Setting where the speech will be delivered:

The speech will be delivered during the CRB Meeting – a weekly meeting for approval of project proposals, budget allocation, and change request approval.

Background of the Target Audience:

The CRB or Change Request Board is composed of decision makers from the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Finance, and the Counsel of Ministries.   

Please note that all attendees of the briefing have the minimum technical knowledge and prior background of the subject/ project to be presented.   Only the department involve in the project are allowed to attend the briefing.

Perspective of the Presenter:

The speaker will be presenting a fact-finding report of a committee on the Disaster Recovery Status on the Kingdom’s IT Infrastructure.

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<< Actual speech/report starts here>>

ACS - 1st Advance Manual Project #4: Our Champions

Advance Manual : 226-N Special Occasion Speeches
Project # 4    : Presenting an Award
Title          : Our Champions
Delivered at   : Toast of Comsofil Toastmasters Club
Evaluated by   : ACG/CL Enrico Abad
Target Norm    : Advance Communicator Silver

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Fellow Toastmasters, visitors, ladies and gentlemen good evening!

For the past nine years, ToC have been producing leaders and good speakers that serve as the pillars of our mother club – COMSOFIL – such as TM Buddy, TM Romwald, TM Rico who has served or currently serving as president. We also have members who excel in their workplaces, they became successful – our beloved Pres TM Jas is one, and we have some who are now the reward of their labor in other countries – remember TM Angelo?

ToC has also produces good speakers whom I could say conquered their fears in public speaking. Before, asking them to take the control of the lectern was challenge… now, asking them to stop and sit down need a lift truck and a police squad. Right, TM Benjie? Just kidding.

To honor our achievers, we showered them with accolades, plaques, and trophies. However, I personally felt that this is not enough. After all the thunderous applause, their accomplishments are easily forgotten. Hence, as your parliamentarian, I am proposing that we shall create a special award that will be granted annually. The award shall be the highest honor that any ToCian may receive. We shall call this award as the Toastmaster of the Year Award.

Let me ask you fellow ToCians… do we need to wait for a year to grant this award to our deserving ToC members? Of course not!

In this juncture, agree with me that we can grant an honorary Toastmaster of the Year awards to:

He once serve as president of the Club, he competed and gave pride to ToC in the Area, he provided the much needed inspiration and guidance to new members, the current president of Comsofil, please welcome ACG/CL Buddy Salvador.

He also served as president of the club, was once the president of Comsofil, former area governor, a leader and a good member, ACG/CL Romwald Miranda.

The next recipient is a very good friend of mine, and like me, he is also handsome and charming. He was a regular guest of Toast of Comsofil during the middle of 2008 and he loves to attend meetings not only because of the sumptuous pansit and abundant softdrinks the club offers every after meeting, but more importantly he decided join the club as dual member when he realize that this club has something that he was looking for – the heart and the spirit of family!

He made his impact to the club by bringing in his natural talent in speaking, his cleaver and helpful evaluation, and wacky carabao-jokes that made everyone at ease. He also introduce changes on the meeting procedures such as the silent evaluation of the meeting leaders, timing of major segment hosts, and standardization of scripts and spiels for the meeting participants.

He brought the first ever championship trophy to the club when he almost bring the house in the recently concluded Area 1 humorous contest.

Three times a bridesmaid, a year of waiting, and finally he became a beautiful bride beaming with smiles and yes, with an HIV positive aura!

Ladies and gentlemen please welcome our 1^st ToC-produced, Area 1 Humorous champion, ACB/ALB Ruel D. Ontiveros.


Wait for the recipient and award the trophy

ACG - 1st Advance Manual Project #1: Lying, Cheating and Forgiving

Advance Manual : 226-A The Entertaining Speaker

Project # 1    : The Entertaining Speaker

Title          : Lying, Cheating and Forgiving

Delivered at   : PICPA Riyadh Toastmasters Club

Evaluated by   : ATG/CL Rufino "Ron" Jacobe Jr.

Target Norm    : Advance Communicator Gold

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“I am sorry, it was a lapse of judgment on my part”.  “I will not call Garci again… err… I meant I will not call Gracie again”.  “That is a promise and I will not lie”!     

Let me guess, you thought I was talking about the statement of a known President, aren’t you?   Yes you are right, it was a statement of a president!  But it didn’t come from a president of a republic, instead, it comes from an immediate past president of a club.

Fellow Toastmasters, ladies and gentlemen, good evening!

I grow up in a military camp with a father who enforces military discipline among us – my siblings!  I never like routine!  For me, it was a cage that restricted my creative freedom.  One time, he asked me to watch and take care of our chicken farm.  With a sunny day and cool breeze kissing my cheeks, it didn’t take a minute to make me fall asleep… while sitting on a chair.   Several minutes later, I heard a loud “uhum” and when I open up my eyes I saw my father feet right in front of me.   I immediately take a sign of the cross and said, “I was praying, don’t disturb me”.   I lied, and I get away with it.  

Years later in the corporate life, I served as the information analyst of Roberto Ongpin. We got deeply involved with the stocks trading of Best World Resources and I saw the “dirty hands” of stock manipulation.  “This is cheating”, I warned my boss.  Smiling , my boss sent us to Tagaytay highlands for a retreat and was “entertained” with beautiful models… of what I called that time... the World’s Best Resources.  When the BW stock plunged eight months later, my boss got away with millions of profit.  I went to Singapore with a new lease of life… thinking we got away with cheating.

In Singapore, I pick up photography as a hobby. Not long enough, two famous magazine hired me as an apprentice photographer – FHM and Maxim Singapore.   The fee was a measly $50 per session but the rewards was great.  I got the privilege to see up close and personal some known personalities like Fiona Xie, Ase Wang, Vanessa Mae, and Filipinos like Diana Zubiri and Alec Bovic.   More than that, I established a name and soon enough, models would just come to my studio for a photo sessions.  

When my wife moved to Singapore, she was very much surprised to learn that I converted our flat as my Studio.  She discovered heaps of bikinis, ladies wear, make ups, and girls accessories… and this made her mad.  So she started digging onto my telephone bills, letters and emails and found one particular number whom she traces to one of my favorite model named Gracie Estakbianan.  

My wife was so displeased, she never talk to me for over a week.  I tried to explain that all we have was professional relation and there was nothing romantic. But she didn’t believe.  She thought that I was lying and I was cheating on her.  She was so upset that one time, she threatened to jump in the window. 

I was afraid and I remember me saying “I am sorry, it was a lapse of judgment on my part”.  “I will not call Gracie again”.  “That is a promise and I will not lie”!   “If you don’t believe, let’s jump together”.

She looked at me sharply and said “Hah! You go first”. “If you survive, then you’re not lying”. Oh by the way, we were living on the ground floor!   

Fellow Toastmasters, my wife didn’t believe me because I was  living in world of lying and cheating.  Only with a heartfelt admission that I was once a part of that sinful world, that she gave me the greatest gift I could ever wanted – forgiveness.   My loving wife gave me a chance to change, to revert from my ways and be a good boy again.

I went to Saudi Arabia to take my sabbatical away from that glittering world.  Mommy and my kids followed later and we are now spending our happy lives with good friends from PRTC.   

I am sharing this personal story of lying and cheating because I want to you see that we are all human and we all make mistakes.  I am sharing you the message of forgiveness because after all the failing that we make, there is always a chance for us to change.  

<<back to you evening master>>

Contest Piece International - 2010: Is That All There Is?

Piece for International Speech Contest
Program Year   : PY 2009-2010

Title          : Is That All There Is?

Delivered at   : Area 1 Contest held at Siteen Place Hotel

Evaluated by   : ACB/ALB Roi Ontiveros

Target Norm    : - not yet identified - 

Note:  

• The original version of this speech was delivered last Feb 24, 2009 where he won 1st place in the Club Level Competition at PICPA Riyadh Toastmasters Club. The original version was posted in CC Project #9: Is That It?
• This is the revised version and was used to represent Toast of Comsofil in the Area 1 Contest held at the Siteen Palace Hotel.
• The speaker won 2nd place behind TM Sankayan Aier of Riyadh Toastmasters Club

     *     *     *     *     *     *

I remember…  when I was a little boy, life was difficult.   I watch the world burn in flames as the rages of war destroyed everything we have.    Poverty was the landscape of the land, and running for our survival, it was the staple food for everyone.

Then I asked my father, “Is that all there is to life… pain, suffering and hunger?”

Fellow Toastmasters, honorable judges, ladies and gentlemen good evening! 

<< the speaker will wear Trousers>>

My ever wise father just looks at me in the eyes and said: “You came to this world naked and with nothing.  Here, wear this trouser to cover your bareness. Cover yourself with experience, knowledge, and wisdom because one day you have to stand on your own. You must understand what it is to be right and what it is to be wrong.”

Like what a good son does, I followed my father’s advice.  I filled my life with best education available, and  I completed studies mostly on grants and scholarships. 

Then, I fell in love.    I was head over heels in love with this beautiful girl. She’s the most wonderful thing in my eyes, but then she turned me down.  I thought, I would die, but I didn’t.    Then I asked my father, “Is that all there is to love!  No one will love me because I looked like you?”

<< the speaker will wear a Shirt>>

My father just smiled and said:  “Now you that opened up your heart, here, wear this shirt”.  “Cover your soft spot and be ready to face the realities of life”.  “Always remember: be graceful in failure and be humble in victory”

I took a stride in the journey of men.  There I saw the foolishness of mankind.  But I also witness with the amazing power and strength of the human spirit.  The will to survive, the will to succeed!  These experiences made me strong, and more importantly, it made me a better man.

At age 21 and with two college degrees in my hands, I asked my father. “This is that all there to school?  Can I start my life now and go?”

<< the speaker will wear Shoes>>

My proud father cried and said “Yes, you can.  Wear these shoes; go… find your life somewhere. Make me proud and don’t come back!”

Indeed, I move to different places and different countries.  I meet people, meet friends, and meet enemies as well. I pick up valuable lessons along the way: skills, talent and knowledge that made me smarter.  I also pick up fashion to help me look better.    With hard work and persistence, I eventually end up brushing elbows with the gods in the corporate life.  

But just when I thought things are going smooth, I realized something was missing. Corporate responsibility was too heavy for me.  I can take the load of work, that was easy.  But not politics, intrigues and mudslinging – that was impossible.

I cried!  I want to give up.  It could have easier if my father was just alive.  All I do was ask for his wisdom.  I was 30 then, and there was no one else but that little boy in the mirror who told me:  “That that all you got? You will quit after all the training your father gave you?”

<< the speaker will wear Coat>>

I paused and told myself: “No!  I will stand up.  I Will take this coat to cover my true self, my principles and my family”

My life changed after that!  Intrigues are still there, politics still lingers, and responsibility still weights on me.  But I learned how to go home to my family without the burden of work.  Like a coat, I can put on my public life when I am outside in the world, and take it off when I am facing my family.

<< the speaker will wear a Pin>>

Ten years later, I thought … “Is that all there is to my journey?  Have I reached my peak?  Should I just save enough money and wait for retirement”?

Then someone answered … “You can listen better, you think better, you can speak better, and you will learn more by doing... the Toastmasters’ way.” 

That is why, fellow Toastmasters, I am here.  I am standing in front of you.   I am here to learn… one more time.  You will not fail me, I am sure.   You will guide me how to inspire others with my speeches.  You will help me grow to be a good leader so I can lead better.

Now let me ask you Toastmasters, “You will help me be a true Toastmaster?”

Back to you contest master!