[a4isms]

Game theory does not say this is the case in every game, only in certain games like Prisoner's Dilemma.

The fact about reality is that there are lots of games, and if you choose a game which is zero-sum or even negative-sum, it's easy to say "This is just how the universe works." But nevertheless, that may only be true locally. If you go somewhere else, you may find that there is a game which is positive-sum.

It may not be a big game, it may not be the most popular or prevalent game, but what do you care? Each of us only needs to find one thing that works for us.

If you like zero-sum games, great, play them. But it's a choice, it's not forced upon us by the universe.

[trinovantes]

In the context of OP's question, most things in businesses/products/leadership are zero sum as they need to compete against finite resources and time

[a4isms]

I don't follow that reasoning at all.

For example, in many businesses there's an "ecosystem." Within the ecosystem, companies are actually "frenemies," because while they're ostensibly competing, the more value is available in the ecosystem, the more it grows, creating more opportunities for everyone in the ecosystem..

I lived through the evolution of the personal computer ecosystem literally from the Altair to now, I've watched it in action. Ecosystems have both zero-sum and positive-sum characteristics. Mac versus Windows was a death-match, but being an ISV within the Mac ecosystem was very much a positive-sum game.

When I was selling my Mac classified ad software, I could have thought of every other vendor as a competitor for my customers' fixed budgets. But if I saw a problem and recommended some other software that solved it, they got more value out of their automation and would end up spending more money on me. Where as if they didn't get enough value out of their Macs, they would switch to WIndows and I'd have had to port my app to continue to serve them.

The same thing is true of working in a company. Yes, you're kind of competing with your colleagues, but at the same time, cooperating with your colleagues makes everyone money. So working as an employee has both zero-sum and positive-sum characteristics.

Maybe I misunderstand your claim, but as I interpret what you've written, I feel it doesn't match my observation. I really do think there are lots and lots and lots of things that are positive sum games in business.

Come to think of it, this web site is one of them too.