Game Changer

"Changing the game" is tough. Some of you will have the chance to attempt the equivalent at some point in your careers. Simulating this type of experience via Billy Beane's story is a chance to reflect on the blend of "art" and "science" required to solve the intractable challenge's you may come up against.


Use internet research and class discussion to answer the following questions.


1) What was the “Moneyball”approach that Billy Beane and Peter Brandt applied to the Oakland Athletics 2002 season? Was it an “art” or a “science”? What single statistic did they boil their value consideration down to? (In class research/discussion)


2) What is the equation used to calculate OBP? (In class research/discussion)

3) What is design? (In class research/discussion)

4) Describe 3 situations where movie characters (intentionally or not) applied a step from the PLTW 12 Step Design Process. Explain both the (a) situation as well as (b) how the step is relevant:
1 -

2 -

3 -


5) What is “Leadership”? List the three aspects of leadership that we come up with in class. (In class research/discussion)

1 -
2 -
3 -


6) Describe 3 circumstances from the story where a character exercised effective leadership:
1 -

2 -

3 -



7) According to the movie, what was the A’s record at the start of their winning streak? ___ : ___

8) What does this ratio simplify to (roughly)? ___ : 1

9) How long was the A’s record setting winning streak? ___ games won.

10) Given the A’s win/loss ratio at the start of the streak (listed two questions above), what are the odds of winning 20 games in a row? Run the numbers. (In class research/discussion)


11) Based on your calculation, do you think the A’s got lucky or was there something to the Moneyball approach?


12) Did Billy Beane strictly apply the “science” of Moneyball to his management approach? Was there an “art” to his efforts as well? Describe a circumstance where he broke from the Moneyball approach to make a positive change for the team.






Bonus Question (look into this if you’ve finished ahead of the class):
Money Ball was originally a book. What author wrote the book? What other books has this author written? Is there a theme to his writing?


It's "Oscar Season", will Moneyball win the Oscar for any of the categories it's up for?