Get an accurate list of nominees in all the major categories--Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress are the most prominent categories. People can make educated guesses for these awards. Include other categories to make the pool more interesting. Best Foreign Film, Best Animated Film, Best Live Action Short and Best Animated Short are good categories to list.
Create a sheet that participants can use to vote. Make it easy by providing a box to check or direct people to circle their choice. Ballot clarity is key to any voting process.
Decide how much money you want to charge to enter the pool. Since wagering on the Academy Awards should be for entertainment purposes only, a small sum should suffice. It also encourages greater participation for a larger pool.
Publicize your Oscar pool. Co-workers can be notified by postings in company-approved areas or by word of mouth. When a pool is going to be part of your Oscar party, include that information on the invitation. Collect all of the ballots before the show is broadcast.
Watch the Oscars and keep careful track of the winners in the categories included in your ballot. Make a master sheet of the victorious artists.
Check all of the ballots against the master sheet to find the winner of your pool. Inform your winner and give him the prize. Make the victory more fun by having the winner give an acceptance speech.