This exercise simulates the pressures of the working environment by giving teams a battery of non- work related tasks which they need to complete in a fixed time period. The tasks vary in the skill they demand, the number of team members required, the time requirement, and the degree of planning needed.  This means that team organisation is crucial to success.

The exercise is designed for teams of up to 10 members each and where materials are provided there are sufficient for three teams.

The activity is flexible in duration and can last anything from 2-8 hours depending on the tasks selected.

Objective

The exercise will help the tutor run a team building event where the 'learning' required may be formal or informal.

The game can be used as part of an informal 'away day' exercise to reward staff for performance with a secondary team-building element.  It can also be used in more formal circumstances, when it can be supported by more structured introductory and de-briefing sessions.

How it works

Before the event the tutor must select from the tasks suggested the ones which are most suitable for the event. The selection will be affected by the environment (indoors or outdoors), the time allowance, the budget and the culture of the organisation. 

Once the tasks have been selected the tutor will need to plan the timings, some events can be undertaken by the team at any time while others may require a 'head-to-head' contest at a specified time. The necessary materials will need to be assembled and a score board prepared.

On the day the tutor introduces the game and explains that the objective of each team is to use their resources to obtain the maximum points score possible. The teams are given the selection of tasks and told when and where the scheduled events will take place.  At regular intervals the tutor judges tasks submitted by the teams and up-dates a central score chart.

When the game is over the tutor can initiate a discussion examining the performance of the team and the 'lessons learnt'.

What participants will be doing

In teams, assessing the nature of the tasks provided in order to match team members to the most suitable tasks and so maximise the points earned for the team.  Individually or in groups carrying out these tasks.

For what levels is it appropriate?

The game format is totally flexible, and menus can be constructed to suit all levels.

Included

Tutor manual; Instruction sheets; Table top artefacts and tokens.

Consultancy version

The consultancy version allows the client to pick exercises both from the package and our extensive library of non-packaged tasks. These will then be packaged together and the event run by a member of Elgood Effective Learning. The final cost will depend on the tasks chosen (additional materials may need to be purchased or hired) and the number of participants (more than one tutor may be required).