I have completed such an exercise as you describe below. It was quite
a few years ago during a job interview (more like a marathon, actually)
with Michelin Tire at Granton, Nova Scotia, Canada.
The task I had to perform is more or less exactly as you described. Let
me add a few details to the particular instance I experienced. First,
the 'erector set' was actually quite large; the structure created was a
ten by ten foot cube, with only the framing members. I was given two
'helpers'. I was told only that they had been pulled from the factory
floor, but it became obvious very quickly that they had been carefully
briefed as to how to act.
My first helper did nothing unless I gave him very specific direction.
The second helper made several useful suggestions at key points. For
example, the timbers (imagine four-by-four's) were held together by pins
(bolts)
of two different lengths. I didn't notice this right away, and helper
number two pointed this out.
The other lesson that was immediate was that I had to participate in the
construction of the structure. Two people could not do it alone, because
at certain points one person had to hold while the other two lifted a
ten-foot piece of four-by-four into position.
I was put under considerable stress during this test. First, I was briefed
to imagine that the production line was broken, and every minute of down
time cost the company thousands of dollars. The structure had to be built
to get things running again. Also, I was given almost no other brief, except
a five(two?) minute look at the plan, which was taken away from me for the
actual
task. During the task, there was a panel of three people seated at tables
who kept saying things like 'hurry up' or 'it's taking too long'. Also, to
complete the test, I had to decide when it was completed correctly. The
completed structure was then inspected by one of the observers. In my case,
it was not correct, and all I was told was 'not finished'. At that point,
helper number two made another suggestion - that perhaps I should check the
different size pins to see whether they were in the correct place. One
was not, and after the switch the structure passed inspection.
After many years, I still remember this activity very well, and I still think
it was a great task. I had to:
- resist the pressure to rush from the observers
- direct people I didn't know very well
- discover their strengths and weaknesses
- learn to participate actively in an 'emergency' situation
- accept suggestions while under pressure
- do it right!
Not once did I think this task was stupid. I think that is because the
briefing
was well done, and I really discovered something about myself.
In contrast, during the same interview. I was given other basic
psychological tests
such as pattern construction and word association that I felt were really
stupid and irrelevant. I was also asked to provide a handwriting sample,
which (although it was
never said) I suspect was analyzed. My strong negative reaction to these
tasks was
probably a big factor in not getting an offer! :-) But to this day, I
remember the
erector set task and I still think that was a great experience.
The task should be:
- difficult enough that you have to ask for help
- but possible for almost anyone to achieve
- stressful, i.e. time limited
- well briefed
- should involve help from people unlike yourself (i.e. different crew
position,
or background)
I would highly recommend such a test as part of any CRM program. My only
suggestion
would be to try it out a few times before you do it in the classroom!
Ian Mack
Human Factors Engineer
DCIEM
Toronto, Canada
At 07:49 AM 8/20/98 EDT, you wrote:
>
>The recent request for team-building ideas by Sted Sponton triggered a memory
>of the past. I once remember hearing of a team-building exercise that might
>accomplish his objectives. The team is taken into one room and shown a
>picture of a completed assembly. This is something built from the building-
>block toys children use, such as "Lincoln Logs, Lego, Erector set, etc." The
>team is given a short amount of time to study the picture, and then moved
into
>another room which contains a table and the building-block toy set. They
must
>then construct the item in the picture. They do not have the picture to
refer
>to, so it's done by memory. As an additional stressor, the facilitator
turns
>on a music player, with loud and uncommon music. They also, of course,
have a
>time limit to complete the task.
> What I can't remember though, is how to motivate the students to take
>the task seriously. Many of the aviators today would just throw up their
>hands and say "BS", this doesn't mean anything.
> Has anyone ever done such an exercise? I'd like to try it someday.
>
>Greg Deen
>Raytheon
>
>