After the exercise is completed we debrief the class on what took place. The
group that comes up with a plan on how they will manage the operation, and who
assign a group leader usually come closer to what the structure should look
like.
A time limit is given, because in a real emergency time is critical. The
purpose of prohibiting the uses of the hands and body language is to illustrate
the physical barriers to communication when you are left to focus on the spoken
word. It also illustrate workload management and how preparation can lead to
better decision-making. The need to recognize that a group accomplish much more
when each team-member knows and understand their task, leader or follower.
Arnetha J. Schatz
817-963-5566
>>> <CRMDEEN_at_aol.com> 08/20/98 05:49am >>>
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