130217P - TEAM BUILDING GAME (STUDENTS)

Program for Year 3 Medical Students at the Faculty of Medicine King Fahad Medical City Riyadh on 17^th February 2013 by Professor Omar Hasan Kasule

GENERAL GUIDELINES

(to be distributed 20 minutes before start of task planning)

OBJECTIVE

1. The objective of this game is to put into practice principles of effective team-work. 

2. Each team will have the task of making a strategy and an action plan that will enable fulfilling defined practical tasks. Success in the game will depend on good and effective team work.

EVALUATION

1. Each team will be given a score on each of 2 assessment areas (a) process evaluation (team or group dynamics) (b) outcome evaluation (successful completion of the task within the allocated time). Judges will stay with the team during planning and also during task execution. They will award scores to the team using score sheets.

2. Scores of the teams will be totaled up and displayed at the end of the game. The criteria used will be distributed and will be discussed by all participants with Professor OHK moderating the discussions. An attempt will be made to summarize lessons on team work that will have been learned.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLAYERS

1. You will be divided into several teams each consisting of 5-10 persons. Team allocations will be entirely random and you will have no say on the allocation process.

2. Each team will have to carry out two tasks. The first task will be carried out simultaneously by all the teams. The second task will be carried out by each team one at a time while the others watch or even create confusion.

3. Each team will be given a maximum of 10 minutes to meet as a team and plan its strategy for each task. During the planning stage, the team will be allowed to practice the task. They however will not be allowed to talk to members of the opposing teams or even to eavesdrop on their discussions.

4. Each team will be given a maximum of 15 minutes to accomplish the task. One score point will be deducted for each minute of delay beyond this time limit.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLAYERS

(To be distributed 10 minutes before start of the game planning session)

TASK #1

1. The team will have the task of building (a) paper (s) columns that can support the given object for 30 seconds without falling down. Only materials supplied by the game organizers will be used for this task.

2. The aim of the team should be building the tallest column possible. The team will score 3 points for each centimeter of column height. These score points will be applied if the column is able to withstand the load without collapsing for 30 seconds or more. If the column collapses within 30 seconds the team will score a zero for task completion.

TASK #2

1. The task will be in 2 versions depending on outdoor weather. (a) If outdoor weather is not favorable, the team will have the task of guiding a blind-folded member to push a wheel-chair with another team member seated from one point to another while avoiding obstacles on the way. (b) If outdoor weather is favorable the team will have the task of guiding a blindfolded member to walk and plant a flag in a square a distance away. The team will be awarded 20 score points for successful completion of the task. Hitting or touching an obstacle however light will lead to deduction of one score point.

2. The team member seated on the wheel chair will not be allowed to speak except to say STOP in case of imminent danger.

3. Team members will have to devise a communication system to guide the pusher of the wheel chair. All communication must be in dictionary English. The terms ‘turn left’ and ‘turn right’ will not be allowed. A point will be deducted for each violation of the above language restrictions.

4. Team members will not be allowed to touch the pusher of the wheel chair or get too close in an attempt to guide him/her physically. Each violation of this rule will result in deduction of one score point.

5. Members of other teams in the competition will be allowed to follow the wheel chair and to communicate in any way they like including confusing the pusher of the wheel chair. They however will not be allowed to make any physical contact.

CRITERIA FOR TEAM MATURITY AND EFFECTIVENESS

(distributed after the game)

I. MATURITY OF THE GROUP:

Giving and accepting feedback

Democratic decision making

Group cohesion

Flexibility of members

Use of all member resources

Members feel free to disagree

Everyone is free to express an opinion

Humor is the norm

Communication is effective

Group sets clear strategies and goals

Interdependence Among members

Shared participation and not dictatorship

Listening to and considering minority views

II. GROUP EFFECTIVENESS:

Productivity

Positive handling of complaints

Positive conflict resolution

Commitment to goals

Action-orientation

Dealing with apathy of some members

Encouraging creativity and innovation

Competence of team managers/leaders

Effectiveness of meetings and discussions

Effective communication

Trust among team members

Making sure decisions are understood by all

Feeling good as a team member

Principled behavior