Management Games and Icebreakers: Conflict Resolution

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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Don't Break Your Egg

This is yet another fun-filled and effective game if administered well will establish you as an ace workshop/seminar leader. The game is highly participative. It can also prove to be a great energizer. And so, its a great candidate for your afternoon sessions.

The game is most apt for sessions on team building, teamwork, synergy, creativity, strategy management, intragroup communication, conflict management, consensus building, motivation, leadership/followership etc.

Divide the participants of your training workshop so that each group can have around 5 to 7 persons. Use the random grouping method earlier described in the management exercise titled “Pass the Message” at URL http://management-games-icebreakers.blogspot.com/search/label/Pass%20the%20Message

Ask each group to choose its coordinator. Group members should discuss and make their choice.

Handover to each of the group coordinators a set of following items:

An egg
A small piece of thermocole or foam/sponge
A newspaper sheet or any other paper of approximately that size
Glue
Cellophane tape (small size)
Around 3 feet of string
A pair of scissors

Now instruct the participants to work in their respective groups. Tell them that by using the set of material allotted to them they are supposed to make a gadget. They will then use that gadget to drop the egg from a height of some 10 feet on the ground/floor making sure that the egg does not break.

Give them 15 minutes to make the gadget.

Now ask the coordinators of the groups to drop the egg to let it fall on the floor using their gadgets. After all the group are done, inspect the eggs. The group whose egg breaks or cracks will be declared as disqualified. The ones whose eggs remain intact will be declared as winners.

Within the winners you can rank order the groups based on the creativity and innovativeness of their gadgets. You may like to include economies of the materials used as an additional criterion.

Initiate a group discussion. Guide the participants to discuss the process of making the gadget:

Did they formulate any strategy, what kind?
Did they draw the design of the gadget on paper?
What principles they used to ensure that egg would not break on hitting the floor?
How innovative was their final product and why? Was creativity of each member of the group tapped or was something lacking in their group process?
Were they satisfied with their teamwork. Could it be improved further?
Did they get into conflicts and how they resolved? How was the consensus finally reached?
Were they challenged and motivated to undertake the task?

Summarize the group discussion. Supplement the group discussion with your observations. Provide any additional inputs you wish to impart to your participants.

Get Hold of the Related Books

You can order the following books on "management games and icebreakers" as printed books and eBooks from Amazon online:

Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
101 Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers

Related Reading: (Repository of a large number of articles in management and leadership): http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com and http://management-universe.blogspot.com

Additional Reading Opportunities

Alphabetic List of of Management Topics and Their Site URLs
(The term "management" here does not limit itself to just about business management but it encompasses management of all kinds of things like life management, home management, family management, health management, travel management, food management and so on).

Home Pages for All the Topics

1. (Home Pages for Brief Introduction to All the Business Management Topics) http://management-universe.blogspot.com/, http://management-universe-enotes.blogspot.com/ and http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

2. (Home Page for All General and Psychological Counseling) http://counselingfamily.blogspot.com/

3. (Home Page for All Home Tips: Home and Family Management) http://home-tips-tricks.blogspot.com/

4. (Home Page for All Products: Products Knowledge Management) http://products-all.blogspot.com/

Topics Starting with Numbers

(5S Housekeeping) http://5s-housekeeping.blogspot.com/
(5S Housekeeping at Home: Home Management) http://5s-housekeeping-home.blogspot.com/

Topics Starting with Alphabets

A
(ABC Analysis or Pareto Analysis or 80/20 Rule) http://abc-pareto-analysis.blogspot.com/ or http://shyam.bhatawdekar.net/index.php/2011/07/20/abc-analysis-or-pareto-analysis/
(Activity Based Costing- ABC) http://activitybased-costing.blogspot.com/
(Advertising) http://advertising-mass-communication.blogspot.com/
(Anecdotes in Management) http://management-anecdotes.blogspot.com/
(Anger Management) http://controlling-anger.blogspot.com/
(Articles, blogs and knols of Shyam Bhatawdekar: Home Page) http://writings-of-shyam.blogspot.com/
(Assertiveness) http://assertiveness-skill.blogspot.com/
(Assessment Centers) http://assessment-centers.blogspot.com/
(Authentic and Free Management Notes) http://authentic-management-notes.blogspot.com/
(A to Z of Management Systems) http://a-z-management-systems.blogspot.com/
(A to Z of Quality Techniques) http://a-z-quality-techniques.blogspot.com/

B
(Balanced Scorecard) http://balanced-scorecard-system.blogspot.com/
(Basic Statistics) http://statistics-basic.blogspot.com/
(Behavioral Safety) http://behavioral-safety.blogspot.com/
(Benchmarking) http://benchmarking-system.blogspot.com/
(Body Language or Non-verbal Communication) http://body-language-communication.blogspot.com/
(Books- Best Books) http://best-book-list.blogspot.com/
(Books- Best Management Books) http://best-management-books.blogspot.com/
(Boundaryless) http://shyambhatawdekar.blogspot.com/
(Brainstorming) http://brainstorming-technique.blogspot.com/
(Branding- Personal/Professional Branding http://professional-branding.blogspot.com/ or http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/
(Business Ethics and Ethics in Management) http://business-management-ethics.blogspot.com/
(Business Plan) http://business-plan-preparation.blogspot.com/
(Business Process Reengineering- BPR) http://business-process-reengineering-bpr.blogspot.com/

C
(Career Planning within Organizations) http://organizational-career-planning.blogspot.com/
(Case Method) http://case-method.blogspot.com/
(Case Studies in Management) http://corporate-case-studies.blogspot.com/
(CEO Roles, Qualities and Competencies) http://ceo-qualities.blogspot.com/
(Change Management) http://manage-change.blogspot.com/
(Child Development: Stories for Children) http://stories-children.blogspot.com/
(Children’s Behavior Problems: Family Management) http://child-behavior-problems.blogspot.com/
(Coaching) http://coaching-skill.blogspot.com/
(Communication) http://communication-for-business.blogspot.com/
(Competencies- Life Management) http://shyam-bhatawdekar.blogspot.com/
(Competency Matrix/Competency Mapping: Success by Building Competencies/Skills) http://competency-matrix-mapping.blogspot.in/
(Competency Mapping) http://competency-map.blogspot.com/
(Competency Matrix) http://competency-matrix.blogspot.com/
(Conflict Management) http://manage-conflict.blogspot.com/
(Corporate Governance) http://corporate-governance-policy.blogspot.com/
(Cost Management) http://cost-management-control.blogspot.com/
(Cost of Quality- COQ) http://cost-of-quality.blogspot.com/
(Counseling at Workplace)http://counseling-skill.blogspot.com/
(Counseling: Psychological) http://counselingfamily.blogspot.com/
(Creativity- Out of Box Articles) http://wow-idea.blogspot.com/
(Creativity and Innovation) http://creativity-management.blogspot.com/
(Critical Thinking skills) http://critical-thinking-skills.blogspot.com/
(Cross Cultural Etiquette and Manners) http://cross-cultural-etiquette.blogspot.com/
(Customer Orientation) http://customer-orientation.blogspot.com/
(Customer Relationship management- CRM) http://customer-relationship-crm.blogspot.com/

D
(Daily Management) http://daily-management.blogspot.com/
(Decision Making) http://decision-making-role.blogspot.com/
(Delegation) http://delegation-skill.blogspot.com/

(Democracy) http://democracy-liberation.blogspot.com/
(Design for Manufacture) http://design-for-manufacture.blogspot.com/
(Dining Etiquette and Table Manners) http://dining-manners.blogspot.com/
(Discipline at Work) http://discipline-at-work.blogspot.com/

E
(Effectiveness and Efficiency) http://effectiveness-efficiency.blogspot.com/
(Effectiveness Management: HSoftware) http://humansoftware.blogspot.com/
(Efficiency Techniques: Work study: Motion and Time Study) http://work-study-measurement.blogspot.com/
(Efficient Work Methods or Practices) http://efficient-work-methods.blogspot.com/
(Email Etiquette) http://email-etiquette-manners.blogspot.com/
(Emotions) http://emotion-feeling.blogspot.com/
(Emotional Intelligence) http://emotional-quotient-intelligence.blogspot.com/
(Empowerment) http://employee-empowerment.blogspot.com/
(Enterprise Resource Planning- ERP) http://erp-management.blogspot.com/
(Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneur) http://entrepreneurship-entrepreneur.blogspot.com/
(Entertainment Management- English Movies) http://popular-movies.blogspot.com/
(Entertainment Management- Hindi Movies) http://hindi-movies-choice.blogspot.com/
(Executive Etiquette and Manners) http://executive-manners.blogspot.com/
(Exit Interview) http://exit-interview.blogspot.com/

F
(Financial Ratios and Financial Ratio Analysis) http://financial-ratios.blogspot.com/
(Financial Services) http://finance-related-services.blogspot.com/
(Free and Authentic Notes on Management) http://authentic-management-notes.blogspot.com/
(Functions of Management) http://functions-of-management.blogspot.com/
(Food Management: Recipes, Easy to Cook) http://easytocook-recipes.blogspot.com/
(Food Management: Recipes, Exotic) http://tastetherecipes.blogspot.com/

G
(Games and Icebreakers for Trainers) http://training-games.blogspot.com/
(Gemba Kaizen) http://gemba-kaizen-improvement.blogspot.com/
(General Knowledge Management- GK) http://general-knowledge-gk.blogspot.com/
(General Knowledge Management- Top 5/Top 10 of Everything) http://top-five-everything.blogspot.com/
(Genuine Professional- Long Article) http://professional-genuine.blogspot.in/
(Global Mindset) http://global-mindset.blogspot.com/
(Goal/Target Setting) http://goal-target-setting.blogspot.com/
(Good Boss) http://good-boss.blogspot.com/
(Great Professional) http://professional-genuine.blogspot.in/
(Group Discussion) http://group-discussion-gd.blogspot.com/
(Group Discussion for Job Seekers and Students) http://group-discussion-gd.blogspot.com/
(Group Dynamics) http://group-dynamics-process.blogspot.com/

H
(Health and Safety Management) http://safety-health-management.blogspot.com/
(Health Management- Cholesterol Control) http://controlling-cholesterol.blogspot.com/
(Health Management- Homeopathy) http://homeopathy-medicines.blogspot.com/
(Health Management- Exercises) http://exercises-plan.blogspot.com/
(Health Management- Quit Smoking) http://quit-smoking-plan.blogspot.com/
(Health management- Swine Flu and Its Prevention) http://swine-flu-precaution.blogspot.com/
(Health Management- Walking) http://walking-plan.blogspot.com/
(How to Be a Good Boss?) http://good-boss.blogspot.com/
(How to Get Promoted?) http://get-promoted.blogspot.com/
(How to Save Money?) http://save-money-ideas.blogspot.com/
(How to Save Money?- Long Comprehensive Article) http://manage-moneysaving.blogspot.in/
(Home Management- Home Page for All Home Tips) http://home-tips-tricks.blogspot.com/
(HR Dynamics) http://hrm-dynamics.blogspot.com/
(HR Strategies and Functions) http://strategic-functions-hrm.blogspot.com/
(Human Capital Architecture) http://human-capital-architecture.blogspot.com/
(Human Relations) http://human-relations-aspect.blogspot.com/
(Human Resource Management- Comprehensive Coverage of HRM) http://human-resource-management-hrm.blogspot.com/
(Human Resource Planning) http://human-resource-planning.blogspot.com/
(Human Software- HSoftware) http://human-software-hsoftware.blogspot.com/

I
(I Am Liberated- Life Management) http://i-am-liberated.blogspot.in/
(I Am OK, You Are OK) http://life-positions.blogspot.com/
(Icebreakers and Energizers) http://management-games-icebreakers.blogspot.com/
(Internal Motivation or Self Motivation) http://internal-motivation.blogspot.com/
(Interpersonal Relations) http://interpersonal-relations.blogspot.com/
(Interview Skills) http://interviewing-skill.blogspot.com/
(Interview Preparation for Job Seekers) http://interview-preparation-jobs.blogspot.com/
(Interview Questions) http://interview-question-bank.blogspot.com/

J
(Johari Window) http://johari-window-model.blogspot.com/
(Just in Time Management- JIT) http://just-in-time-management.blogspot.com/

K
(Kaizen) http://kaizen-improvement.blogspot.com/
(Knowledge Management) http://knowledge-management-initiative.blogspot.com/

L
(Lead Time Management) http://lead-time-management.blogspot.com/
(Leadership) http://lead-max.blogspot.com/ and http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com
(Lean Enterprise) http://lean-organization.blogspot.com/
(Learning Organization) http://learning-organization-profile.blogspot.com/
(Life Management- Latest HSoftware Model) http://life-effectiveness.blogspot.in/
(Life Management- I Am Liberated; Freedom from Shackles and Burdens) http://i-am-liberated.blogspot.in/
(Life Management: Success in Life) http://success-complete.blogspot.in/
(Life Management: My Exotic Dream: World Peace and Other Good Things of Life)

http://exotic-dreaming.blogspot.in/

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Air Crash

"Air Crash" is a highly loaded management exercise. It is very participative and is conducted as a group exercise. It also proves to be a good energizer and motivator.

You, the faculty member or the program facilitator or the workshop leader can use it for sessions on values, paradigms, perceptions, intra-group and inter-group communication and discussion, conflict resolution or conflict management, team work and team building, consensus building, effectiveness etc. This is best suited to emphasize that every human being is unique and this uniqueness is the result of not only the differing perceptions of the people but because of their entire integrated makeup- the concept and the term which Shyam Bhatawdekar uses to describe as people's HSoftware (Human Software). (You may like to read Shyam Bhatawdekar's articles on HSoftware at http://humansoftware.blogspot.com/). It also leads to show the correlation between the HSoftware of an individual and his effectiveness in personal, home, professional and social life.

To start conducting the "Air Crash" exercise, first distribute the printed exercise brief (given below) to all the participants of your program and request them to read it carefully. Draw their attention to the question given at the end of the write-up which each participant has to answer individually (in writing). Ask them not to discuss with anyone anything unless told by you.

Exercise Brief for "Air Crash" exercise:

Exercise brief starts here:

An airplane with 73 passengers on board developed engine trouble while flying over the jungles of Assam. The pilot managed to send out an S.O.S. message just before the plane crashed into the jungles. It was around 3 PM.

All members of the crew were killed except the pilot and there were in all seven survivors. You are one of them. There are two women survivors, one of them is badly injured and is losing blood fast.

The plane exploded shortly after crashing but some of the survivors had managed to retrieve some items before the explosion. They could not, however, retrieve any food or water. The pilot had taken a bearing just before the engine trouble developed. He reckons that the plane crashed about 100 kilometers from the nearest inhabited area. To reach it would mean marching through thick forest with heavy undergrowth, crossing streams and fending off wild animals that abound in these jungles.

After recovering from the shock, the survivors began discussing what to do. Should they stay put? Should they march towards the nearest civilization?

It soon became apparent that no agreement was being reached by the survivors. In fact there seemed to be a struggle for leadership, some friction was developing and the group realized this might jeopardize all of them.

Since you had remained the most calm and objective, the group agreed that it would abide by your decision as to who should be the leader. It was also agreed that you could not choose yourself as leader.

Given below are some details about your co-survivors. Read them and then decide whom you would choose as leader:

Captain Sunder: is the pilot of the crashed airplane. He had managed to retrieve some maps before the aircraft exploded. He is 44 years old and takes his duties very seriously. He feels that as a captain of the plane, the survivors are his responsibility and should listen to him. He hopes that his S.O.S. was heard and wants every one to remain near the aircraft wreckage till a rescue team arrives.

Miss Moses: is 22 years old, a botanist who had studied the flora of Assam. She is a gentle person, not comfortable with the friction being generated and a bit of a pacifist. She has managed to retrieve a first-aid kit and some tarpaulin from the aircraft. She has been a girl guide at school.

Raj Kumar: comes from an aristocratic family. He is 35 years old and kept himself very fit by playing polo. He has captained his polo team to many victories. He was going to Assam on a fishing trip and has managed to save his rods and fishing tackle from the flames. He is very sociable. He believes that “leaders are born” and assumes that the others will listen to him. He would like the group to march on to the nearest village under his guidance.

Shanti Lal: is 48 years old, a bit stout and likes his food and drinks. He has managed to
retrieve his bottle of brandy, cigars and lighter from the aircraft. He is a self-made businessman who had managed to gradually develop a vast business empire. He is humorous but can be also very tough. Being used to commanding and coordinating, he also tried to get the group listen to him.

Mahinder Singh: is a hunter by profession and has been asked by the Assam Government to track down a rogue elephant that was destroying crops. He is 28 years old, generally quiet but capable of losing his temper violently. He has managed to retrieve his rifle and some cartridges and wants the group to head for civilization.

Whom would you choose as leader?

Exercise brief ends here.

After everyone in the program has read this brief, ask them to choose their leader from among the possible candidates described in the exercise brief. Each participant should write down his own answer giving his choice for the leader on his note pad or against the question given in the brief.

Now divide the entire participants in groups of around 7 to 10 persons in each group. Select the members in a group randomly (the method for random selection of the participant in a group is given in the management exercise "Pass the Message" at http://management-games-icebreakers.blogspot.com/2010/08/pass-message.html ).

Ask members of each group to sit together in a circle or around a table and discuss together in the group to arrive at the consensus candidate for the leadership position. Each group will be given 20 minutes for this. If they request for additional time, you may decide to allot 5 to 10 minutes more.

Now bring all the groups together as one single group though the members of each group will keep sitting together as a group. They should discuss together now as one complete group to once again arrive at the new consensus candidate for leadership position.

Now, request the participants for their feedback, observations and experiential learning.

Wind up the exercise by giving you own dissection of what happened throughout the exercise. Fill them in with supplementary inputs. Explain the learning points.

Get Hold of the Related Books

You can order the following books on "management games and icebreakers" as printed books and eBooks from Amazon online:

Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
101 Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers

Related Reading: (Repository of a large number of articles in management and leadership): http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com and http://management-universe.blogspot.com