Change One Word

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/

Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/

For free tutorials on “Train the Trainers” program, refer: http://train-trainers.blogspot.com/

Change One Word

This exercise is a kind of fun game for achieving the serious objective of review or recap of the workshop or seminar.  You, as the program leader or coordinator, can use it gainfully towards the end of the entire program or even at the end of some of the important sessions of the program when you wish to check the level of understanding of the sessions by the participants.

The exercise makes an individual sit up and work seriously and then contribute towards the group effort. Therefore, it is an individual as well as group exercise. It is a good motivator and energizer.

You may also use it as an icebreaker as one of your initial sessions of the program to let the participants voice their expectations from the program or for setting up the ground rules (code of conduct) of the program.  

The participants continue sitting in their normal seating positions in the seminar room.

Depending on the topic of your session(s) or your entire program which you wish the participants to recap through this exercise so that you can also review their understanding of the subject(s) covered by you, you will ask the first participant sitting nearest to you to shout out a phrase consisting of two words that relates to the topics/subjects under review. The two words should point at one of the concepts or techniques or piece of knowledge covered by you in your session(s). Let us look at an example as given below:

Say you have conducted a few sessions on "Time Management" and you now wish the participants to recap their learnings related to time management and you also want to find out their level of absorption of knowledge on time management. So, you instruct the participant to speak out one phrase of two words related to some aspect of time management.

Say, the first participant says "Task Prioritization".

Now the next participant will have to change one word of this phrase and make another phrase by choosing one new word and combining it with one word of the earlier phrase.

Say, the next participant says, "Task Analysis". Now it the turn of the third participant to construct another phrase of two words in the same manner i.e. changing one word of the earlier phrase.

Say, the third participant says, "ABC Analysis".

Then let us say that the fourth participant says, "Analysis Urgency".

Another one may say, "Urgency Importance"

And this way each and every participant keeps contributing towards the session's recap and review.

You can carry on till all the participants have contributed. If you find that you need to continue the second round, by all means do so till all the aspects of the topic under review and recap are fully covered by the participants.

Now if you find that certain aspects of the topic are still not recalled by the participants, add them from your side. Conclude the review session by thanking the participants for their excellent understanding of the topic. In case they fared badly, give your constructive critique and re-explain the parts of the topic not absorbed by the 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:

1. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
2. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
3. Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
4. 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

Creative Numbers

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/

Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/

For free tutorials on “Train the Trainers” program, refer: http://train-trainers.blogspot.com/

Creative Numbers

If you are conducting a seminar or workshop on "creativity" or "creativity and innovation", you can use this exercise with benefits. It involves solving a few brain teasers involving some numbers. It allows participants to brainstorm. The exercise can be taken up individually by the participants or they can also do it in small groups. This also serves as an excellent energizer particularly after the lunch break. It is a also a very effective icebreaker.

If you wish to conduct this exercise in small groups, then divide the participants in small groups of two to three persons in each group formed randomly. Otherwise, you may as well allow each participant to tackle the exercise individually.

The exercise has three parts to it:

Part 1: Write down the equation given below on the white board or on the flip chart and show it to your participants:

5 + 5 + 5 = 550

Now instruct the participants to add one straight line to make it a correct statement.

Invite as many solutions as possible and conclude the exercise when you get the most correct solution.

Part 2: Now write down the number given below on the white board or on the flip chart and show it to your participants:

IX

It is the Roman number for 9. Instruct the participants to add a line to convert this odd number into an even number.

Invite as many solutions as possible and conclude the exercise when you get the most correct solution.

Part 3: Now write down the numbers given below (in the given sequence) on the white board or on the flip chart and show it to your participants:


8, 11, 15, 4, 14, 9, 1, 7, 6, 10, 3, 12, 2


Tell them that these numbers range from 1 to 15 but the numbers 5 and 13 are missing.


Request them to suggest the reasons for lining up the numbers in this particular sequence. Also, simultaneously request them to place the two missing number 5 and 13 in their appropriate places in the lineup of the numbers.


Let them continue to give as many answers to these two questions as they come out with till the time someone comes out with the correct answers.

Having done, thank the participants for their wholehearted involvement.

Take their feedback on the exercise and let them share their experiences in tackling these creativity and brain teasing exercises.

Fill them up with some relevant creativity concepts like out of box thinking, brainstorming and lateral thinking etc.

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:

1. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
2. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
3. Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
4. 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

Treasure Hunt

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)

If as a faculty or as a workshop or seminar leader, you are conducting the sessions on team work, team building, consensus building, creativity, time management etc you can use “Treasure Hunt” with advantage. It is also a good management exercise to check the knowledge assimilation level of the participants on the topics that you have imparted the through your program. You can also administer this game for the new recruits in an organization to check up their understanding level about the organization they joined.

As a management game, “Treasure Hunt” consists of a set of clues that lead to a treasure. The treasure will be in the form of a prize. The prize can range from a minor gift to a major gift to the winner depending on the scale of the game and availability of the budget. It is a group game and invokes lots of participation. It works as an energizer too.

Form groups of 4 to 5 persons per group picked up randomly. The method for grouping the participants in a group randomly is given in the management exercise titled “Pass the Message” at http://management-games-icebreakers.blogspot.com/2010/08/pass-message.html.

The clues need to be in form of small tasks or assignments around the topics that you as a faculty have included in your seminar or workshop or if it is an induction program you are conducting for the organization for its new recruits, the clues can touch the different aspects of the organization like its physical facilities, functions of various departments, organizational policies/systems/processes, its products etc. 

The groups formed by you are now are pitted against each other for the game. Set out the time limit for completing the game. Also, a set of rules can be laid down such as:

·Groups are not supposed to take help from any person outside the group.

·Groups are to follow the prescribed route.

·Each place will either have a person who will have the clue or the clue will be hidden

  somewhere and the groups will have to find it out to proceed to next clue.

·There will be marshals everywhere to judge the actions of the groups.

Start by giving each team the first clue or first set of clues. At the end of the clue give a hint of where and from whom the groups can get the second clue or second set of clues. Only when one clue or one set of clues is solved the first task is reckoned to be completed after which the group can move further to the next clue.

The assignments or tasks of solving the clue(s) should be such that the individual skills and the group skills are tested equally.

The first round of clues would be at a simpler level. If a set of many clues is given at one time, the group can choose which clue to crack first depending upon the capability of the group members and considering the time management aspect.

Once the different clues in the first level are solved the groups will get a second set of clue as their next level task or assignment from a place and person whose hint would have been given at the end of the first set of clues. The second level assignments can be tougher than those in the first level. Collating these clues the teams would have to solve the second level of the game and look out for the place and person from where they can get the next level of clues.

Solving the second level would again provide them a set of clues that would lead them to third and final level. The team solving this level in the best possible manner and within the given time limit will be the winner. Levels can be added or deleted depending upon necessity.

All the participants will join you in congratulating the winner group who finally hunted the treasure and thus the prize or gift.

Now, start discussions among the various groups to share as to where they missed out and where they did well and why. They should also come out with suggestions on how they will like to play the same game again.

Share your observations about each group and various participants with a positive critique. Fill them in with additional inputs you wish to provide and wrap up the session.

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:

1. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
2. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
3. Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
4. 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/

(Life Positions and OKness) http://life-positions.blogspot.com/
(Life Skills) http://life-skills-competencies.blogspot.com/
(Listening) http://listen-skills.blogspot.com/

M
(Management Anecdotes) http://management-anecdotes.blogspot.com/
(Managenent Books- Best Books) http://best-book-list.blogspot.com/
(Management Book- Best Books) http://best-management-books.blogspot.com/
(Management Games, Management Exercises, Icebreakers and Energizers)http://management-games-icebreakers.blogspot.com/
(Managing Life- Freedom from Shackles and Burdens) http://i-am-liberated.blogspot.in/
(Management in Life, Profession, Family and Society) http://life-effectiveness.blogspot.in/
(Management Information System- MIS) http://management-information-system-mis.blogspot.com/
(Managing/conducting Meetings) http://managing-meetings.blogspot.com/
(Management Notes- Free and Authentic) http://authentic-management-notes.blogspot.com/
(Marginal Utility) http://marginal-utility-concept.blogspot.com/
(Marketing Management Overview) http://marketing-management-overview.blogspot.com/
(Marketing Orientation) http://marketing-orientation.blogspot.com/
(Marketing Management Tasks) http://marketing-management-tasks.blogspot.com/
(Market research) http://market-research-function.blogspot.com/
(Market Segmentation) http://market-segment.blogspot.com/
(Mentoring) http://mentor-mentorship.blogspot.com/
(Money Management: How to Save Money) http://save-money-ideas.blogspot.com/
(Money Management: How to Save Money- Long Comprehensive Article) http://manage-moneysaving.blogspot.in/
(Motivation) http://motivation-people.blogspot.com/
(Management Encyclopedia- Everything on Management and Leadership) http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

N
(Negotiation Skills) http://negotiating-skills.blogspot.com/
(Negotiation Tactics) http://negotiation-tactics.blogspot.com/
(Non-verbal Communication or Body Language) http://body-language-communication.blogspot.com/

O
(Objection Handling) http://objection-handling.blogspot.com/
(OKness or Life Positions) http://life-positions.blogspot.com/
(Opportunities in Recession) http://recession-opportunity.blogspot.in/
(Organization Development- OD) http://organization-development-od.blogspot.com/
(Organizational Culture) http://organizational-culture-values.blogspot.com/
(Out of Box Ideas) http://wow-idea.blogspot.com/
(Outsourcing) http://outsourcing-contracting.blogspot.com/
(Ownership on Job) http://job-ownership.blogspot.com/

P
(Paradigm and Paradigm Shift) http://paradigm-mindset.blogspot.com/
(Parental Responsibilities- family management) http://parental-responsibilities.blogspot.com/
(Pareto Analysis or ABC 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/
(Participative Processes, Participative Management- Democracy) http://democracy-liberation.blogspot.com/
(Performance Management: Wholesome HR System) http://performance-management-appraisal.blogspot.com/
(Performance Management and Appraisal) http://performance-appraisal-management.blogspot.com/
(Personality) http://human-personality.blogspot.com/
(Personal Branding) http://professional-branding.blogspot.com/ or http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/
(Positive Strokes) http://positive-strokes.blogspot.com/
(Presentation Skills) http://presentation-effectiveness.blogspot.com/
(Problem Solving) http://problem-solving-skill.blogspot.com/
(Product Knowledge: Home Page for All Products) http://products-all.blogspot.com/
(Product Knowledge- Cars) http://cars-products.blogspot.com/
(Product Knowledge- Chocolates) http://chocolates-products.blogspot.com/
(Product Knowledge- Flowers) http://flowers-products.blogspot.com/
(Product Knowledge- Greeting Cards) http://greeting-cards-products.blogspot.com/
(Product Knowledge- Cell Phones) http://mobilephones-products.blogspot.com/
(Professional- Genuine Professional) http://professional-genuine.blogspot.in/
(Professional Branding) http://professional-branding.blogspot.com/ or http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/
(Profit Improvement) http://profit-improvement.blogspot.com/
(Project Management) http://management-of-project.blogspot.com/
(Psychological Strokes) http://positive-strokes.blogspot.com/
(Public Speaking) http://public-speak-skill.blogspot.com/

Q
(Qualities of CEO) http://ceo-qualities.blogspot.com/
(Quality Circles History) http://quality-circles-history.blogspot.com/
(Quality Circles) http://quality-circles.blogspot.com/
(Quality Function Deployment- QFD and House of Quality) http://quality-function-deployment.blogspot.com/
(Quality Gurus) http://quality-gurus.blogspot.com/

R
(Recession: How to Avert Recession, How to Combat Recession and Then, How to Move Ahead?) http://recession-global.blogspot.in/
(Recession Management) http://recession-management.blogspot.com/
(Recession: Opportunities in Recession) http://recession-opportunity.blogspot.in/
(Recruitment and Selection) http://recruitment-selection.blogspot.com/
(Research Methodology) http://research-work-methodology.blogspot.com/

S
(Safety and Health Management) http://safety-health-management.blogspot.com/
(Sales/Selling Process) http://selling-process.blogspot.com/
(Sales Promotion) http://sales-promotion.blogspot.com/
(Save Money) http://save-money-ideas.blogspot.com/
(Self-awareness: Getting Introduced to Self) http://self-concept-awareness.blogspot.in/
(Self-concept) http://self-concept-image.blogspot.com/
(Self-concept) http://self-image-concept.blogspot.com/
(Self-confidence) http://self-confidence-improvement.blogspot.com/
(Self Development) http://managing-self.blogspot.com/
(Self Motivation or Internal Motivation) http://internal-motivation.blogspot.com/
(Shyam Bhatawdekar's articles, blogs and knols: Home Page) http://writings-of-shyam.blogspot.com/
(Shyam Bhatawdekar's Effectiveness Model- HSoftware) http://humansoftware.blogspot.com/, http://human-software-hsoftware.blogspot.com/
(Six Sigma) http://six-sigma-system.blogspot.com/
(Six Thinking Hats) http://six-thinking-hats.blogspot.com/
(Soft Skills) http://soft-skills-competencies.blogspot.com/
(Soft Skills/Competencies: Details of Each Competency) http://soft-competencies-skills.blogspot.com/
(Spiritual Quotient/Intelligence) http://spiritual-quotient.blogspot.com/
(Stories for Children for Child Development) http://stories-children.blogspot.com/
(Statistics- Basics) http://statistics-basic.blogspot.com/
(Strategic Management) http://strategic-managing.blogspot.com/
(Stress Management) http://managing-stress-strain.blogspot.com/
(Stress Management: Stress Freedom: Long Comprehensive Article) http://stress-freedom.blogspot.in/
(Sub-contracting) http://outsourcing-contracting.blogspot.com/
(Success) http://success-achievement.blogspot.com/
(Success in Life: Life Management) http://success-complete.blogspot.in/
(Supply Chain Management) http://manage-supply-chain.blogspot.com/
(Supply and Demand) http://supply-demand-laws.blogspot.com/
(Swine Flu and Its Prevention) http://swine-flu-precaution.blogspot.com/

T
(Talent Management) http://managing-talent.blogspot.com/
(Team Building) http://team-building-working.blogspot.com/
(Telephone Etiquette) http://telephone-etiquette.blogspot.com/
(Three Sixty Degrees Appraisal System) http://three-sixty-degrees-feedback.blogspot.com/
(Time Management) http://time-life-management.blogspot.com/
(Total Productive Maintenance- TPM) http://total-productive-maintenance.blogspot.com/
(Total Quality Management- TQM) http://total-quality-concept.blogspot.com/
(Training and Development) http://training-function.blogspot.com/
(Training Games) http://training-games.blogspot.com/
(Trainers’ Qualities) http://trainers-qualities.blogspot.com/
(Train the Trainers) http://train-trainers.blogspot.com/
(Train the Trainers) http://train-trainer.blogspot.com/
(Training of Trainers- Comprehensive at One Place) http://training-of-trainers.blogspot.com/
(Transaction Analysis- TA) http://transaction-analysis.blogspot.com/
(Tourism, Travel and Sightseeing Management- India) http://india-tours-sightseeing.blogspot.com/
(Tourism, Travel and Sightseeing Management- World) http://sightseeing-guide.blogspot.com/
(Tourism, Trave and Sightseeing Management- World Heritage Sites) http://world-heritage-spots.blogspot.com/
(TRIZ: Inventive Problem Solving) http://triz-problem-solving.blogspot.com/

V
(Value Engineering/Analysis) http://value-engineering-analysis.blogspot.com/

W
(Winners and Losers) http://winners-losers.blogspot.com/
(Work Study: Method Study and Work Measurement) http://workstudy-measurement.blogspot.com/
(Work Methods or Practices: Efficient) http://efficient-work-methods.blogspot.com/
(World Class Manufacturing) http://world-class-manufacturing.blogspot.com/
(Writings of Shyam Bhatawdekar on Management) http://writings-of-shyam.blogspot.com/
(Written Communication) http://written-communication.blogspot.com/

Z
(Zero Based Budgeting) http://zero-based-budgeting.blogspot.com/

Link in a Chain

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)
It is a very simple yet very effective management exercise or game. It is a group or participative exercise. You as a program leader or workshop facilitator can use it for your sessions on supply chain management, cross functional process management, internal and external customer care, link in a chain concept, team work, team building, leadership and motivation. It is also a good warm up game, an icebreaker and an energizer.

Instruct the participants that all of them form a manufacturing and selling organization. Each participant represents one department of the organization. The complete process of manufacturing and dispatching an item as desired by the customer gets completed only when that particular item passes through each and every department (i.e. the participants). Touching the item by one hand by a participant indicates that the department has completed its operation as part of the total process. The item is then passed on to the next participant (department) who also touches it by one hand signifying that he also completed the task assigned to him for that item. This way the item gets circulated from the first participant through the entire chain of participants one by one and the last participant delivers it to you. You will act like a customer in this game. It is essential that each participant should have touched the item by one hand at least once before it is handed over to you- the customer. Only then the process is thought to be complete.

The organization has promised the customer (i.e. you) fastest possible delivery and that’s how you have agreed to buy the item from this organization.

Now before this game starts, you would have called out two participants sitting in two corners of the seminar hall one by one and secretly instructed them to sabotage the game by not passing the item to the participant sitting next to them. When the item reaches these participants, they should keep holding the item for an inordinately long period. The first participant of these two participants can hold it with him for three to four minutes before it is passed on to the next participant. But the second of these two participants should just not pass the item at all. The item should stop there with him. He should keep holding it and not pass it forward even if the other participants coax him or threaten him to pass on the item.

Now start the game by giving any item selected by you (say a note pad) to the first participant sitting nearest to you. As per the instructions the item will get circulated in the seminar hall from one participant to another till it gets stuck for some three to four minutes with the participant whom you had instructed to sabotage the game. When it gets stuck there, you as the customer will remind to the last participant of the entire group (acting as dispatch department of the organization) to find out why it is getting delayed and why you are not getting the item the fastest possible as promised. Perhaps the group may start putting pressure on the participant who was delaying the process by holding the item and not passing it on. Same thing will happen when the item once again gets stuck up at the second participant whom you had instructed to sabotage the game.

There will be a lot of pressure from the participants who are next to him but he would not pass on the item. You as the customer will get cheesed off and cancel the order. The game concludes here.

Ask the participants to discuss the happenings of the game. Why customer cancelled the order? How come just about one or two departments (participants) could create havoc in the whole process? Why the entire chain of departments which was pretty strong became totally dysfunctional and inefficient? Did leadership, motivation and creativity work and why not?

Sum up your session by giving relevant inputs on supply chain management, cross functional process management, internal and external customer care, link in a chain concept, team work, team building, leadership and motivation.

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:

1. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
2. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
3. Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
4. 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

Negotiate and Sell

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)
This management exercise is in the form of a role play. This role play can be used by you as the workshop facilitator or program leader of sessions on sales management, selling skills and negotiations. It is a group exercise.

Divide the participants of your program in at least three groups randomly (you can have more than three groups as well). For random formation of groups, use the method given in the management exercise titled “Pass the Message”.

One group will act as a “buyer” group or “buyer” company. Each of the other groups will act as the “supplier” group or “supplier’ company. “Buyer” is interested in buying a number of units of some product “X” from the open market and all the “suppliers” producing and selling that item “X” have shown interest by sending their proposals to the buyer quoting their commercial terms and conditions.

You being the program leader will distribute the exercise or role play brief to the buyer company. You will also distribute another brief to each of the seller (supplier) companies. The briefs given to each of the suppliers will be unique in their contents. Therefore if there are three groups acting as sellers you will have to prepare three different briefs.

Formats of the buyer brief and seller (supplier) briefs are given below. In this illustration, three suppliers are assumed. Product to be bought by the buyer is named as “X” and instead of giving the prices of the product “X” offered by the three suppliers in numerical terms; these has been specified as $M1, $M2 and $M3. Replace M1, M2 and M3 by some numerical values.

After giving the briefs, ask the four groups to reflect over it and conduct an internal discussions before they meet up for negotiations. Each supplier group will meet up with the buyer group one at a time, turn by turn. The supplier groups can meet the buyer group any number of times they wish to meet depending upon the buyer’s decision to do so.

After the sale has been made, share with all the participants all of the finally negotiated terms and conditions from the three suppliers and the one which finally won the order from the buyer.
Let the participants discuss the entire exercise and you should give additional appropriate inputs on negotiations and selling and wrap up the exercise.

The exercise briefs start now:

BUYER BRIEF (for “ABC Engineering” company)
Your company “ABC Engineering” supplies automobile components to the growing automobile manufacturers. With severe competition setting in, it has become imperative to cut down on costs, reduce rejection and rework and improve the overall productivity. In addition to taking other measures to do so, you have made up your mind to fit a special equipment called “X” to boost the productivity on at least 4 machines to start with. You have another 6 machines which are good candidates for this productivity boosting fitment called “X”. However, you wish to wait and see the results after fitting the first 4 “X”. You do have some constraints on money to be spent.

You have received quotations from three parties. Today you have invited representatives of these suppliers for discussions and negotiations along with you and your colleagues. Someone had told you recently that “Productivity Specialists” (one of the three suppliers) is more established supplier but you are keeping your mind open.

Quotations from the parties are as given below:

• Price: $M1 per “X” from “Productivity Specialists” (Other two parties have quoted a price of $M2, and $M3 each which are significantly lower than offered by “Productivity Specialists”).
• Delivery terms: Four weeks from “Productivity Specialists” and three and two weeks respectively from other two parties.
• Warranty: Two years unconditional from “Productivity Specialists” (As against one year of other parties)
• Payment terms: 40% advance, remaining within two weeks of delivery. Other parties have quoted 25% and 20% advance payment.

Following terms are acceptable to you:

• Maximum Price: $M4 per “X” which is lower than M1 but may be higher than M2 and M3 (Willing to pay slightly more than M4 if satisfied on other requirements and terms).
• Delivery: One week.
• Warranty: As much as possible (However, you are satisfied with even one year warranty as other parties have offered).
• Payment terms: Not more than 10% advance but keeping the advance payment to the minimum.
• Excellent after sales service since you do not want any breakdowns of the equipment “X”.

Your priorities are:

1. The equipment “X” should be very reliable.
2. There should not be any breakdown of product “X” and if at all there is one, the same should be set right within 48 hours.
3. Quickest possible delivery (literally on yesterday basis).

You are prepared to place the order on “Productivity Specialists” in case you and your team are satisfied on the above-mentioned points.
SELLER (SUPPLIER) BRIEF (one brief for each of the suppliers with appropriate terms and conditions offered by them as reflected earlier under “Buyer brief”. Following brief is for “Productivity Specialists” as an illustration)
You are sales in-charge of your company. After one meeting with the purchase manager of “ABC Engineering”, a medium sized firm manufacturing automobile components for the automobile companies (which is a growing sector), you have given them the following quotation for your product “X”. During the first meeting not much information was given by “ABC Engineering” except that they wished to fit a few of their machines with your equipment “X” so as to improve the overall productivity of their factory:

• Price: $M1 per “X” (based on the client’s projected requirement of 3 to 4 units of “X”).
• Delivery terms: Four weeks.
• Warranty: Two years unconditional.
• Payment terms: 40% advance, remaining within two weeks of delivery

You along with your team have been called by the top management team of “ABC Engineering” for discussions and negotiations.
Before the negotiation meeting you have contacted your company’s head quarters (corporate office) and they have advised and authorized you as follows:

• To reduce the price only under extreme case by $m1 per “X” and not more than that.
  Delivery can be made earlier than four weeks minimum being one week.
• You must try to get maximum advance possible. Can go down to not less than 10%. It should have some relationship to price etc.
• You can negotiate further and lower the price by a further $m2 provided you can secure an order for at least two more units of “X”.

At present you have no clue as to how many machines in all they want to fit with your productivity boosting equipment “X”.
All you know is that they are very serious about the improvement of the productivity of the plant.
You are required to negotiate to get the best possible terms and conditions, maintain the leadership position of your company and above all satisfy your this customer the best possible way.
You are quite keen to secure this order but definitely not at the cost of loss to your organization.

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:

1. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
2. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
3. Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
4. 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

Rewards and Punishment

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)
Rewards and punishment are time tested methods of motivating people. Every program/seminar leader or workshop facilitator wishes to maintain a high degree of motivation and enthusiasm among his participants. So if you, as a program leader, also wish to create such an environment of interest in the seminar hall, you can use “Rewards and Punishment”.

“Rewards and Punishment” is a good motivator, energizer and icebreaker.

You can announce at the beginning of the program that you wish to introduce a system of rewards and punishment in your workshop.

The punishment side will be very simple. It is mainly to remind the participants that they have to maintain punctuality. Every participant should make sure that he comes to the seminar hall in time at the beginning of the day and also after every break; it could be tea or coffee break or lunch break or any adhoc break announced by you. The person who arrives late will be sumptuously clapped by the rest of the participants to indicate to him, “Buddy, you are late but we still welcome you.” Ask any one participant to keep a count of number of times such claps are received by the erring participant(s).

Second part of the punishment will be to punish the person who disturbs the proceedings by receiving a phone call on his cell phone inside the hall (at the start of the program, instruct the participants to switch off their mobiles or keep them on the silent or vibrate mode) and also who disturbs by walking in and out of the hall while the session is running. Issue a “red” card to such a defaulter. A count of “red” cards issued will also be maintained erring participant wise.

Now we come to rewards part. At the beginning of the program, make an announcement that participants who will participate and contribute the most and the best will be given some surprise gifts by you. You being the program leader are the sole authority to give the rewards. The rewards will be given by you by giving a “green” card to the participant who deserves it. The persons who make a good contribution in the seminar by sharing good ideas, asking good questions, answering good answers, participating enthusiastically etc will be allotted “green” cards by you as an appreciation.

At the end of the workshop, each participant will be asked to report to you and to the rest of the participants the number of “green” cards he was rewarded. Present the top three earners of “green” cards some nice little gifts as part of valediction of your program.

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:

1. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
2. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
3. Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
4. 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

Flying Airplanes

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)
This management game is basically a fun game and acts as an icebreaker and warm-up session (energizer) of your training program, workshop or seminar. This is apt for a situation where the participants of the program are strangers to each other or know each other just slightly; they do not know each other’s names and other details. The game helps them to get introduced to each other at the beginning of the program.

You are the program leader or workshop facilitator. Give each participant a blank paper. Preferably the papers should be of different colors to make the event colorful.

Ask each participant to make an airplane out of the paper given to him. If any participant does not know how to make the paper airplane he can take assistance from his neighbor. Ask each person to write his full name in bold letters on the airplane made by him; let the participants use colored markers available in the seminar hall. Each participant should also write one of his favorite hobbies on it or any other message he wishes to write on it.

Now ask all of them to fly their airplanes throwing the airplanes made by them in the air in the hall. The participants will catch hold of one of the flying airplanes or pick it up after its landing. Then the participants keep flying the airplanes caught by them and this goes on for three to four rounds. No participant is allowed to keep his own airplane with him. So, finally each one will have someone else’s airplane with him after all the rounds of flying the airplanes are over.

Ask the participants to meet everyone in the hall, shake hands with each one and make introductions until each participant finds and meets the person whose airplane he is holding in his hand. The two now make a pair.

Each pair exchanges the introductions in detail to know each other’s organization or department, educational qualifications, schools/colleges/universities, hobbies/interests and any other relevant information.

All the participants take their seats such that the persons forming pairs sit together as a pair. Each pair is called upon by you in front of the audience and the persons in the pair give the introduction of the partner in the pair to rest of the participants and to you. You may like to read about a similar way of introductions in the management exercise titled "Innovative Introductions".

You can thank the participants for the excellent session you had with them and proceed towards your next session.

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:

1. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
2. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
3. Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
4. 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