Learning Games - Interpersonal Communications

Tuesday, June 08, 2004

This games was shared by member of mailing list - Training Ideas : K Sentil


Win As Much As YOU Can
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Objectives:
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To enable the participants understand and develop competencies needed for

· Building and maintaining positive relationships to enhance trust, open communications, and to facilitate problem solving

· To develop collaborative attitude within and between teams in work situation.


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Time required:
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90 minutes

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Method:
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Divide the group into 4 teams randomly (the best method is to ask all the participants to call numbers from 1 to 4 sequentially and joining all the ones, twos, threes and fours as separate groups). Ask the members to select a leader for the group. Then tell the leaders to tear a paper from their pad and again tear it into 10 pieces.

Once it is over, say

"We are going to involve in an learning exercise called, 'Win As Much As You Can' (Write it on the board). There will be 10 rounds in this exercise. All you have to do is for each round, as a group you have to vote for either 'X' or 'Y'. 'X' and 'Y' have no meanings but depending upon the overall voting, your group may win or loose points as per the table (present the table)".


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Results pattern
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(No. of groups voting for 'X' and 'Y')

Points if a group has voted for

X =
Points if a group has voted for

Y =
4X -

-100

-

3X 1Y

+100

-300

2X 2Y

+200

-200

1X 3Y

+300

-100

- 4Y

-

+100




Explain the table to the groups as under and ensure understanding.

(Eg.)

· If all the groups have voted for X (4X), then all will lose 100 points (-100).

· If three groups have voted for X and 1 group for Y (3X, 1Y) then the 3 groups which have voted for X will gain 100 points each whereas the one group which had voted for Y will loose 300 points (-300).

· If one group had voted for X and all the other three have voted for Y (1X, 3Y), then the one group which had voted for X will gain 300 points (+300) whereas all the other three groups which had voted for 'Y' will loose 100 points each (-100 each).

· If all the groups have voted for 'Y' (4 Y) then all the groups will gain only 100 points each (+100 each).

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Say
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"But remember that the objective of the game is to (stress) 'Win as much as you can' and at the end of all the rounds let us see the results and discuss.

You as a group can decide your vote (either for X or Y) and write the vote in the small piece of paper. When all the groups have finished voting, the papers will be collected and the results will be announced.

The two conditions for the game are:

1. The discussion should be only within the group and no discussion will be allowed between the groups.

2. The decision of the group for each round and the results of the round should be kept confidential. Do not reveal either the decision or the results to other groups verbally or non-verbally."

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Round 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Then start the first round. Allow the groups about 3 minutes for deciding. Once all the groups have finished, collect the slips, count the votes for X and Y and write it on the board ( like "4X", "3X 1Y", "2X 2Y" and so on.

Round 1 Results

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Announce how much the group which have voted for X and Y will gain or lose respectively.

Ask the groups to record their points for each round depending upon their choice (X or Y) based on the table.

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Round 2,3,4
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Then go to the second round and repeat the procedure. Do 4 rounds

Once the fourth round is over, ask the leaders of the groups to come out of the group and take them outside the room.

Say to the 4 leaders, "The objective of the game is to 'Win as much as you can' and hence I am going to give you a chance for interacting with other group leaders.

For the remaining six rounds you can evolve a strategy for 'Winning as much as you can'. While doing so, you can either disclose your winning or loosing in the earlier rounds to others or keep it as a secret. You have three minutes to evolve a strategy".

Leave the training room.

Say

(to the others) "Your leaders are evolving a strategy for 'Winning as much as you can' in the next six rounds. They will come back and inform you the strategy they have developed to 'win as much as you can' in the next six rounds. As members of the group, you have the options of accepting, modifying or rejecting the strategy.

But keep the objective of 'Winning as much as you can' in your mind".

After 3 or 4 minutes call the leaders inside. Allow them to inform the strategy they have developed to their respective groups. When the group is about to take the decision,

Say

"Since some groups have lost in the earlier rounds, I am going to announce a bonus of 4 times for this round. Your profit or loss will be multiplied by 4 for this round. For example a gain of 100 points will be taken as +400 points whereas a loss of 100 points will be taken as - 400 points. Take a wise decision to 'Win as much as you can".

Do not allow any inter group communication at this stage.

Allow the groups to make the decision and repeat the procedure as in earlier rounds.

For 5th round - No Bonus

For 6th round - Announce a Bonus of 6 times

For 7th round - No Bonus

For 8th round - Announce 8 times bonus and allow the leaders to go for discussion. (If they do not want to go, accept it and continue the next round).

For 9th round - No Bonus

For 10th round - No Bonus

Now, Say

"All the rounds are over. But in order to make you all 'Win as much as you can', I am going to give 2 more additional rounds".

Ask the leaders to prepare 2 more slips,

Start the 11th round and announce a bonus of 20 times. Ask them to use the opportunity to 'win as much as they can'.

After the results are announced go to the 12th round and announce a bonus of 30 times.

Once the 12th round is completed, ask the leaders to balance their scores and write it on the Board/flip chart.

Group Result

I Profit/Loss:

II Profit/Loss:

III Profit/Loss:

IV Profit/Loss:

Overall profit or Loss

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Observe during the exercise:
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· How the group members are communicating within themselves?

· Who is talking to whom? Who is not talking?

· Whether the leaders involved others, particularly the silent people to share their opinions?

· Who is taking the decisions?

· Who is influencing the decision in various rounds?

· How the leaders have decided on the strategy?

· The feelings when bonus is announced?

· Feelings when the decision/strategy was changed?

· At the end of the exercise, what was the overall feeling expressed (look for accusations of other groups)?


After this, briefly review the whole process and ..

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Discussussion
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· The importance of openly sharing information with the concerned people both within and between teams

· The value of trust in communication and in building relationship

· How trust is build based on open and accurate communication

· Importance of seeing the larger picture and giving the positive and negative aspects of any decision while trying to convince the team members

· Significance of clear understanding of the situation and being convinced before communicating something to others

· Taking responsibility for one's decision and its communication

· Method of pointing out other's mistakes in a non-judgmental manner and using them for learning

· How collaborative spirit based on " win-win " approach can lead to better atmosphere and outcome in team work situations.

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Conclude the session by stressing that
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· Communicating openly

· Listening to differing viewpoints

· Trusting and being trustworthy and

· Working towards a "win-win" situation can develop and strengthen meaningful relationship in work situations, which in turn will lead to excellent outcomes and positiveness in work atmosphere within the organization.

Blogged on 6:37 PM by Upay

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