Game Rules

• Build a pyramid out of the plastic cups.

• You cannot touch the cups with any part of your body, even if a cup falls on the floor.

• You have 5 minutes to complete this task.

Group DynamicsGroup Dynamics

How the West was won…How the West was won…by people in groups of two or more…by people in groups of two or more…

who worked together who worked together intensely to achieve a intensely to achieve a

common objective.common objective.Granted, they probably wouldn’t have phrased it quite that way… they were cowboys, not management majors, and so they probably would have described it using the words “posse” and “pardner” and assorted other cowboyisms. B U T W E D I G R E S S . . .

Three Components ofThree Components ofGood Team BuildingGood Team Building

Group Size: Is Bigger Better?Group Size: Is Bigger Better? Group Tasks: Depending on the Other Group Tasks: Depending on the Other

GuyGuy Group Roles: Performance Group Roles: Performance

ExpectationsExpectations

All of these components are essential to All of these components are essential to building a productive, successful building a productive, successful team.team.

Group Size: Is Bigger Group Size: Is Bigger Better?Better?

““What is the secret to a great team? What is the secret to a great team? Think small. Ideally, your team should Think small. Ideally, your team should have 7 to 9 people. If you have more have 7 to 9 people. If you have more than 15 or 20, you’re dead.”than 15 or 20, you’re dead.”- Ray Oglethorpe- Ray Oglethorpe President, AOL Technologies President, AOL Technologies

Groups should contain no more Groups should contain no more members than the task requires.members than the task requires.

Implications of Large Implications of Large GroupsGroups

ProsPros More resources to More resources to

achieve the goal.achieve the goal. KnowledgeKnowledge ExperienceExperience SkillsSkills Time/EffortTime/Effort

Also allows for Also allows for division of labordivision of labor

ConsCons Problems of Problems of

communication communication and coordinationand coordination

Low levels of Low levels of motivation, motivation, satisfaction, and satisfaction, and commitmentcommitment

Implications of Small Implications of Small GroupsGroups

ProsPros Improves interaction Improves interaction

within the groupwithin the group Workers are more Workers are more

motivated, committed, motivated, committed, and satisfiedand satisfied

Share information Share information more easilymore easily

Workers are able to Workers are able to better see their better see their contributions to the contributions to the group’s successgroup’s success

ConsCons Fewer people = fewer Fewer people = fewer

ideasideas Potential for too much Potential for too much

responsibility to be responsibility to be placed on too few placed on too few peoplepeople

Increased potential Increased potential for personality for personality conflictsconflicts

Group TasksGroup Tasks

The type of tasks that a group is to The type of tasks that a group is to perform determines the appropriate perform determines the appropriate size of that group.size of that group.

Be aware of the degree of influence Be aware of the degree of influence one member’s work has upon the one member’s work has upon the work performed by other members.work performed by other members.

Birdseye Corporation shows the Birdseye Corporation shows the importance of assigning tasks based importance of assigning tasks based on workers’ strengths.on workers’ strengths.

Group RolesGroup Roles

““The achievements of an organization The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined are the results of the combined efforts of each individual.”efforts of each individual.”

- Vince Lombardi,- Vince Lombardi, Former Coach, Notre Dame FootballFormer Coach, Notre Dame Football

A group role is the set of behaviors A group role is the set of behaviors and tasks that a member of a group is and tasks that a member of a group is expected to perform based on their expected to perform based on their position in the group.position in the group.

What Were the What Were the Three Components Again?Three Components Again?

Group SizeGroup SizeGroup TasksGroup TasksGroup RolesGroup Roles

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

How were the three components of How were the three components of team building interrelated?team building interrelated?

Why was teamwork so important in Why was teamwork so important in this activity?this activity?

What components that we discussed What components that we discussed were needed to perform this were needed to perform this activity?activity?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

How did the size of your group affect How did the size of your group affect your group’s performance?your group’s performance?

How did the size of your group affect How did the size of your group affect your individual role in that group?your individual role in that group?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Did your group accomplish the task? Did your group accomplish the task? What group factors influenced your What group factors influenced your success or failure?success or failure?

How would you apply what you How would you apply what you learned in this game to a real-world learned in this game to a real-world management situation?management situation?