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Communication Derailed
Sorting out how communication impacts
organizations can be difficult. Communication is so pervasive in
organizational work that we often overlook it as a source of
problems.
Communication Derailed helps you tackle even the most challenging
communication problems in today’s organizations. This popular
simulation game challenges individuals to work in groups to design
and/or construct a toy out of flexible toy pieces. Three modules –
which can be run independently or in a series – demonstrate the
profound impact of poor communication – and then teach the skills
needed to communicate more effectively.
The Scenario
Team Module:
You work for the product development team at a toy company. Your
team is asked to create a prototype for a new and different toy. You
receive instructions from the CEO.
Lateral Module:
You are asked to complete an important specified project for the
toy company. You must work together as members of 2 separate teams:
marketing and production.
Organizational Stress Module:
As part of the production team, you and your team members must
work together to assemble a specified toy prototype.
Learning Outcomes
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Discover the impact of both effective
and ineffective communication
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Identify damaging communication
techniques and environments
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Improve communication behavior
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Learn to handle unique communication
problems
Theory
The literature on communication consistently points to a few
pressing organizational issues that affect the current environment.
These include communication in teams, lateral communication, and
communication in times of organizational stress.
The 3 modules of Communication Derailed address the problems that
arise when communication gets off track:
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Module: |
How Communication Gets Derailed: |
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Team |
Individual problematic communication
behavior coupled with varied interpretations of the task. |
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Lateral |
Conflicting needs, expectations, and
communication norms break down among groups and between groups
and management. |
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Organizational Stress |
Improper methods, timing, and content
of information intensifies as stress increases. |
How It Works
Participants work in groups to design and/or construct a toy out of
malleable toy pieces. Each module takes 2-3 hours to complete and
follows the same general framework, which consists of 5 parts: poor
communication, midpoint debrief, effective communication, final
debrief, and action planning.
Uses for Communication Derailed
Communication Derailed can be used as a stand-alone learning event
or integrated into a larger training initiative.
Team Module
Designed to help new or existing teams to anticipate potential
communication problems or surface current problems, this module
teaches groups how to negotiate shared meanings, give and receive
direct feedback, and share information freely. The module can also
be used for general team communication skill building with
participants who do not work together. Number of participants: Up to
3 groups of 4–7 people
Lateral Module
This module is appropriate for organizations that require
cross-team or cross-departmental work and for those with scaled-back
levels of management. In this module, participants will learn why
teams that work together should align communication norms, discuss
shared needs and goals, and clarify expectations. Number of
participants: Even number of groups with 4–8 persons per group
Organizational Stress Module
Use this module in any organization that is about to undergo or
is in the middle of major change. Participants will learn to seek
and share needed information, communicate with empathy, and choose
the best method for communicating. Number of participants: Up to 3
groups of 5–7 people
What to Order/Product Contents
Each Complete Game includes materials to simultaneously train 3
teams of 4-8 participants. All parts are reusable. For larger
groups, order one Game Pack for each additional team of 4-8
participants.
Our Customer Service Team is available to assist you with
determining your training material needs.
The Communication Derailed Complete Game includes:
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1 Facilitator Guide
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3 bags of reusable game parts
Facilitator Guide features
(included in the complete game):
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Step-by-step administrative guidelines
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Theoretical background for game
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Process models for each module
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Reproducible participant materials
(including roles cards and action planning worksheets)
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Reproducible transparency masters
The Communication Derailed
Extra Game Pack includes:
- Reusable game parts for one extra
team of 4-8 participants
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