Marooned
Second Edition
Demonstrate the concept of team synergy
with Marooned, a challenging adventure simulation that
focuses on consensus decision making. Participants experience
first-hand the advantage of working as a team when they realize the
results achieved as a group out-measure those of any one individual.
The Scenario
A cruise in the South Pacific brings you to a beautiful, uninhabited
island for a lavish beach picnic. Wanting to explore this
breathtaking paradise and walk off your lunch, you and your group
separate from the other passengers and a short while later fall
asleep on the other side of the island.
Hours later your group awakens, only to see a graceful white ship
disappear on the horizon. You’re officially Marooned!
As night approaches, can your team make a plan for survival and hope
to be rescued?
Learning Outcomes
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Learn how to manage and resolve group
conflict
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Hone group problem-solving skills
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Improve communication
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Discover the advantages of consensus
decision making
Theory
Interviews with cruise line staff members and personal cruise
experience form the basis for Marooned, a survival adventure
that demonstrates “team synergy” — the belief that decisions made by
groups are better than decisions made by individuals acting alone (Michaelson,
Watson, & Black, 1989). Groups bring a greater sum total of
knowledge and information to the discussion of a problem, as well as
a greater number of approaches and perspectives. The simulation can
also demonstrate “process loss.” This phenomenon occurs when a
knowledgeable group member outperforms the group, indicating that
the member’s knowledge was lost sometime during the group
discussion. In order for group decision making to work, unique
information must be shared and absorbed by the group (Stasser,
1992).
How It Works
This powerful roundtable simulation challenges teams to rank 10
action alternatives — first as individuals, and then as a team.
First, as the facilitator, you’ll introduce the adventure scenario.
Participants will then rank the action alternatives on their own,
using pressure-sensitive scoring forms. Next, each team conducts the
same ranking process as a unit. Finally, you’ll lead the
participants into a group action planning discussion, providing the
team with the opportunity to apply the learning to the workplace.
Uses for Marooned
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Illustrate the concept of team synergy
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“Break the ice” among new or conflicted
teams
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Give teams a nonthreatening opportunity
to work together
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Help teams practice consensus decision
making
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Improve active listening, probing, and
confronting behaviors in a realistic setting
-
Train team leaders in team facilitation
skills
-
Open or close a learning session
-
Introduce an organizational change,
such as the transition to self-managing teams
-
Interject a fun activity into an
otherwise serious agenda
-
Supplement outdoor experiential
learning
What to Order/Product Contents
Order one Facilitator Guide per trainer and one Participant Guide
per team member.
Note: Marooned works best when participants
are divided into teams of seven or fewer per table.
Facilitator Guide
includes:
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Administrative guidelines
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2-hour workshop design
-
Expert rationale
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Experiential learning/training
methodology
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Training design options
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CD-ROM containing Microsoft® PowerPoint®
presentation, reproducible masters, and color slides of scenario
location
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Updated page layout
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Sample copy of Participant Guide
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Convenient binder format
Participant Guide
includes:
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Scenario description
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Pressure-sensitive response form
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Team synergy score chart
-
Team discussion guidelines
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