Outback
Second Edition
Demonstrate the concept of team synergy
with Outback, a challenging adventure simulation that focuses
on team leadership, communication, consensus decision making, and
problem solving. Participants experience first-hand the advantage of
working as a team when they realize that the results achieved as a
group out-measure those of any one individual.
The Scenario
This morning you and your friends left on a daring hike without
a guide. Now, after following a herd of beautiful wild ponies for
more than an hour, you’ve lost all sight of any recognizable trail.
Every tree, shrub, and patch of ground look exactly the same --
you’re lost in the Australian bush!
With darkness approaching and more animals soon to emerge from
daytime resting places, can your group prepare for the unknown and
survive the wilderness experience of your lives?
Outback makes an especially effective training exercise for
management teams.
Learning Outcomes
-
Learn how to manage and resolve group
conflict
-
Hone group problem-solving skills
-
Improve communication
-
Discover the advantages of consensus
decision making
Theory
An unforgettable trip to the wilds of Australia brought about the
idea for Outback, a survival simulation 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 and 10 daypack items — first as individuals, and
then as a team. As the facilitator, you’ll begin the exercise by
introducing the adventure scenario. Participants will then rank the
alternatives and daypack items 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 Outback
-
Illustrate the concept of team synergy
-
“Break the ice” among new or conflicted
teams
-
Give teams a nonthreatening opportunity
to work together
-
Help teams practice consensus decision
making
-
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: Outback works best when participants
are divided into teams of seven or fewer per table.
Facilitator Guide
includes:
-
Administrative guidelines
-
2-hour workshop design
-
Expert rationale
-
Experiential learning/training
methodology
-
Training design options
-
CD-ROM containing Microsoft® PowerPoint®
presentation, reproducible masters, and color slides of scenario
location
-
Updated page layout
-
Sample copy of Participant Guide
-
Convenient binder format
Participant Guide
includes:
-
Scenario description
-
Pressure-sensitive response form
-
Team synergy score chart
-
Team discussion guidelines
|
