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Vacation in the Keys
Second Edition
Demonstrate the concept of team synergy
with Vacation in the Keys, a challenging adventure simulation
that puts consensus decision making into practice. 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
It’s not enough that you and your friends lost your way on the first
day at sea. Morale aboard your chartered fishing boat has plummeted,
but you haven’t seen the worst yet. The next morning everyone
awakens and gathers on deck, ready to get on with the trip. Suddenly
someone turns the ignition key and triggers an explosion that blows
the boat apart -- and throws everyone overboard.
Can your group survive its ill-fated Vacation in the Keys?
This high-energy exercise provides an effective way to fine-tune
team ingenuity and cohesiveness.
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
Actual boating experiences, along with input from Navy Seals and
other experts, contributed to the development of Vacation in the
Keys, 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 15
salvaged 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 salvaged 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 Vacation in the Keys
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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
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Train team leaders in team facilitation
skills
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Open or close a learning session
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Introduce an organizational change,
such as the transition to self-managing teams
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Interject a fun activity into an
otherwise serious agenda
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Supplement outdoor experiential
learning
What to Order/Product Contents
Order one Facilitator Guide per trainer and one Participant Guide
per team member.
Note:
Vacation in the Keys 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
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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
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Team discussion guidelines
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