Survival Depends on it
A classic group communication & decision making exercise. People get intensely engaged because the "survival stakes" are high and none of the decisions are easy.
Set Up
You and your companions have just survived the crash of a small plane. Both the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash. It is mid-January , and you are in Northern Canada. The daily temperature is 25 below zero, and the night time temperature is 40 below zero. There is snow on the ground, and the countryside is wooded with with several creeks criss-crossing the area. The nearest town is 20 miles away. You are all dressed in city clothes appropriate for a business meeting. Your group of survivors managed to salvage the following items:
- A small axe
- A ball of steel wool
- A loaded .45-calibre pistol
- Can of vegetable shortening
- Newspapers (one per person)
- Cigarette lighter (without fluid)
- Extra shirt and pants for each survivor
- 20 x 20 ft. piece of heavy-duty canvas
- A sectional air map made of plastic
- One quart of 100-proof whiskey
- Family-size chocolate bars (one per person)
- A compass
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Brief the participants on the objective, to list the above 12 items in order of importance for survival and list the uses for each.
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Explain that they MUST try to come to a consensus as a group. If necessary, discuss the meaning of the word, consensus.
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Divide the participants into groups of four or five.
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Explain that their conclusions will be compared with those of an expert. Detail a scoring system to add a competitive element
Time
Total time ~55 minutes
- ~5 minute briefing
- ~30 minutes to reach consensus and compile lists
- ~20 minutes debriefing
Equipment
- Scenario hand out.
- Solution hand out.
Group Size
4 to 6 is ideal. For larger groups, divide them into teams.
Facilitators Notes
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Consensus can be hard to reach, however, set the aim for all participants to at least partially agree to each ranking on their final list.
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Encourage groups to complete the task without the use of tactics such as voting, trading in or averaging.
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Watch for participants avoiding conflict or changing their minds simply to come to agreement. Highlight these kinds of behaviors in the debrief.
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An important outcome of this exercise can be learning that sometimes a bit of give and take is necessary in order to move forwards to a solution.
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Watch for over emphasis by some participants on needing 100% accurate answers. Steer the group towards the aim of the exercise which is heightening awareness of communication and decision making processes, rather than over emphasis on 'getting the answers exactly right'. Display of this need is a point of observation and one worthy of debrief.
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Send and email request to info@salessense.co.uk and we will send you the scenario and solution handouts.
How it Works
N/A
Variations
There are several different scenarios and lists for this exercise. Examples include, shipwrecked, lost in a desert, and survival on the Moon. There are also variations where the decisions are about people - who survives and who is left to die.
Processing Ideas
- What was the initial reaction of the group?
- How well did the group cope with this challenge?
- What skills did it take to be successful as a group?
- What creative solutions were suggested and how were they received?
- What would an outside observer have seen as the strengths and weaknesses of the group?
- What roles did people play?
- What did each group member learn about him/her self as an individual?
- What common life situations are similar?
References
Acknowledgement
Adapted from material at http://wilderdom.com/games/InitiativeGames.html