Decision Making Games - Decision Making *48

Summary

In this team-building exercise, participants face a series of challenging decisions after a plane crash on an uninhabited island. The group must first choose three survival items from a list, navigating pressure and differing opinions. Later, the team is forced to decide who among them should remain in a rescue plane with limited space. This scenario encourages communication, negotiation, leadership, and ethical decision-making under time constraints. With a final twist that everyone is saved, the exercise concludes with a reflection on group dynamics, leadership roles, and ways to improve decision-making efficiency.

Takeaways

• 😀 Unanimous decision-making is essential: Participants must agree on choices under pressure, testing their ability to collaborate and make decisions as a group.
• 😀 Time pressure enhances decision-making: The exercise involves a countdown, simulating the urgency of real-life survival scenarios and forcing quick thinking.
• 😀 Conflict resolution skills are crucial: Disagreements arise as participants argue over which objects and individuals are most valuable for survival.
• 😀 Ethical dilemmas challenge group dynamics: Participants must navigate moral choices, such as deciding who deserves to survive, based on varying personal criteria.
• 😀 Leadership and followership are key dynamics: The exercise reveals who naturally takes the lead and who prefers to follow, both roles being important for a balanced decision-making process.
• 😀 Problem-solving under pressure builds resilience: The participants are required to think critically and fast, which helps develop their ability to handle stress in high-stakes situations.
• 😀 Communication is the foundation of success: Clear, respectful communication is necessary for reaching consensus, as participants must share their views and listen to others.
• 😀 Group decisions may not be easy but are necessary: Achieving a unanimous decision involves compromise and requires individuals to prioritize the group’s well-being over personal interests.
• 😀 Prioritization is a valuable skill: Participants need to decide quickly what is essential for survival, testing their ability to assess importance and discard non-essentials.
• 😀 Self-awareness and empathy come into play: Participants must recognize both their own needs and the needs of others, demonstrating empathy for team members' positions.
• 😀 The final twist adds tension: In the second part of the exercise, participants face the additional challenge of deciding who should survive, pushing them to balance fairness and survival strategies.

Q & A

What is the main objective of the team exercise in the script?

The main objective is to have the team make unanimous decisions under pressure, first about which three objects to take from the wrecked airplane for survival, and then about which participant should stay on the plane when there’s only room for one.

How does the time pressure affect the team’s decision-making?

The time pressure creates urgency and forces the team to make decisions quickly, which can lead to both emotional and logical reasoning being used in the process. The constant countdown increases stress, but also pushes the group to focus on reaching a consensus before the time runs out.

What were the three objects the team decided to take from the wrecked airplane?

The team unanimously decided to take the beer bottles, the transistor radio, and the matches. These items were chosen based on their perceived utility for survival: the beer bottles for fishing and defense, the radio for potential communication, and the matches for starting fires.

What was the dilemma the team faced when they were on the airplane after being rescued?

The team faced the dilemma of deciding who should stay on the airplane when it was almost out of fuel. Only one participant could remain, and the others would have to jump out, which required a unanimous decision within ten minutes to ensure survival.

How did personal factors influence the decision on who should survive in the airplane?

Personal factors, such as family responsibilities (e.g., having children), talent (e.g., being a piano player), age, and perceived selflessness, played a significant role in the discussion. Participants made emotional appeals, arguing why they or others should survive based on these factors.

What was the final decision regarding who should stay on the airplane?

After emotional discussions, the team unanimously decided that Annabelle should stay on the airplane. Her perceived selflessness and quiet strength led the group to choose her, despite the appeals from others based on different reasons.

What did the team learn after they made the unanimous decision about who should survive on the plane?

The team learned that their decision-making under pressure had a positive outcome. It was revealed that there was enough fuel for everyone to stay on the plane and return safely, which reinforced the importance of working together and reaching a consensus.

How did the group dynamics change between the two phases of the exercise?

In the first phase, the group was more focused on the practical selection of survival items, with some participants taking the lead in proposing solutions. In the second phase, the emotional dynamics were more pronounced, and quieter participants, like Annabelle, were given more consideration as the group sought to prioritize selflessness.

Why did the trainer increase the pressure during the second part of the exercise?

The trainer increased the pressure to simulate real-world situations where decisions must be made quickly and under stress. This heightened pressure forced the team to confront their emotions and biases, ultimately testing their ability to make a decision under time constraints.

What lesson does the exercise teach about decision-making in teams?

The exercise teaches that effective decision-making in teams requires communication, emotional intelligence, the ability to handle pressure, and a willingness to compromise. The team must balance logical reasoning with empathy to ensure everyone’s perspectives are considered, ultimately reaching a decision that is beneficial for the group as a whole.