Goals

^? To examine a group’s communication, planning, and collaborative behavior.

^? To examine the use of self-imposed rules of behavior.

^? To explore the dynamics of intergroup competition.

Group Size

Three teams of up to eight persons each. (Teams need not be of equal size.)

Time Required

Approximately one and one-half hours.

Materials

^? A copy of the Line of Four Observer Sheet and a pencil for each of the three observers.

^? A copy of the Line of Four Instruction Sheet for each participant.

^? A Line of Four Recording Sheet, prepared previously by the facilitator.

^? Six copies of the Line of Four Placement Order Form and a pencil for each team and extra copies of the Line of Four Placement Order Form to be placed on the Line of Four Recording Sheet.

^? At least three sets of twenty chips or other markers, each set a different color, one set for each item.

^? Newsprint and a felt-tipped marker.

Physical Setting

A table and chair in the front of the room for the facilitator, with some means of obstructing the participants’ view of the Line of Four Recording Sheet, which is placed upright (if possible) on the table, with the colored markers and order forms placed in front of it. Three groupings of tables and chairs or three areas, well separated from one another, for the three teams.

Process

1. The facilitator divides the participants into three teams and tells them to seat themselves around the three tables or in three separate areas in the room.

2. A volunteer is selected from each team to serve as observer. The facilitator gives each observer a copy of the Line of Four Observer Sheet on which he or she has previously indicated the area(s) (communication, collaboration, planning, intergroup dynamics) each is to observe. The facilitator tells them to read their instructions.

3. The facilitator then gives a copy of the Line of Four Instruction Sheet to each member of each team. While the members read their instruction sheets, the facilitator makes sure that the observers understand their tasks; he or she reinforces the fact that they are not to intervene in the activity or answer any questions.

4. The facilitator tells the teams that the activity is about “decision making.” (The facilitator does not answer any of the questions from participants at any time during the activity; he or she merely refers them back to the Line of Four Instruction Sheet.) The facilitator briefly shows the Line of Four Recording Sheet to the entire group and explains the ways of scoring a point, i.e., by having four of the same colored markers contiguous, in a straight line—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally (as in the popular game Bingo).

5. The facilitator places the Line of Four Recording Sheet on the table in the front of the room (it can be raised upright with its blank back facing the teams or it can be behind an obstruction—it is essential that the recording sheet be out of the direct view of the participants until they are directed to approach it as representatives of their teams).

6. The facilitator gives each team six chips or other markers of the same color and places all of the remaining markers in the appropriate places on the Line of Four Recording Sheet. (Participants are permitted to use these additional markers, but the facilitator does not tell them that they may do so.) The facilitator then gives each team six copies of the Line of Four Placement Order Form and places the remaining order forms in the appropriate place on the Line of Four Recording Sheet. (Participants are permitted to use these additional order forms, but the facilitator does not tell them that they may do so.)

7. The facilitator calls each team only by its color from this point on. He or she stands behind the Line of Four Recording Sheet and begins the activity by directing a representative of the first team to approach the Line of Four Recording Sheet. The representative gives the facilitator one Line of Four Placement Order Form and one marker. If a team’s first choice is already taken, the team gets its second choice, etc. If errors occur, e.g., if the team representative places the marker on the recording sheet or incorrectly fills out the Line of Four Placement Order Form, the facilitator hands both the marker and order form back to the team representative with the words: “I am sorry, you are not following instructions and must lose your turn.”

8. The next team’s representative is then called to the recording sheet and the activity continues. Only one play per turn is permitted for each team, with teams remaining in order throughout the activity. (Anything not specifically prohibited by the Line of Four Instruction Sheet is permitted, for example, sending a player to the recording sheet to keep records of moves. However, participants are not told that they can do this.) Every one or two minutes (decided by the facilitator), the next team is called to the recording sheet until a line of four markers is achieved by one team. This team’s point is recorded by the facilitator on newsprint, the recording sheet is cleared, and the activity continues with the used markers being returned to the teams.

9. The facilitator concludes the activity when one team reaches a predetermined number of points or when an allotted amount of time has passed.

10. The game is processed. Observers are asked to report their observations, using notes made on the Line of Four Observer Sheet. The facilitator relates group communication, collaboration, planning, and intergroup dynamics to self-imposed rules by focusing on:

^? What happened when a team ran out of markers? Did it send a representative to get additional markers? Did it wait to see what other teams did before committing itself?

^? How did team members feel when the facilitator refused to answer questions? How did it affect their effectiveness at the task?

^? How did the ambiguity of the task affect communication, collaboration, planning, motivation, leadership, or similar factors?

^? How did the limits each team set for itself (self-imposed rules of behavior) compare and contrast to each other and to the actual limits it could have had?

^? The facilitator can allow the teams to caucus after the second or third round to discuss rules and strategy.

^? The activity can be made more competitive by having a smaller (fewer numbers) recording sheet or by allowing only one or no alternative choices.

^? Observers can focus on all dimensions on the observer sheet.

^? Observers can serve as consultants during a mid-point round.

Your task as an observer is to study how team members behave during the activity and to comment briefly on your observations at the end of the activity.

Do not intervene in the activity. Do not answer any questions.

For Observers of Communication:

1. How were the written instructions received?

2. How did the representative returning from the Line of Four Recording Sheet communicate with the rest of the team?

3. What failures in communication occurred? What was their impact?

4. What communication aids were used (diagrams, lists, etc.)?

5. How did communication patterns or processes change during the activity?

6. How did team members respond to the limits of the written instructions?

For Observers of Collaboration:

1. Did some team members refuse to participate?

2. What was the motivational level of the members?

3. How did enthusiastic members try to motivate less interested members?

4. How did the team work together?

5. How did leadership emerge in the team?

6. What style did the leader use?

7. How did leadership change?

For Observers of Planning:

1. What team plan emerged?

2. What alternative plans were devised?

3. How was the plan determined?

4. How was the plan changed or altered?

5. How did the actual behavior of the team differ from the plan?

6. How effective was the plan in helping the team accrue points?

7. How did the team evaluate its plan and/or its success?

For Observers of Intergroup Dynamics:

1. What communication occurred across teams?

2. How were the other teams referred to within any given team?

3. What pressures to “win” were evident within the teams?

4. What attempts were made to subvert the chances of the other teams?

A point is scored when a team succeeds in placing four of its colored markers in a contiguous straight line on the Line of Four Recording Sheet. When this happens all markers are cleared from the recording sheet and the activity recommences without interruption.

How the Activity Is Conducted:

1. For each turn your team will need to decide:

a) the square on which you wish to place a marker, and

b) two alternative choices of squares (second and third choices) in case your first choices have been taken by another team;

2. For each turn, your team’s representative will take a correctly completed Line of Four Placement Order Form and hand it to the facilitator along with the marker you wish placed. The facilitator will then place the marker in position on the Line of Four Recording Sheet according to the written instructions from your team.

3. After each team is notified that its turn has arrived, the team’s representative has only thirty seconds to deliver the correctly completed Line of Four Placement Order Form and to observe the recording sheet.

4. Members of a team will take turns serving as the team representative, and this order will be maintained throughout the activity.

Here are some copies of the Line of Four Recording Sheet to help you keep track of the action. You may draw more if you need to.

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16		9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24		17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32		24	26	27	28	29	30	31	32
33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40		33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40
41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48		41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48
49	50	52	52	53	54	55	56		49	60	51	52	53	54	55	56
57	58	59	60	61	62	63	64		57	48	59	60	61	62	63	64

Anything not specifically prohibited by this Line of Four Instruction Sheet is permitted.

AN INTERGROP COMPETITION