An Intergroup Activity

Awareness
Ha-Ha
Intergroup Issues
An Intergroup Activity	An Intergroup Competition
Technology For Tomorrow	A Process Observation Activity
Building The Winning Team	Demonstrating Hidden Agendas
Effects of Differential Information	Empowerment Collection
Examing Competition and Collaboration	Examining Task Group Processes
Experiencing How Groups Function	Group Selling Advertising Group Value
How To Build A Team	Intergroup Competition part 2
Learning About Group Skills	Left Brain Right Brain Problem Solving
Need For Team Building	Preferences That Affect Group Work
Simulating Systems	Studying Group Dynamics
Team Building	Team Climate Survey
Team Development	The Search For Balance
Team Motivation	Team Quips And Quotes
Three Team Traps	What Is A Team?
What is Team Building
Problem-solving & Decision-making
A General Approach	Brainstorming Process
Build Quality Into Your Team	Conversation As Comunication
Groups That Work	Group Decision Making
Meeting Management	Multi-Way Tug-of-War
PersonaL Time Management	Planning A Project
Problem Solving	Problem Solving And Decision Making
Skills for Emergent Managers	The Art of Delegation
The Human Factor	The Most Common Decision-Making Mistakes
The Steps Of Delegation	What Makes A Great Manager
Roles
An Appraisal Role Play	A Firo Role Play
A Management Role Play	A Multiple Role Play
A Series Of Role Plays	Communication A Paired Role Play
Exploring Roles To Develop Staff	Not Listening A Paired Role Play
Organizational Rules	Power Personalities
Practicing Both Roles	Developing a Team Norm
Roles Impact Feeling	Role Efficacy
Role Stress	Steps in Changing One’s Own Behavior
Strategies Of Changing	The Supervisor's Changing Role
Tri-State A Multiple Role Play	Who Gets Hired

AN INTERGROUP ACTIVITY

Goals

^? To explore the impact of competition between groups.

^? To demonstrate different methods of group problem solving.

^? To examine the dynamics of suspicion and distrust in a group.

^? To observe the process of a leaderless group in the completion of a specific task.

Group Size

A minimum of two subgroups with six to ten participants each (subgroups should be of equal size).

Time Required

Approximately one and one-half hours.

Materials

^? One set of fourteen blocks for each subgroup and another set from which the facilitator constructs the model (see Directions for Making a Spy Model).

^? A Spy Team Design Instruction Sheet for each participant.

^? An envelope containing Spy Special Instructions for each participant. (On each sheet, the facilitator is to mark an “x,” by hand, in the block next to the words “You are not a spy.”)

^? Two Spy Team Design Work Sheets for each subgroup.

^? A watch for each timekeeper.

^? A copy of the Spy Timekeeper Sheet for each timekeeper.

^? A copy of the Spy Observer Sheet for each observer.

^? Pencils for each observer, timekeeper, and subgroup.

^? Newsprint and a felt-tipped marker.

Physical Setting

Two rooms, or one room with a small partitioned-off area for placement of the model. One room should be large enough for each subgroup to work at a separate table. The model is placed on a table in the second room or partitioned area.

Process

1. The facilitator forms equal subgroups of six to ten members each. Volunteers are solicited to function as observers and timekeepers (one of each for each subgroup). Each subgroup is then assigned to a work table.

2. A set of blocks is apportioned to each subgroup. A Spy Team Design Instruction Sheet and an envelope containing Spy Special Instructions are given to each participant. A watch, a Spy Timekeeper Sheet, and a pencil are given to each timekeeper. A Spy Observer Sheet and a pencil are handed to each observer; and two Spy Team Design Work Sheets and a pencil are given to each subgroup.

3. The facilitator reviews the Spy Team Design Instruction Sheet with the members and informs them that:

Each subgroup will have to decide whether or not to use all fourteen blocks.

^? There may be one or more spies in a subgroup.

^? Members may write on the work sheets, but may not take the work sheets with them when they view the model.

^? Subgroups may arrange their blocks in order, so long as no two blocks are touching.

4. The facilitator briefs the timekeepers and observers and reviews their instruction sheets with them. (The facilitator does not tell the observers that there are no spies.)

5. The facilitator informs the subgroups of the location of the model and gives the signal to begin the activity.

6. When one hour has passed, the facilitator calls time. The timekeepers for each subgroup give their reports, and the facilitator records the scores on newsprint. Then the observer from each subgroup makes a report. The facilitator leads a discussion of the following group processes: the impact of competition between groups; methods of group problem solving; and the interaction between members of a leaderless group. He or she may relate these to time scores and the productivity of the subgroups.

7. The facilitator divulges the fact that there were no spies in any subgroup, and the total group discusses the behavior surrounding this issue. The group members can also discuss any feelings they may have experienced about being misled on this point.

8. Finally the facilitator discusses the learning’s gained from the activity and their application to real-life situations.

Variations

^? To increase competition between subgroups, a small amount of money can be collected from each participant as a prize for the winning team.

^? To examine intergroup dynamics, one essential block from each subgroup can be given to another subgroup.

^? To assist subgroups, one or more correct numbers may be written in advance on each work sheet.

^? To aid in timing the competition segment, a sixty-minute cassette tape can be made with the “time remaining” announced at fifteen-minute intervals for forty-five minutes, five-minute intervals for the next ten minutes, one-minute intervals for the next four minutes, and fifteen-second intervals for the last minute.

^? Different materials can be used.^? Planning minutes can “cost” one point each and assembly minutes three points each in order to determine a winning team.Submitted by Stephen J. Schoen.
DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING A SPY MODEL

Each subgroup receives a set of fourteen blocks. Twelve of the blocks are needed to duplicate the model.
The blocks can be made out of 2" x 2" wooden cubes. The top and bottom of each block are blank; the sides are painted with the figures specified below:

Figures

^Block
Side 1Side 2Side 3Side 4

1
2
*3*
4
5
6
7
8
9
*10*
11
12
13
14
5
7
7
7
1
1
5
8
4
2
8
?
9
90
?
?
6
9
4
?
9
2
3
3
6
4
48
1
1
4
0
8
?
2
?
9
2
?
1
17
?
?
?
3
6
0
?
5
7
0
?
?
?

*Block not needed to constructed model.

With an additional set of blocks, the facilitator constructs a model to be viewed by the teams. He or she does this by arranging blocks as shown in the two following views.

SPY TEAM DESIGN INSTRUCTION SHEET

On the table (in the next room) is a model made of blocks. On each of the four sides of a block there is either a number, a minus sign, a plus sign, or an equal sign. The general shape of the model is depicted on the Spy Team Design Work Sheet. The tops of the blocks are blacked out since only the sides of each block are marked.
Take the blocks allotted to your subgroup and spread them out on the table so that no two blocks are touching. Verify that you have fourteen blocks.
The task of each subgroup is to construct a duplicate of the model in the shortest time. You will have sixty minutes to complete the task. The duplicate must be “exact”; the shape must be the same as the model, and all numbers, plus, minus, and equal signs must be in the correct positions.
The activity is divided into two parts. The first part is preparation. Take as much of the sixty minutes for preparation as you want, because preparation time will not count in the competition. During preparation, you may handle the blocks, but you may not remove them from the table or place them so that they are touching any other blocks. You may use the work sheets, but you may not remove them from the table.
Any subgroup member (one at a time only) may go to view the model but may look at it from one side of the table only. A subgroup member may look at the model for as long as necessary and may return as often as he or she wishes, but is not permitted to see all sides of the model in any one viewing. Each time a subgroup member goes to view the model, regardless of how long he or she remains, fifteen seconds will be charged to your subgroup’s construction time. Subgroup members may view the model at any time during preparation or construction.
When your subgroup feels ready to construct the model, notify the timekeeper and begin constructing. Your construction time will automatically start if two blocks are deliberately placed so that they are touching. When you believe that your model is correct, notify the timekeeper, who will stop the timing. Your model will then be checked. If it is incorrect, you will be told that there is at least one mistake, and your construction time will continue.

SPY SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

(For your eyes only . . .)

In real life, all group members do not always work for the same goals. Sometimes people do things to reach personal rather than group goals. They may work against group goals because of group friction, lack of trust, inability to get along with a supervisor, etc. There may be such a person in your subgroup. We will call that person a “spy.” It is possible that more than one spy may be in a subgroup.
If you are a spy, you are to do everything in your power to hinder the efforts of your subgroup, without letting anyone know that you are a spy.
If a subgroup member thinks that another member is a spy, he or she can accuse that person of spying. The rest of the subgroup will vote, and if there is unanimous agreement, the spy can be excluded from any further deliberations of the subgroup.

? You are a spy.

? You are not a spy.

SPY TEAM DESIGN WORK SHEET
SPY TIMEKEEPER SHEET

You are to make an accurate record of the time used by your subgroup. It is important that the time be accurate.
In the space marked “visits to model,” place a check mark each time a member from the subgroup you are observing goes to view the model.
Do not time anything until the subgroup tells you it is ready to start constructing the model. As soon as it tells you, start keeping time.
When the subgroup tells you that it has completed the task, calculate the elapsed time and ask the facilitator to check the model. If the model is incorrect, continue keeping time until the subgroup again tells you it has completed the task, then calculate the elapsed time again and ask the facilitator to check the model.
At the end of the activity, add up the check marks in item 1 and multiply by fifteen seconds. Then write down in item 2 the actual time used according to the watch. Last, add items 1 and 2 to get a total construction time for item 3.

1. Visits to model: x fifteen seconds ? min. sec.

2. Construction time: ? min. sec.

3. Total construction time (item 1 plus item 2) ? min. sec.

SPY OBSERVER SHEET

You are to observe one subgroup during the activity. Feel free to wander around the subgroup as much as you like, but do not speak and do not answer any questions. Following is a list of things you should be looking for. Take notes and be prepared to discuss your observations after the activity.

Did any one member emerge as a leader?

Did other subgroup roles emerge, such as tension reliever, organizer, etc.?

Was there friction in the subgroup? Why?

Did people wonder who the spy was?

How was the preparation time used?

How was the construction time used?

Describe the level of teamwork you observed:

Who were high participators? Low participators?

Any other observations:

Download:

AN INTERGROUP ACTIVITY

	Figures
^Block	Side 1Side 2Side 3Side 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14	5 7 7 7 1 1 5 8 4 2 8 ? 9 90 ? ? 6 9 4 ? 9 2 3 3 6 4 48 1 1 4 0 8 ? 2 ? 9 2 ? 1 17 ? ? ? 3 6 0 ? 5 7 0 ? ? ?
*Block not needed to constructed model.