A630.8.4.RB_Build a Tower_Build a Team_Wathen_Sandra

       A630.8.4.RB_Build a Tower_Build a Team_Wathen_Sandra

   Ref:  TED Talk by Tom Wujec – Ideas Worth Spreading…

This was an interesting video clip on how an individual design challenge using marshmallow can show the importance of the thinking processes required for quick collaboration.  There were four teams challenged to develop a free standing structure with a marshmallow on top.  The material included 26 spaghetti noodles, 1 yard of tape, 1 yard of string, and 1 marshmallow.

The task was to build the tallest, free standing structure with the marshmallow on top.

Although it may seem simple, it is actually hard to conduct quick collaboration to solve problems amongst a team.  In this particular challenge, the groups were very diverse – those from graduate schools, lawyers, CEOs, Architects/Engineers, and Kindergartens. 

It was interesting to see the results as the children from Kindergarten actually did better than most.  The reason was that they did so well was that their thinking was not cluttered by self perceived, nor outside obstacles and their un-tampered minds were open to think naturally from a prototyping perspective; making them the highest success group during first challenge.  Basically, they did not have hidden assumptions cluttering their thinking.  Also, they were successful because their approach was an iterative prototyping method in how they were designing to the requirements.

Tom explained his theory - the other functional categories have been trained to go for the very best and then deal with crisis; basically do lots of planning then run out of time and put something together quickly.  Mr. Wujec explained it as, when the “Ta Da’s become the Uh Oh’s”.    

One thing that was also mentioned that adding a person to the team that understands the processes and can facilitate will make the outcome more successful.  Mr. Wujec used an example of adding an executive assistant to the team and it caused the results to be more positive.  He explained the reasoning is that a person who understands the processes and who can facilitate will add value to the success.

What typically happens is that when faced with a requirement for a quick collaboration there is so much time trying to orient one another to the group, trying to layout the plan, that the time runs out and the product gets put together haphazardly.    There tends to be so many distractions at first with the thought processes. 

This particular challenge provided insight to the importance of identifying hidden assumptions, sharing experiences and common goals.  This group collaboration challenge is also an example of how prototyping is essential in that it allows for an iterative process and provides time to fix things along the way.   Tom also mentioned that high stakes will tend to have strong impacts.   In addition, the having specialized skills along with the facilitating skills are essential to derive success.  So, in reality the value of prototyping is: Incentives +  High Skills (both Specialized and Facilitating) = SUCCESS!

Design is a truly a contact sport in that it demands that we bring all of our senses to the task -- all of our senses to the tasks, applying the best of thinking and feelings, and our doing -- with some prototyping which can give us a “Ta Dah” instead of an “Uh Oh” moment as stated by Tom Wujec.

   Do you agree with Tom Wujec's analysis of why kindergarteners perform better on the Spaghetti Challenge than MBA students? 

   Yes, I can understand why kindergarteners can perform better than MBA students for this challenge.  Their thought processes have not been “cluttered” with things to distract them with their task.  They come very open-minded.  As Tom mentioned that kids don’t have to jockey for power; they can be themselves.

   Can you think of any other reasons why kids might perform better?   

I think also that children are very quizative at that age.  Their minds are full of creativity, curiosity and they get excited over small successes.  They also do not realize pressure like adults; therefore can think differently when given a task.

In your view, why do CEOs with an executive assistant perform better than a group of CEOs alone?  

   Because they are looking at things from a different perspective.  The CEO will be expert - looking at the big picture, vision, and tasks to complete.  The Executive assistant will be familiar with the processes and the areas needed for facilitating.  They will complement one another in that they bring different skills for collaboration.  A group of CEOs alone will be missing one of the essential group functions needed for success; that of the facilitator/process insight.

        

   If you were asked to facilitate a process intervention workshop, how could you relate the video to process intervention skills?

   This video provides insight on the importance of having the right skills for success.   Based on the statistics, it is proven that processes intervention skills combined with specialized skills provide the roadmap to success.  This video is a basis for promoting the importance of understanding processes and the ability to facilitate on a team is just as important as the specialized/technical skills.

        

  What can you take away from this exercise to immediately use in your career?

   From a career standpoint, I am already trying to find ways to use this video or at least the marshmallow challenge within our organization.  It seems to be a fun way to re-emphasize how important it is to think differently, understand the importance of what makes success, and more so to encourage a methodology to include prototyping in the approach to finding solutions.