The Collaboration Game is a large multi-player board game which demonstrates how your operational results, customer satisfaction and staff capability are inextricably linked.
Players learn how your project or organisation fits into a wider context and how your success, in a complex environment, demands collaboration between individuals, functions, departments and institutions.
During the game, players gain a direct experience of how collaboration develops within a group - and how success is either reinforced or undermined by the way in which people communicate, make decisions and solve problems.
Players learn that in order to be successful they must view the system from other people’s perspective, understand how different parts are connected and make collective decisions.
The standard board seats 6 - 10 people
Each player assumes one of several roles typically found in your organisation. Each role and the moves are described by a role card. Players move counters around the board in accordance with their role card, deciding the number of counters to move in order to increase the total value on the board.
One full round of 8 moves represents a week in the life of your organisation. At the end of each round, results are recorded and compared between tables. A typical game lasts 2-3 hours.
We facilitate the beginning of the game to ensure that everyone understands the rules. Then the teams are left on their own to build a successful organisation. At key points during the game we facilitate discussions about how the teams are working together. At the end, we talk about how their behaviour influenced the outcome. We help them draw parallels with their experience of work and how they might apply the lessons they have learned.
A Leadership team playing in three tables
With senior teams, the game helps to structure their commitments and to talk about alignment. With large groups, we can use the game as part of a ‘whole system’ transformation, creating enthusiasm for change and for new and better ways of working together.
A company-branded game being played at a a larger conference
Although each game board is for a group of 6 - 10 players, several hundred people can play together at one time in a conference. We can tailor the board and the roles to the context and vocabulary of your organisation or sector.We can also ensure that the facilitated discussions concentrate on issues that are relevant to your sector and situation.