Outback - Team Adventure Simulation
Outback is a team simulation for management development training. Team members learn and practice the group process skills needed to achieve synergy, including problem solving, consensus decision making, and conflict resolution.
When it comes to synergistic teams, the sum of the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts. This is why most, if not all, organizations today look to teams to make important decisions, strategize, and solve problems. But in order to achieve peak performance, teams must be able to maximize a collaborative approach.
Part of the ever popular HRDQ Team Adventure Series, Outback is a survival-based classroom training exercise that provides a safe, non-threatening means for teams to practice and develop the group process skills they need to reach synergy. The simulation challenges teams to work together to overcome a disaster scenario by engaging effective methods of decision-making, communication, problem solving, and conflict resolution. Outback makes an especially effective training exercise for management teams.
The Scenario
One morning a group of friends decide to take a daring hike in the Australian outback – without a guide. Now, after following a herd of beautiful wild ponies for more than an hour, the sight of any recognizable trail is lost. Every tree, shrub, and patch of ground looks exactly the same, and now they’re officially lost in the Australian bush! It could be days before the group is found. With only daypack supplies and dressed in khakis, t-shirts, hats, and hiking boots, the group must find a way to organize itself into a team and find a way to survive the elements.
One morning a group of friends decide to take a daring hike in the Australian outback – without a guide. Now, after following a herd of beautiful wild ponies for more than an hour, the sight of any recognizable trail is lost. Every tree, shrub, and patch of ground looks exactly the same, and now they’re officially lost in the Australian bush! It could be days before the group is found. With only daypack supplies and dressed in khakis, t-shirts, hats, and hiking boots, the group must find a way to organize itself into a team and find a way to survive the elements.
Quick Links
Learning Outcomes
Theory and Development
Uses for the Simulation
How it Works
What to Order
Related Products
Theory and Development
Uses for the Simulation
How it Works
What to Order
Related Products
Learning Outcomes
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Learn how to manage and resolve group conflict
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Hone group problem-solving skills
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Improve communication
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Discover the advantages of consensus decision making
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Experience the concept of synergy
Theory and Development
An unforgettable trip to the wilds of Australia brought about the idea for Outback, a survival simulation that demonstrates “team synergy” — the belief that decisions made by groups are better than decisions made by individuals acting alone (Michaelson, Watson, & Black, 1989). Groups bring a greater sum total of knowledge and information to the discussion of a problem, as well as a greater number of approaches and perspectives. The simulation can also demonstrate “process loss.” This phenomenon occurs when a knowledgeable group member outperforms the group, indicating that the member’s knowledge was lost sometime during the group discussion. In order for group decision making to work, unique information must be shared and absorbed by the group (Stasser, 1992).
Uses for the Simulation
Outback can be used as a standalone training instrument, or it can be incorporated into a more comprehensive program on teambuilding. It also makes an effective component in training programs for a variety of topics such as problem solving and decision making.
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Illustrate the concept of team synergy
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“Break the ice” among new or conflicted teams
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Give teams a nonthreatening opportunity to work together
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Help teams practice consensus decision making
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Improve active listening, probing, and confronting behaviors in a realistic setting
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Train team leaders in team facilitation skills
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Open or close a learning session
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Introduce an organizational change, such as the transition to self-managing teams
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Interject a fun activity into an otherwise serious agenda
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Supplement outdoor experiential learningCopyright 2009 4D Training Resources. All rights reserved.How It WorksOutback is a powerful roundtable simulation challenges teams to rank 10 action alternatives and 10 daypack items — first as individuals, and then as a team. As a trainer, you begin the simulation with a description of the scenario. Participants then rank the alternatives and daypack items on their own, using pressure-sensitive scoring forms. Next, each team conducts the same ranking process as a unit. Finally, you lead the participants into a group action planning discussion, providing the team with the opportunity to apply the learning to the workplace.If you are planning to use Outback in a classroom training session, we recommend you allow approximately 1 hour for interpretation of scores, topic discussion, debrief, and action planning. The Outback Facilitator Guide includes everything you need to lead a successful training session from comprehensive background information and activities, to reproducible handouts and even a professional PowerPoint presentation. The Facilitator Guide also offers an easy-to-follow workshop outline that expands Outback into a 3-hour program.
What to OrderInitial Rollout
You will need to order a Facilitator Guide per trainer and 1 Print Participant Guide for each individual learner. The Starter Kit is a great way to begin your rollout and includes a Facilitator Guide and 5 Print Participant Guides. Additional Participant Guides may be purchased separately. Purchasing all of the participant materials you need at one time may qualify you for quantity discounts that can save you money and simplify ordering.If you are new to this product we highly recommend HRDQ QuickStart Training, whether you are a novice trainer or a seasoned facilitator. It’s an excellent way to quickly get up to speed on the product so you can step into your first training class with confidence. Personalized, one-on-one telephone coaching is provided at your convenience. Our subject matter experts will review the program with you, offer ideas for tailoring the program to your specific needs, discuss typical participant questions and reactions, and more.
Ongoing Training
Each time you administer the simulation, you will need to order a new Participant Guide for each individual. Quantity discounts begin at 50 units per order. Additional Facilitator Guides are also available for individual purchase if you have additional trainers or require a new copy.
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