Decision-Making Dash

Discipline: Decision-making

Game Overview: The Decision-Making Dash is a thrilling and fast-paced event designed to enhance and showcase participants' decision-making skills under pressure. This engaging activity emphasizes quick thinking, collaboration, and critical analysis, allowing teams to tackle complex scenarios and make effective decisions in a limited amount of time. Participants will learn valuable lessons about the importance of timely and well-informed decision-making, which are crucial for effective leadership.

Duration: 20min or less

*You need a minimum of 3-5 employees to play

Objective

Make quick, effective decisions under pressure.

How to Play:

  1. Designate 1-3 Judge(s):

    • Judges will score all final presentations of the Decision-Making Dash using the criteria provided.

  2. Team Formation:

    • Teams: Form teams of 3-5 members.

    • Roles: Assign each team member a role: leader, note-taker, and presenter (timekeeping is shared among all members).

  3. Rapid Brainstorming Session (5 Minutes):

    • Note-Taker: Responsible for documenting the brainstorming session.

    • Order: Leader decides the speaking order for team members.

    • Timing: Each member has 1 minute to contribute to the decision-making process.

    • Process:

      • The leader introduces the complex problem or scenario.

      • Subsequent members add details, propose solutions, or refine the decision, ensuring coherence and consistency.

      • Steps:

        • Minute 1 (Leader): Introduce the complex problem or scenario.

        • Minute 2 (Member 2): Define possible solutions and their implications.

        • Minute 3 (Member 3): Assess risks and benefits of the proposed solutions.

        • Minutes 4-5 (All Members): Collaboratively decide on the best solution incorporating all contributions.

  4. Presentation (2 Minutes):

    • The presenter of each team presents their final decision and rationale to a panel of judges within 2 minutes or less.

Scoring Criteria:

Using a scale of 1-5 the judge/s will award points as follows:

  1. Quality of Decision:

    • 1: Decision is poor and unlikely to solve the problem.

    • 2: Decision is weak with significant flaws.

    • 3: Decision is acceptable with some minor flaws.

    • 4: Decision is good and likely to be effective.

    • 5: Decision is excellent and highly effective.

  2. Speed:

    • 1: Team was significantly over the time limit.

    • 2: Team was somewhat over the time limit.

    • 3: Team was within the time limit with some time management issues.

    • 4: Team managed time well and was within the time limit.

    • 5: Team was very efficient and completed well within the time limit.

  3. Team Collaboration:

    • 1: Team showed poor collaboration and communication.

    • 2: Team had some collaboration issues.

    • 3: Team collaborated adequately with minor issues.

    • 4: Team collaborated well with effective communication.

    • 5: Team demonstrated excellent collaboration and seamless communication.

Additional Tips:

  • Effective Communication: Clearly state your ideas and ensure they build on previous contributions. Avoid jargon and complicated language to keep the decision accessible and understandable.

  • Active Listening: Pay attention to each team member’s input. This ensures that subsequent contributions are relevant and build upon the previous ones.

  • Time Management: Keep track of time using a timer. Each member should practice delivering their ideas concisely within the 1-minute limit.

  • Focus on the Big Picture: Avoid getting bogged down in minor details. Focus on the core elements of the decision.

  • Encourage Creativity: Think outside the box and encourage bold, innovative ideas. A unique solution is more likely to stand out and be compelling.

  • Stay Positive and Supportive: Foster a positive environment where all team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas. Constructive feedback is key to refining the decision.

Example:

Team A’s Decision Express:

  • Minute 1 (Leader, Paula): "Our complex problem is a sudden financial downturn impacting our company's budget for the next quarter."

  • Minute 2 (Member 2, Willy): "Possible solutions include cutting non-essential expenses, seeking short-term loans, or implementing a temporary hiring freeze."

  • Minute 3 (Member 3, Yasmin): "Assessing risks: Cutting expenses might impact morale, loans will increase debt, hiring freeze could delay projects."

Minutes 4-5 (All Members): "We decide to cut non-essential expenses and implement a hiring freeze while exploring short-term loans as a backup plan. This will minimize immediate impact and allow time for financial recovery."