Scramble, Scramble, Scramble
This is a game I've just made up after reading this: Bruce Tuckman - Developmental Sequence in small groups.
The game is called scramble scramble scramble (apologies for the military metaphor - let me know if you can think of a better one) and it goes like this:
The claxon sounds, over and over. You know it's time for you and your crew to pull on your flight gear as fast as you can and fly the mission.
1. Your Crew
As you walk out on to the tarmac you notice the rest of your crew - you relax a little bit when you see all the familiar faces. Everybody knows what they need to do and everybody knows what everybody else is supposed to be doing. Jobs get handed off seamlessly from one to another. When things get sticky (as they often do) everybody feels free to speak their mind. Your look over at the navigator, your co-pilot, the gunner and the bomber - you know you couldn't be going up with a better crew.

Do you need these guys?
2. Your Mission
You've flown this mission a hundred times. You know the way out and the way back like the back of your hand. You know where to expect flak you know where you can take it easy. This is going to be - as they say "a piece of cake."
3. Your Rig
She's a beauty of an airplane - you see her standing there on the tarmac, the moonlight glinting off her. You know all her quirks and foibles. You know that she can do the job and your team know how to get her to do it.
Above describes a perfect "dream scenario" - a hyper-productive team. Now the game is to change either the crew, the mission or the rig to make things slightly more exciting and then say what would happen. For example, here's some ways you could change the crew.
1. Your Crew (scrambled)
As you walk out onto the tarmac, you notice that you don't know any of your crew. After some discussion you find out that you've been assigned an experience navigator, bomber and gunner who claim that they know what to do, they just don't know each other...
How would that change the dynamics of the team? How about this?
As you come out onto the tarmac you see that not only are your team a bunch of strangers, they are dressed in strange uniforms - one looks like he might be a sailor. Another is covered in camouflage, you think he might be some kind of commando - he's quite scary. The third is dressed in civilian clothes you've no idea who these people are, or how you're going to fly the mission with them. Oh well, there's a war on, what can you do but your best?

Or these guys?
Unfortunately when you try to find out who is who and who can do what, a fight breaks out. The navy guy clearly thinks he's in charge. The civilian is complaining that the commando has already stolen his wallet and has threatened him with violence if he doesn't get more money.2. Your Mission (scrambled)
You come out on the tarmac and you're relived to see your old team. But when you open the dossier that contains the mission documents you see that the mission is much more difficult and tortuous than the missions you're used to. You're very unsure that your team can do it. You think they might need time to retrain, or maybe bring in some more experts. You might need a different plane. If you have to do it tonight, even with your good old crew you're going to be very worried indeed.
Or how about this?
You come out onto the tarmac and you're relieved to see that alongside you is your good old crew, but when you look in the dossier for the mission documents, they aren't the normal set of documents you expect. Rather there are just a couple of slogans about "Doing your duty" a few beer mats in a foreign language, and a note from your commanding officer, saying sorry for giving you such an innappropriate mission but no one else was available and he was sure that you would do the best you can.
3. Your Rig (scrambled)
You rush out onto the tarmac to find that your plane has been upgraded to the most modern model. The gun controls and bombing sights are far more complicated than they were on the previous plane. On the other hand, the navigation instruments and the fly by wire systems are so effective that you're not sure you still need a navigator.
Or how about this?
Your team come out on to the tarmac only to find a ride-on mower. You'd heard that there was an equipment shortage, but this is ridiculous!You seriously doubt that your team is going to be able to complete the mission.
For further information, contact mark@agilelab.co.uk (07736 807 604)
Labels: Bruce Tuckman, team-building, teams
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