Beyond the Valley
of the Kings
Second
Edition
Illustrate the
concept of team synergy with Beyond the
Valley of the Kings, a challenging adventure
simulation that focuses on decision making under
pressure and the importance of team building.
Participants experience first-hand the advantage
of working as a team when they realize that the
results achieved as a group out-measure those of
any one individual.
The Scenario
An exhilarating hot air balloon tour seemed
like the perfect way to see the wonders of
Egypt. As you and your group gaze out at the
breathtaking views of the valleys far below, a
sudden gust of wind cuts the tranquil excursion
short. Soon the balloon is uncontrollable and
crash-lands in the endless white Saharan sands.
With blinding sand storms and a temperature drop
of 40 degrees likely, can your group make a plan
for survival and strive for rescue?
Beyond the Valley of the Kings is an
excellent exercise for strategic planning teams
and those who must think quickly in urgent,
high-stakes situations.
Learning
Outcomes
- Learn how
to manage and resolve group conflict
- Hone group
problem-solving skills
- Improve
communication
- Discover
the advantages of consensus decision making
Theory
Lifelong interest in Egyptian culture and a
dream-fulfilling trip inspired Beyond the
Valley of the Kings, 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).
How It Works
This powerful roundtable simulation challenges
teams to rank six action strategies and 10
salvaged items — first as individuals, and then
as a team. As the facilitator, you’ll begin the
exercise by introducing the adventure scenario.
Participants will then rank the strategies and
salvaged items on their own, using
pressure-sensitive scoring forms. Next, each
team conducts the same ranking process as a
unit. Finally, you’ll lead the participants into
a group action planning discussion, providing
the team with the opportunity to apply the
learning to the workplace.
Uses for
Beyond the Valley of the Kings
- Illustrate
the concept of team synergy
- “Break the
ice” among new or conflicted teams
- Give teams
a nonthreatening opportunity to work
together
- Help teams
practice consensus decision making
- Improve
active listening, probing, and confronting
behaviors in a realistic setting
- Train team
leaders in team facilitation skills
- Open or
close a learning session
- Introduce
an organizational change, such as the
transition to self-managing teams
- Interject a
fun activity into an otherwise serious
agenda
- Supplement
outdoor experiential learning
What to
Order/Product Contents
Order one Facilitator Guide per trainer and one
Participant Guide per team member.
Note: Beyond the Valley of the Kings
works best when participants are divided into
teams of seven or fewer per table.
Facilitator
Guide includes:
-
Administrative guidelines
- 2-hour
workshop design
- Expert
rationale
-
Experiential learning/training methodology
- Training
design options
- CD-ROM
containing Microsoft® PowerPoint®
presentation, reproducible masters, and
color slides of scenario location
- Updated
page layout
- Sample copy
of Participant Guide
- Convenient
binder format
Participant
Guide includes:
- Scenario
description
-
Pressure-sensitive response form
- Team
synergy score chart
- Team
discussion guidelines
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Team
Level:
