Outback
Outback

Outback

$247.35
Starter Kit for up to 5 Participants
Select Components:

One morning a group of friends decide to take a daring hike in the Australian outback - without a guide. They follow a herd of wild ponies, but before they know it, the sight of any recognizable trail is lost. Every tree, shrub, and patch of ground suddenly looks exactly the same, and now they're officially lost in the Australian bush. A rush of panic strikes the group as they realize it might be days before they're found. Dressed in khakis, t-shirts, hats, and hiking boots, they must find a way to survive the elements with only limited daypack supplies and the clothes on their backs.

HRDQ's Team Adventure Series training simulations are a popular choice for team development training. They're an effective way to introduce the concept of synergy and help team members quickly develop vital group-process skills such as consensus decision making, problem-solving, communication, and conflict resolution in a nonthreatening learning environment.

  • Overview
  • Details
  • FAQ's
  • Authors

How It Works

Each adventure simulation in HRDQ's Team Adventure Series starts with a suspense-filled scenario that challenges teams to work together to escape danger with only limited resources - and each other. While most people can rest assured knowing they'll never encounter these survival situations, they do experience similar feelings of stress and conflict that accompany everyday organizational life.

Outback is a team building simulation requires participants to band together to survive with limited supplies in the Australian bush. Following the introduction of the survival scenario, participants are challenged to rank four immediate response alternatives and ten daypack items - first as individuals and then a second time as a team. Participants compare their team scores to the best individual score and expert rationale to determine if synergy was achieved.

The two-hour workshop explores the concept of synergy and helps teams to develop vital group-process skills such as decision making and interpersonal communication. The exercise also includes an introduction to three elements of synergy, a five-step problem-solving technique, four critical group maintenance skills, and the importance of consensus decision making.

Uses and Applications

Outback can be used as a standalone training instrument or incorporated into a more comprehensive program on team building. It's also effective as a component for problem-solving and decision-making training programs. Use the survival simulation to:

  • 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
  • Interject a fun activity into an otherwise serious agenda
  • Supplement outdoor experiential learning

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants will:

  • Hone group problem-solving skills using a five-step process
  • Learn techniques for team conflict resolution
  • Understand four techniques to improve communication
  • Discover the advantages of consensus decision making
  • Learn the three elements of synergy

Product Details

Product Type: Survival simulation. The Outback Facilitator Guide is designed as a detailed resource binder used by the trainer to deepen participants’ understanding of the concepts throughout this simulation.

Target Audience: Team members at any level, especially those who work under pressure.

Measures: Consensus decision making and decision making under pressure.

Dimensions: Conflict resolution, team synergy, communication skills, and problem-solving.

Time Required: Simulation: 15 minutes. Workshop: 2 hours.

What to Order

Starter Kit: Order One Kit For Up to Five Participants.

Includes the Facilitator Guide and a pack of five Participant Guides.

Facilitator Guide: Order One Guide Per Trainer.

Includes everything trainers need to deliver a successful learning experience, including background information, administrative guidelines, a step-by-step workshop outline, expert rationale, alternative training designs, a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, and sample participant materials.

Participant Guide 5-Pack: Order Pack For Up to Five Participants.

The Participant Guide includes the adventure scenario, pressure-sensitive scoring, background information, team worksheets, and action planning.

About the Authors

The HRDQ Development Team creates soft-skills learning solutions that help to improve the performance of individuals, teams, and organizations. At HRDQ, we believe an experiential approach is the best catalyst for adult learning. Our unique Experiential Learning Model has been the core of what we do for more than 40 years. We combine the best of organizational learning theory and proven facilitation methods with an appreciation for adult learning styles, our philosophy initiates and inspires lasting change.