You don't have to leave earth for stellar skill development. Long gone are the days where collaboration served as an intermittent, as-needed approach to conquering company initiatives. Employers are growing increasingly aware of Mars Rover Challenges widespread benefits and value it as a constant in the workplace. Why? It encourages collaborative behaviors and even going so far as to redesign workspaces to stimulate it. However, some people need to see it in action and practice it for themselves before they can fully embrace its benefits.
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Overview
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Details
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What to Order
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Authors
How It Works
The Mars Surface Rover is designed to introduce new leaders and expose experienced leaders to the benefits of facilitative leadership. It’s an ideal learning experience for:
- New leaders who want to incorporate facilitative leadership into their developing style
- Traditional leaders who are being retrained to move toward a more facilitative style of leadership
- Managers who oversee teams
- Illustrating the differences between groups and teams
- Rejuvenating established teams who have reverted to “group work” habits
- Encouraging team members to assume team roles and responsibilities
Both versions demonstrate the power of collaboration and enable participants to cultivate the mindset and behaviors integral to effective implementation. The differences lie only in the lens through which collaboration is viewed - either from the perspective of leadership or teamwork. While each game has been designed to function independently, using them in tandem presents a more thorough, holistic picture of collaboration and the positive effects it has on employee engagement and productivity.
Learning Outcomes
- Practice functioning in silos and contrast this experience with working collaboratively
- Understand why silos weaken team performance and undermine the overall organization
- Explore why collaborative teamwork is the best approach for long-term success
- Create an individual plan to minimize silos and increase collaboration
Product Details
Product Type: Game. The Deluxe Kit includes a complete Teamwork and Leadership Game Kit. Both versions separately demonstrate the power of collaboration and enable participants to cultivate the mindset and behaviors integral to effective implementation.
Target Audience:
- New leaders who want to incorporate facilitative leadership into their developing style
- Traditional leaders who are being retrained to move toward a more facilitative style of leadership
- Managers who oversee several teams or coordinate teams
Measures: The purpose of the Mars Surface Challenge activity is to demonstrate the advantages of facilitative leadership and the drawbacks of traditional and passive leadership.
Dimensions: Communication, influence, administration, thinking, and interpersonal skills.
Time Required: Simulation: 15 minutes. Workshop: Two hours.
What to Order
Deluxe Leadership & Teamwork Game Kit: Order for One Kit for Both the Leadership & Teamwork Game Kits.
Leadership Game Kit: Order One Kit to Train Three Teams of Five Players.
The Leadership Game Kit includes all of the required components to facilitate the game, as well as an initial supply of workbooks for up to 18 participants. For sessions with more than three teams, you may order an extra team pack.
Leadership Workbook 5-Pack: Order One Pack for Up to Five Participants.
Participants are responsible for recording all of their results in each area in their Leadership Workbook. Let participants compare their results to those from the first round and determine how much their performance improved (or declined).
Leadership Extra Game Pack: Order One for Up to Five Participants.
Order an additional leadership game pack if you need to train more participants. Also includes an additional set of workbooks.
Teamwork Game Kit: Order One Kit to Train Three Teams of Four to Seven Players.
The Teamwork Game Kit includes all of the required components to facilitate the game, as well as an initial supply of workbooks for up to 18 participants. For sessions with more than three teams, you may order an extra team pack.
Teamwork Workbook 5-Pack: Order One Pack for Up to Five Participants.
Participants are responsible for recording all of their results in each area in their Teamwork Workbook. Let participants compare their results to those from the first round and determine how much their performance improved (or declined).
Teamwork Extra Game Pack: Order One Kit to Train Three Teams of Four to Seven Players.
Order an additional leadership game pack if you need to train more team of 4-7 players. Also includes an additional set workbooks.
HRDQue Cards 5-Pack: Order One Pack for Up to Five Participants.
Each team requires an HRDQue Card Set with six cards containing the key steps for assembling the Rover. In the first construction round, the cards are confidential, and each team member draws one and completes the specific ed task individually. In the second construction round, team members share their cards with one another.
Extra Parts Bag: Order One Bag Per Additional Team.
The extra game bag includes reusable parts for an additional rover.
About the Authors
Eileen M. Russo, Ph.D. is former vice president of research and development for HRDQ. She has a Ph.D. in social psychology with a minor in organizational behavior and an MS in social psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Russo has a BA in psychology from Fairfield University. Her work includes research in social influence, group behavior, decision making, and perceptions of control at work. As vice president of research and development, she was responsible for overseeing the development of HRDQ products.
Matthew Eckler is a former research associate for HRDQ. He specializes in assessment development and redesign. He received a BS in communications media with an emphasis in organizational communication from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. His areas of expertise are process improvement, survey instrumentation, and educational needs assessment.