Teamwork

The Pyramid Game II

Good team organisation and excellent communications skills are essential when planning this project to build a prestigious pyramid. It has to be on time, within budget and accurate. Depending on the route, teams may have to construct a raft or a bridge (materials supplied).


How it works

Teams represent companies tendering to build a prestigious pyramid, on time and within budget. Each team receives six briefing sheets but what is not immediately apparent is that the back pages are all different. Teams need to realise this, share the information and get down to some serious teamwork. The task involves choosing the best stone quarry, planning a route to transport the stone (while avoiding the deadly disease called the 'scourge'), estimating the time it will take to complete the project and how much it will cost. They must build a scale model of a bridge or raft, depending on which is needed and, finally, prepare a convincing presentation to win the contract in the face of stiff competition from the other teams!

What it does

This is a great test of teamwork - teams must sort out the initial communication challenge, decide what to do and how to do it. Sharing out the work and monitoring progress are essential to finishing on time with a convincing presentation and impressive model.

Customer feedback

  • Energising and a real challenge for people of all levels in project teams. The best learning comes from the need to win the contract, the leadership, teamwork and delegation. highly participative.

    – H. Todd, Communicate Ltd

  • We use this activity with credit risk analysts. It's fun, challenging and easily 'transferable' to the workplace. We can link the activity to influencing, problem-solving, risk-training and working with others.

    – Management Development Team, Financial Services Sector

  • Fun, challenging and easily 'transferable' to the workplace in terms of influencing, problem-solving, risk-taking and working with others.

    – Management Development Manager, Leading Building Society (name withheld)