A630.8.4.RB - Shuck, Allison

Build a Tower, Build a Team 

Do you agree with Tom Wujec's analysis of why kindergartners perform better on the Spaghetti Challenge than MBA students?

Mr. Wujec’s observation was enlightening.  He evaluated different teams (kindergartners and upper level students) in their efforts to complete a difficult building project. His observations show that kindergartners achieve the task better than upper level (master) students. Why, because kindergartners do not care about failing; they are not concerned with completion, per-pressure or their grade; kindergartners simply complete the task because it is “fun”.

Can you think of any other reasons why kids might perform better?

I think kids perform better because they use their imagination and are not afraid to fail. Even if the first attempt is not successful, they will try again without hesitation. They are not intimidated by the task.

In your view, why do CEOs with an executive assistant perform better than a group of CEOs alone?

I think it is funny that a CEO cannot function without his or her executive assistant. So many CEO’s today rely on their executive assistants for everything and therefore, lack the ability to think outside of the box. A CEO’s main responsibility is to be the figurehead of the organization; therefore, many CEO’s does not know how to perform day-to-day operations. Thus, the role of the executive assistant was created. Executive assistants are responsibilities for maintaining the CEO’s schedule and performing day-to-day tasks.  

If you were asked to facilitate a process intervention workshop, how could you relate the video to process intervention skills?

I think that if I were an OD practitioner responsible for conducting a process intervention, I would use the spaghetti challenge. The spaghetti challenge requires collaboration, communication and team work from all group members.  It forces team member to work together in order to successfully complete the challenge.

What can you take away from this exercise to immediately use in your career?

Well for starters, I can stop focusing on obtaining the “grade” and start focusing on learning and retaining the information I am studding. Much too often, I over analysis my work; I constantly read and re-read and often re-write my sentences and before I know it, I have re-written my whole paper. It is exhausting and I really need to stop worrying so much and just write from the heart!