The Blue-Green Game (PowerPoint PPTX Slide Deck)

Introduction and Objective:

The Blue-Green Game is a team-building activity designed to highlight the significance of Win-Win thinking and effective teamwork. In many organizations, achieving a Win-Win situation where everyone benefits can be tough due to a lack of trust, communication, and teamwork. The primary objective of the game is to demonstrate the value of trust, teamwork, and communication in working towards a win-win outcome.

Applicability and Setup:

This game is suitable for various occasions such as team-building workshops, ice-breaker activities, and diverse training programs including negotiation skills, conflict management, problem-solving, Lean & Six Sigma process improvement, change management, and project management, among others. The game is played within four groups, with each group consisting of 5-6 participants (assuming a class size of 20 to 24 participants). Participants are divided into teams, and game referees manage the exchange of cards between these teams. The game unfolds across five rounds, each lasting one minute.

Learning Objective:

•  The core learning objective of the Blue-Green Game is to illustrate the importance of Win-Win thinking.

Running the Game:

The Blue-Green Game spans five rounds where teams, no matter the number of participants, engage in card exchanges with opposing teams. Each team decides to exchange a card of either blue or green color with their counterpart. An intriguing twist is that the color of the received card remains hidden until the exchange is complete. Once the exchange concludes, the true color is unveiled. Following every round, a net score is computed based on the colors of the exchanged cards. This score is determined by using a scoring table that assigns values to different card combinations. The net score can be positive or negative. The ultimate aim is to achieve the highest net positive score by the end of all rounds, securing victory. The game presents a challenge in fostering a mindset of win-win collaboration and teamwork, particularly within a competitive environment where distrust and zero-sum thinking could easily arise. Can your team surmount these challenges and showcase the skills needed to thrive in this unique challenge?

Scoring System:

The scoring system revolves around the colors of the exchanged cards. When both teams exchange green cards, they each lose -5 points. If both teams share blue cards, they each gain +5 points. Exchanging a green card for a blue card results in a +10 point gain for both teams. However, exchanging a blue card for a green card incurs a penalty of -10 points for both teams. A strategic challenge lies in the last round, where exchanging blue cards results in a hefty -100 point deduction. Hence, careful planning is key.

Negotiation Opportunity:

After the second round, teams have the chance to negotiate if they wish. Negotiators can create agreements they find beneficial. This phase encourages learning about trust, teamwork, and communication, rather than fostering competition within the organization.

Required Equipment/Tools:

To play the Blue-Green Game, you'll only need pencils or pens, cards made from A4 or letter-size paper, a score sheet displayed on a flip chart or wall, and a marker pen to update the score sheet.

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This training package includes:
1. Blue-Green Game instructional slides (PowerPoint format)
2. Blue-Green Game cards (Word document)
3. Blue-Green Game instructions for participants (Word document)
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The Blue-Green Game offers a dynamic and interactive approach to understanding the complexities of trust and collaboration in a competitive setting. Participants will experience firsthand the challenges and rewards of strategic decision-making and negotiation.