SKY WALK : Using Cartoon as a training tool for Teamwork
1. Introduction
Cartoons are used as training tools. Stephen Covey ( ) used in his book 'Seven Habits of highly effective people a cartoon of old lady and young lady so as to enlighten people regarding the concept of 'Paradigms'. More such tools will help the trainers in carrying out their job.An attempt is made in the present article by the author to interpret a cartoon related to team work.
2. The Cartoon - SKY WALK by three people
Here is a cartoon where in three members working as a team are crossing a high raised building tops from left side to right side . The cartoon depicts SKY WALK' of three people ' . The author sourced the cartoon from internet and no specific source is established hence, mentioned as anonymous.
Source of the cartoon: Anonymous. Author of this article found it as internet resource.
Author would like to thank the original cartoonist who had drawn it.
Following are the limitations that are imputed from the give cartoon. In all, there are three members. They are given a pole which is strong enough to carry the load of people as given in the cartoon. They have no access to resources other than mentioned in the cartoon.
It is cautioned that the roof top gap is so much that any attempts by the group members trying to jump to the other side will lead to FATAL consequences.
The challenge is - Three members have to cross the roof top left side to right side safely as a SKY WALK.
Effective Solution involves : Solution need to be designed in such a way that
- Able to perform within given constraints
- All human deficiencies are defied and made irrelevant.
- Resource constraints if any, are also irrelevant
- The situation as given is made use.... MOST
Key points in the cartoon :
A systematic analysis of the cartoon reveals the following: There are two key issues in the cartoon.
1. Length of the 'Walkable Gap'
2. Minimum Number of people needed for safe walkover
The cartoon has STANDARD size of WALKABLE GAP between the roof top edges as depicted in the cartoon. The gap is neither too big nor too small. Expert estimate of the Walkable Gap will be in the range of ; i) larger than one step ii) But smaller than two steps.
There is sound logic for this estimate. For example if the walkable gap is less than one step, then the members could have easily walked on the gap with no fatal consequences. Further, if the gap is wider then members cannot walk over the gap safely as shown in the cartoon.
It is also to be noted that there is MINIMUM NUMBER of PEOPLE required for a safe walkover. Unless otherwise it id not possible to have safe walkover the rooftops as depicted in the cartoon. The minimum number of people that are required is at least THREE. In case, there are only one or two members then they cannot walk over the gap safely.
This standard WALKABLE GAP coupled with MINIMUM REQUIRED NUMBER OF PEOPLE is the unique feature of the cartoon. These unique feature made the cartoon an interesting pedagogical tool for the trainers to impart management related lessons to many a learners.
3. TEAMWORK - Concepts
Team - High performance teams - Self managed teams - Leadership in team - Team formation stages - Team norms - Cohesiveness - Independent tasks - interdependent tasks - Outcome interdependence - Team members' roles - Competition and Coopetition - Authority in teamwork situations - Participative management- Flat teams4. Execution is the Key :
As the gap between roof tops is in the range of > one step but < two steps it is possible to design the walk in a systematic way so that crossing becomes a WALK.
- Members set a Vision, Mission, Objectives, and Goals for crossing the valley.This part plays an important role inspiring the members to raise to meet the given challenge.
- To motivate the group members there will be slogans, punch words are used.
- Members evolve as a team on the lines of team development stages 'Forming - Storming- Norming - Performing'.
- Members are aware of the strategy and trained for the execution of the strategy.
- Develop stage ( 9 Stages ) wise Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for completing the task in the cartoon. Analise the cartoon and prepare a step by step ....TASK SHEET...
- Agreed upon norms are arrived at and shared by the members
4. Task Analysis Sheet:
S T E P
|
Back
Member |
Middle
Member |
Front
Member |
|
1
|
||||
2
|
||||
3
|
||||
4
|
||||
5
|
||||
6
|
||||
7
|
||||
8
|
||||
9
|
||||
Total
|
Persons
| Front Person | Middle Person | Rear person |
Steps ( 1 to 9)
| |||
1
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
2
|
Half Risky,
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
3
|
Full Risky,
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
4
|
Half Risky,
|
Half Risky,
|
Safe
|
5
| Safe |
Full Risky,
|
Safe
|
6
| Safe |
Half Risky,
|
Half Risky,
|
7
| Safe |
Safe
|
Full Risky,
|
8
| Safe |
Safe
|
Half Risky,
|
9
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
Explanation for the situations mentioned above:
There are possible three types of situations members face for the Sky Walk.
1. Safe - Situation where both the legs of the person are based on the roof top. This situation is referred to as ' Safe'.
1. Safe - Situation where both the legs of the person are based on the roof top. This situation is referred to as ' Safe'.
2. Half Risky – Situation where one leg of the person is in the air and the other leg has support on the roof top. This situation is referred to as ' Half Risky'. Alternatively this situation may also be called Half Safe too.
3. Full Risky - Situation where both the legs of the person are in the air without any support. This situation is referred to as ' Fully Risky'.
Challenge in the cartoon is :
You are the MANAGER assumed the task of helping the three
people in crossing the valley. You need to come out with a well conceived
management plan for this to happen. Try to answer the following questions:
1.
SkyWalk - Task Analysis Sheet
SkyWalk - Task Analysis Sheet
Positions
|
C
|
B
|
A
|
|
1
|
^^^ ___
|
1C
Safe
|
1B
Safe
|
1A
Safe
|
2
|
_^^^___
|
2C
Pull Down
|
2B
Fulcrum
|
2A
Half Safe
|
3
|
3C
Pull Down
|
3B
Fulcrum
|
3A
Hanging -
UNSAFE
|
|
4
|
4C
|
4B
Fulcrum &
Halfsafe
|
4A
Half Safe
Pull down
|
|
5
|
5C
Carry
|
5B
Hanging- UNSAFE
|
5A
Carry
|
|
6
|
6C
Half safe
|
6B
Fulcrum &
Half Safe
|
6A
Pull Down
|
|
7
|
7C
Hanging- UNSAFE
|
7B
Fulcrum
|
7A
Pull Down
|
|
8
|
8C
Half Safe
|
8B
Fulcrum
|
8A
Pull Down
|
|
9
|
9C
|
9B
|
9A
|
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
Safe
|
2. Materials required
- Cartoon Sheet, A pole
- Brain Storming points
- Task analysis sheet
- PPT slides
- Teamwork concepts sheet
3. How to use the cartoon as learning method ?
2.
Illustrate
the 8 Step work process that is involved in crossing the river. Develop systematic task processes that are involved.
-
8 step crossing process
-
Tasks and roles - Three people take variety of
roles as they cross the valley. They change their roles in tandem with given accuracy.
-
Technical arrangements needed - Strength of the
pole, creating the markings on the pole to help the persons to know where to
catch the pole
-
People Competencies that are needed - Skill and
competencies than the will and way to do.
-
Traning inputs that are needed
Physical drill, Cooperation and coordination,
Motivating the people right kind
of slogans
-
Principles that need to be kept in mind :
The factors viz., ‘Physical
stamina’,
Need for extra infrastructure for
crossing the valley are made irrelevant.
Three people crossing the valley practice at NITIE Mumbai
3.
Illustrate
the task roles for THREE people in crossing the valley
4.
Compare
and contrast the three member roles - Person A Vs.Person B Vs. Person C .
Job
of Person A: Jobber A is the first person
who undertakes the work. And other two will follow him / her. Being the first
person to undertake the job he may be called ‘ DISCOVERER’ who is said to be
assuming additional effort in assuming the work.
Job
of Person B: Jobber B follows his fore walker i.e/. Jobber A hence Jobber B is follower. Comparatively, Jobber B’s
job is less risky compared to Jobber A
and more risky compared to Jobber A.
Job
of Person C: Similar to Jobber B, Jobber C
will follow his / her fore walkers in crossing the valley. Comparatively , Jobber C’s job is
less risky compared to Jobber B and Jobber A.
5.
What
are the salient features of the above action plan ?
While drawing the above action plan two
important principles are kept in mind for the safety of the people crossing the
valley in an excellent ( efficient and effective way ) manner.
ONE - If one carefully observe the designing
of crossing the valley plan, all the time,
TWO full persons equivalent are involved in crossing. Third person does not have role at any given time. Although it seems THREE persons are working.. It is only TWO persons are working..
Further, work process is so designed that at max. ONLY ONE person equivalent at any given time was not steadily ( RISKY) based on. Other TWO persons are invariably SAFE or at least LESS RISKY..
Further, work process is so designed that at any given time FOUR legs are bearing the load of one person. Designing such a plan is most efficient and effective given the situation. It is providing enough safety for the people to cross the valley . This is the CONCEPTUAL skills that managers bring in for achieving excellence.
Further, work process is so designed that at max. ONLY ONE person equivalent at any given time was not steadily ( RISKY) based on. Other TWO persons are invariably SAFE or at least LESS RISKY..
Further, work process is so designed that at any given time FOUR legs are bearing the load of one person. Designing such a plan is most efficient and effective given the situation. It is providing enough safety for the people to cross the valley . This is the CONCEPTUAL skills that managers bring in for achieving excellence.
TWO
- Overall, each of the three persons were undertaking equal and
similar
work . None of the persons are either overburdened or under burdended in doing the work.
Equal , Equitable work, Similar work is the NORM that is followed in designing the work process in this case.. This is again conceptual skill that managers bring in..
However, important point to be noted is that all though same and equal work is being done by the three people, the sequence of the same work varies among the same three persons. This variation in distribution of work has its own implications for the individuals. What are they ? Can you imagine.. Bring your answer to the class room and share it among your class mates..
Equal , Equitable work, Similar work is the NORM that is followed in designing the work process in this case.. This is again conceptual skill that managers bring in..
However, important point to be noted is that all though same and equal work is being done by the three people, the sequence of the same work varies among the same three persons. This variation in distribution of work has its own implications for the individuals. What are they ? Can you imagine.. Bring your answer to the class room and share it among your class mates..
THREE:
Making the physical stamina of people irrelevant in crossing the valley : Focus
of the work design used here was to develop a work system where people’s
stamina is not important.
6.
Similarity
and differences of Roles of three people
Category
of tasks
|
Similar
Cluster of TASKS
|
Role Definition
|
Safe
|
1A,
1B, 1C
9A,
9B, 9C
|
|
Half safe
|
2A,
6C …
4A,
|
|
Hanging &
Unsafe
|
3A,
5B, 7C
|
-
No
Effort; Depends on other members
-
|
Fulcrum & Half safe
|
4B,6B
|
-
Effort
is needed to maintain fulcrum ; Depends on others
|
Pull
down
|
-
Others
depend on
|
|
7.
What is the plan to allocate the tasks among
the three people?
Overall, sum total of total tasks, burdens
and responsibilities that are shared by the three people is equal. However,
there are variations among the roles of A, B and C in assuming the roles.
Accordingly roles are assigned.
8.
What kind
of training you think is needed to prepare the three people to assume
and enact their roles as enunciated in the action plan. Design a training plan for the same.
-
Understanding the nature of people’s contributions - Cooperation - for crossing the
valley
-
Persons contribute their cooperations for the
completion of task
-
Understanding the need for synchronization -
Coordination of cooperation
-
Practicing the
synchronization of their efforts (equi-length steps and eqi-speed steps
and steps in tandem ) through physical drill
-
Practicising each of the steps by the three
people separately and together
9.
Illustrate the importance of Conceptual - Human - Technical skills in completing the task.
Conceptual
skills - Imagining the ‘ Unimaginable as Imaginable’. Contributes immensely
towards EXCELLENCE
Human
skills - Influencing, communicating to people .. Makes it possible to
realize what is possible.
Technical
skills - Task planning,
10.
Is
there any role for the subject called ‘MANAGEMENT’ in completion of this task? What is that role
envisage it?
There involves the Management which brings
in the vitality in the present case. Management may include the following
-
Visualizing the
impossible to be possible
-
Make happen the impossible a possible
-
Detailed and meticulous planning of the task and
roles
-
Allocating the tasks and training the people
-
Motivating the people to take up the task and
achievement of excellence
11.
Describe
the MANAGERIAL EXCELLENCE with reference to the task given.
Managerial Excellence = Managerial
Efficiency X Managerial Effectiveness
|
12.
Identify the limitations a typical MANAGER
face in undertaking the task.
·
Fatal nature of the task
·
Resource constraints
·
People limitations
13.
Write
an appropriate caption for Crossing the Valley cartoon
SKY
WALK -
People
in general walk on a plain and safe land. It is unimaginable to think people
can walk in the sky without any grounding. The plan drawn for this cartoon
makes the fatal task into a cake walk. Hence it is labeled as SKY WALK.
14.
Try
to suggest suitable alternate methods ( with the given limitations) for crossing the valley
15.
? ?
