Subarctic Survival Situation

Virtual team-building activity enhancing team development and improving problem solving and decision-making skills

The Subarctic Survival Situation provides a unique opportunity to quickly and objectively measure whether your group is achieving synergy. Using the teamwork activity to demonstrate the elusive concept, synergy occurs when the interactive efforts of two or more people produce a solution that is superior to their independent solutions. By measuring the quality of both individual and team performance on the single task of ranking 15 items, groups are allowed to quickly calculate the extent to which they are fully utilising their resources—and doing so in a way that achieves synergy and enhances team development. The activity has been developed in such a way to teach teams how to improve problem-solving through learning the interpersonal (people) and rational (task) skills and behaviors that lead to successful teamwork.


WHAT IS THE SUBARCTIC SURVIVAL SITUATION?

"It is approximately 2:30 p.m., October 5, and you have just crash-landed in a float plane on the east shore of Laura Lake in the subarctic region of the northern Quebec-Newfoundland border. Your task is to rank 15 items salvaged from the plane in the order of their importance to your team's survival.”

Set in an unfamiliar location, this activity takes the participants outside of their organisational roles and areas of expertise to a situation where only their synergistic problem-solving skills will help them to survive.

Scores are generated by comparing individual and team rankings to those provided by the Canadian Armed Forces 413 Transport & Rescue Squadron. Comparisons between individual and team scores indicate whether the teams achieved synergy by building on the knowledge and skills of their members.

 

AREAS OF APPLICATION

This activity works well as an icebreaker, team activity, pre-/post-test after an intervention for any organisation or team focused on:

  • Team building

  • Team development and collaboration

  • Team problem-solving and decision-making

  • Team communication


REPORTING RESULTS

All team members first individually rank the 15 items on the system, on their own devices. A team discussion is then facilitated, after which the team then submits their ranking of the 15 items. The online system then scores both the individual and team ranks in real-time during the activity, providing feedback on the correct ranking of the items as well as the problem-solving and decision-making style of the team and whether or not they have achieved synergy.


SOUTH AFRICAN RESEARCH

JVR Psychometrics welcomes the opportunity to partner with clients in conducting studies using the Subarctic Survival Situation in their organisations.

Product Info

Training

None

Age range

Individuals 18 years and older

Administration time

Not specified

Norms

Global

Languages

English

Administration Platform

User Portal

Integrated reports

None

Author

J. Clayton Lafferty, Ph.D with Human Synergistics® International

Publisher

2019 Human Synergistics International.

Questions about Subarctic Survival Situation?

Ask an expert

Fill in the form and one of our product experts will be in touch with you.

We're committed to your privacy. JVR Africa Group uses the information you provide to us to contact you about relevant content, products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information, see our Terms of Business. All fields are required.

Newsletter

Get up-to-date industry news right in your inbox

  • Curated industry news in your inbox
  • Certification and CPD training offerings
  • Free resources
A happy woman reading something on a tablet device

This site uses cookies to enhance your experience and to provide us with information on how to improve our website. To find out more, see our Terms of Business.