first presented at UXPA Boston 2015 revised play guide available for download: https://goo.gl/JKCGCl

1. a game for building
trust and communication skills
Tina Chou
@iamtinac

2. Team Building Activity:
• make something tangible
• use your hands
• play!
(also a great icebreaker)

3. What do you need?
• 45 minutes
• 6-8 people
• a flat surface, preferably a table
• a copy of Instructures (~$20 on Amazon)

5. Keep:
• building blocks
• blueprints

6. Rules:
Copying is allowed… at your own risk.

7. The first team that thinks
they have built the structure
stops the clock.
All construction is halted.
The other team inspects.
if (built == blueprint) {
score++;
} else {
score--;
}

8. Start with a warm-up round.
No pressure.

9. Chaos

10. Order

11. like design pattern libraries
Develop a
Common Language

12. like prototyping
Constant Feedback
& Iteration
“move it upright… the other way(s)!”

13. explain your vision to people
who cannot see it
Communicate with
Different People

14. enable your team to succeed
without touching anything
Everyone Practices
Being Hands Off

15. be open to taking on new roles
when the need arises
Roles Can Change,
Be a Team Player
defined vs. flexible

16. continuous improvement
Optimize for
Efficiency
Are these the best names?
• pole
• column
• stick
• long thing

17. does the language still work?
Scale for More
Complexity

18. blocks can be tilted??
Handle New
Paradigm Shifts

19. CHALLENGE ROUND
Work With New
Constraints
The foreman can’t see what their team
is building while giving the instructions.
Communication is a two-way street!

20. Revised play guide available for download:
https://goo.gl/JKCGCl
How does it end?
• first to win 3 rounds in a row
• first to reach 12 points
• when you run out of time
• …up to you!

21. Reflect:
• How did you develop your team process?
• What improvements did you make?
• How do you think this relates to the “real world”?

22. To Summarize:
• Communication is a team sport.
• Feedback and iteration is essential to success.
• Trust your team.
Working with people should be fun!

23. Try it and share!
uxteamgames@gmail.com
Tina Chou
@iamtinac
slideshare.net/iamtinac