Team Dynamics and Conflict Resolution: Monks show the way

Dr Mandi surprised us, as has now become routine, with a lecture on Team Dynamics and Strategy by using an old cartoon video of 3 Monks and a peculiar problem that they tackle.

Again, let me allow the video to do all the talking :

IMPORTANT: If you are reading this line, and haven't seen the video, I would strongly recommend reading no further. The video is a classic in itself and very easy to follow. The concepts and lessons listed below would remain incomplete if they are perused without seeing the video.

About the Film
The story of the three Buddhist Monks is an anime film directed by A Da.

Three Monks at its simplest interpretation espouses the virtues of teamwork. While teamwork is an important lesson, it alone seems not to be the driving force behind the plot.

More about the film can be read here : Three Monks

Key Lessons

Dr Mandi used the video to illustrate some key management concepts. These included:

Productivity and Team Work -> It is a measure of how well an operations system functions. We are familiar with the equation, 

Excellence = Efficiency X Effectiveness

The video very adeptly highlights the concepts of productivity and how it varies with the number of people involved and the nature of the situation.

The video shows us the flip side of teams. Managers need to understand the negatives of having an unbalanced team. As can be seen from this video, as the number of monks increase the efficiency and productivity go down. 

Epilogue

The video ends on a positive note. The concept of SYNERGY can be seen when the three monks come together and achieve productivity levels that are much above the sum of their individual productiveness.

The video serves as a simple yet highly effective learning experience with a plethora of lessons interspersed in it.

Thank you Dr Mandi.

Till next time. 

Valley Crossing ... Team work and a lot more.

A picture speaks more than a 1000 words they say. Well, a video speaks even more. So let me first share a video made by our senior batch (IM18) of when they went through this exercise in their POM class. Conducted by who else...Dr Mandi.

Valley Crossing, is an exciting simulation used by Dr Mandi to illustrate the concepts of effective team work and strategy. Let me share an image to begin explaining what the exercise is all about.

The task appears fairly straight forward (it actually isn't). Three co-workers with the help of a plank need to crossover from one side to another of a bottomless pit. The width is greater than one standard walking step  and less than two steps (this is a crucial dimension that makes the task feasible).

Following image depicts the strategy employed to accomplish the task:

Description of the key used:

Safe: Both legs on the ground

Half Risky: One leg on the ground and the other over the pit

Risky: Both legs over the pit

Key Lessons learnt from the exercise:

Trust

A key enabler of success in such exercises is the trust between the participants. In organizations, where teams are much bigger, and tasks much more complex, the TRUST  between team members and the between various teams becomes a key deciding factor towards success.

Communication

Whenever there are teams involved in accomplishing a task the importance of communication is implicit. The effectiveness of communication between the various stakeholders defines the levels of success that are achieved. Measuring and continuously enhancing communication channels and processes is a key focus area for businesses today.

Support systems and strategies

An important focus areas for organisation, that this exercise very effectively illustrated, is the importance of robust support systems and strategies.

Epilogue:

This was one of the most memorable classes of our first module here at NITIE. The prime reason being the potential lessons that were embedded in an exercise so basic. It is evident that when unmystified, management is learnt not through jargons and powerpoint presentations but through such practical and engaging exercises.

Thank you Dr Mandi for exposing us to this concept.

Till next time.