One of the exercises we do at executive workshops is the Marshmallow Challenge. This exercise is based on a TED Talk by Tom Wujec. The participants are divided into teams of four.
Each team is given:
- 20 sticks of spaghetti
- 1 yard of string
- 1 yard of tape
- I marshmallow.
The challenge is to build the largest, free standing structure with the marshmallow on top in 18 minutes.
This exercise reveals:
1 The deep lessons of collaboration
2. Provides a shared experience
3. Provides a common languagey@creative
4. Shows the importance of prototypes
5. and as Wujec explains, Design is a contact sport
At a workshop it’s a great icebreaker and a way for participants to get to know each other.