Build a tower, build a team | Tom Wujec

Introduction

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide based on Tom Wujec's TED Talk about the "marshmallow problem," a team-building exercise that demonstrates the importance of collaboration and iterative design. Participants use simple materials—dry spaghetti, tape, and a marshmallow—to build the tallest tower. This exercise reveals valuable insights into teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving.

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

Before starting the challenge, ensure you have the following materials for each team:

• 20 sticks of dry spaghetti
• 1 yard of tape
• 1 marshmallow
• A pair of scissors (optional)
• A measuring tape (optional, for measuring the height of your tower)

Step 2: Form Your Teams

Organize participants into small teams of 3 to 5 members. This size encourages effective communication and collaboration.

Step 3: Establish the Rules

Clearly outline the rules of the challenge:

• Each team has 18 minutes to build the tallest free-standing tower.
• The marshmallow must be placed on top of the tower.
• Teams can use only the materials provided.

Step 4: Begin the Building Process

Encourage teams to start brainstorming and building. Here are some tips to enhance their experience:

• Emphasize Prototyping: Encourage teams to create prototypes quickly and test their stability.
• Iterate and Improve: After testing their initial designs, teams should refine their towers based on what works and what doesn’t.

Step 5: Measure the Towers

Once the time is up, measure the height of each tower from the base to the top of the marshmallow.

• Document the heights of all towers for comparison.
• Celebrate the tallest tower, but also acknowledge innovative designs and teamwork.

Step 6: Reflect on the Experience

After the challenge, facilitate a debriefing session where teams can discuss their strategies and what they learned. Key topics to cover include:

• What worked well and what didn’t
• The importance of collaboration and communication
• How prototyping and iterative design can lead to better outcomes

Conclusion

The "marshmallow problem" is an engaging way to illustrate the dynamics of teamwork and the significance of iterative design. By participating in this exercise, teams can enhance their collaboration skills, foster creativity, and learn to embrace failure as a step towards success. Consider incorporating this challenge into team-building events or workshops to promote a collaborative mindset in your organization.