Supervisor's Survival Kit: Your First Step into Management, Ninth Edition

Mini-Game

Pyramid vs. Circle

Objective

To assist students in evaluating the advantages of the traditional style of supervision versus the team approach.

Procedure

Split the class in half. Assign each half the responsibility of convincing the other of the superiority of either the traditional or team approach to organizing employees. Allow for open discussion and debate. Both sides should focus on how the traditional approach or team approach relates to the following:

1. Employee motivation and empowerment

2. Quality and quantity of work

3. Supervisory responsibilities and challenges

4. Multicultural workforce

5. The organization's views about worker involvement in general