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This unique programme unlocks and utilises the magnitude of opportunities provided by a diverse South Africa. It enables participants to lead and participate within any team, creating a culture of continuous improvement and thereby allowing companies to excel in the 21st century.
It enhances teamness between a number of individuals selected to manage a project or to fulfil a specific role in an organisation. The time consuming process of groups forming, storming, norming and performing is minimised due to the individual team members being able to commence the process at the performing stage. The other stages are addressed professionally by experiential learning during the Bushwhack programme.
Bushwhack
Teambuilding Programme
The venue is set for an
experiential learning programme true to the name of Bushwhack. The
venue and facilities allow for only the “bare essentials” in order to
facilitate an environment of “conflict and distrust” thereby creating an
awareness of teamness and co-operation. The programme is intended to create a
team spirit within the parameters of a theoretical background using
experiential learning as the only mechanism to transfer knowledge and
expertise. The only role of the facilitators are to assess the teams and to
re-enforce theoretical principles subsequent to every exercise.
Learners arrive at the venue at
16h00 on a Thursday afternoon. The programme may be adapted to cater for the
specific needs of the client and thus become a much concise version, ranging
between 1 and 3 days in duration. Teams are not to be announced until later the
same afternoon. Each learner is to randomly choose two items each from a heap
of “meaningless material” not knowing the extent of the programme or group
compositions. A typical list of items are attached as Annex A. Diversity (cultural / skills / expertise /
roles / seniority) will be a crucial element of team compositions, portraying
the true workplace environment.
The first evening has as its aim
the creation of intra-group and inter-group conflict and both physical and
psychological pressure is extorted in various ways. Time is of no essence and
work pressure is simulated in various ways.
Teams are constantly made aware
of the fact that business is all about achieving one’s goals, staying
financially viable and profitable. This
programme is aimed at the same underlying business principles. Inter-group, inter-group and organisational
success are important to the individuals and teams.
Throughout the programme, teams are to manage, budget and control income and expenditure. Elements of planning and control are important. Each team start off with a budget of $B5000-00 in cash. Income is generated through team effort ($B 250), participation ($B 500) and achievement ($B 1000), based on a simple scoring method. Annex B is an example of a budget to be kept by the team
Expenditure contains elements of food, accommodation, cutlery, crockery, coffee/tea/cold drinks, refreshments, firearms, ammunition, tools & equipment, interest (penalties), etc. Bushbucks ($B) may be used to exchange goods and services between the groups.
The aim of the continuous exercise is to re-enforce control measures and physical constraints in the working environment. The team acquiring the most resources during the total period (eg. Cash and/or credits) are announced the “winning team”for the programme.
Over a twelve month period, the top four teams of the year are to compete in the Bushwhack finals for the year and the top team is to be crowned as the Bushwhack Team for 2001.
The following is an explanation of the exercise to be undertaken:
Bushwalk is an exercise to be done during the evening of day one. Teams are to find their way to the first overnight site, where supper will be served at a certain time of the evening. If the deadline is missed, interest (penalties) are payable equal to $B 100 per minute of late arrival. Map and GPS work is done and team members are to plan the journey in terms of their resources, daylight and team support. Teams realise that the resources may be unequally split and negotiation / trade offs / sales may be made. The exercise starts off with the first budget meeting.
| Financial budgeting / control |
Bushwar is the first exercise to be done on the second morning. It can simply be explained as “defending the castle”. This paintball exercise is developed and presented to enforce key teamness elements. Proper protective gear is to be issued to all team members which are essential elements of the game. The teams are to defend their own castle and at the same time take over the other team’s castle without losing their team members. A total number of $B 200-00 are lost for every team member “killed” in action.
| Planning |
| Leading |
| Organising |
| Control |
| Goal setting |
| Team Roles |
Bushbank Limited is a limited overs cricket match to be played between the teams. A maximum of 10 runs may be scored by each batting team member in turn. Every bowling team member may only bowl one over in turn. Every time a wicket is lost the team pays $B 100-00 to the bank in interest. The team scoring most runs during their 30 minutes batting time is victorious.
Bushdrive is a teambuild exercise where the team must guide a blindfolded driver through an obstacle course whilst balancing themselves on a balance pole. If the driver touches an obstacle a $B 100-00 penalty is paid and if the balance pole touches the ground a $B 1000-00 penalty is paid.
Brokenbush is an exercise where the teams must negotiate their “broken” vehicles through an obstacle course. Vehicles have distinctly different problems, but through inter-group co-operation all vehicles may be successfully maneuvered though the course.
One vehicle has a flat tyre (no spare) but carries with it a spare battery. The other vehicle has a proper spare tyre and no battery, and/or no fuel at all. Through proper teamness and co-operation the teams must negotiate a win-win outcome to get both vehicles through.
Bushraft is where the teams must build a float to safely fetch a waterflag and return it to shore. Balloon bombs are used to deter the enemy in their conquer. The team with the most “living” members reaching the shore is declared winners. A $B200 penalty (interest) in payable for every team member lost in action.
Bushdrums is a campfire exercise where the teams are given a number of african drums and they are to set up a band and make music to the enjoyment of all. Musical instruments are to be devised and all members are to participate.
intervention of personal prejudice and other obstacles. Team members are enabled to concentrate on the issue at hand. Paper, as well as practical exercises enable the individual team members to understand their own preferred styles and are sensitised on the affect thereof on the team.
experience. Paper exercises and role plays will ensure that learning is optimised. Questionnaires are used as a tool to determine the preferred styles and understanding of each learner.
is based on the elements needed for teams to be able to perform effectively and efficiently, is used.
The culmination of the programme is a practical exercise where team members must utilise all the acquired theory. This is a real life situation created by the facilitators where the participation of all team members will enable the team to complete the exercise successfully.
Each learner will receive written constructive feedback from his or her team members. This feedback will enable the team member to build on his or her strong points, and to attend to his or her development areas.
We believe that people are employed as total persons. That is, using their heads for knowledge, hands for skills and hearts for attitude. All three domains are addressed during the Bushwhack programme.
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