CHALLENGE 2a
THE BAHT BUILDER
Time allocated: 2- 3 hours
Suitable for group sizes: No limit. (most recent group size 250 participants)

Introduction.
The advantages of this approach over conventional programmes.
The Baht Builder - How it works.
Step One - The Aptitude test.
Step Two - Challenge selection.
Step Three - Workstation allocation.
Step Four - The first challenge.
Step Five - The subsequent challenges.
Who wins.
The half way debrief.
The post challenge debrief.
Examples of challenges.

Introduction.

When thinking of Team Building ,the Thai or S.E. Asian middle management and workforce that is more ' sanook' ( fun ) and game show like than the conventional ' team building' programme.

However, more and more of today's progressive managers who are working with, or have worked with International Corporations, view 'team building' as being far more than just an 'ice breaker' tool, or a 'fun' activity.

They realize it is a means of increasing cooperation and communication between themselves and their local or regional workforce, and between the different management levels and departments of that workforce.

They accept that through team building and team training they can gain an advantage over their competitors by improving the efficiency and performance of their workforce.

Track of the Tiger has designed a 'multi task challenge' called 'The Baht Builder' as a unique 'one size fits all' platform from which to provide both low and high intensity team building challenges within a single programme. This effectively eliminates any client's concerns about whether or not given challenges are too easy, or too hard, for the participants.

Essentially, the Baht Builder is an effective team building programme, hidden within in a game show like presentation. The result being that the participants have a great deal of fun whilst improving their ability to function well as a team.

The advantages of this approach over conventional programmes are that:

1. It can be run in almost any venue or environment, thus taking the participants away from their normal working environment.

2. The team members get to choose the challenges they undertake so physical ability is not a factor.

3. They can choose either cerebral of physically biased challenges - so educational level or language skills are not a factor.

4. They choose how difficult or easy a challenge they want.

5. The participants determine the speed at which they work.

6. They take breaks as and when they want them.

7. There is a 'game show' style to the programme ensuring that everyone has fun doing it, yet the competition and time pressure elements reinforce the need for teamwork in the 'workplace'.

8. It suits all groups, regardless numbers.

9. The programme can be run in 2 to 3 hours, or spread over several days of a seminar, convention, fitting in with the overall schedule.

10. The depth of the 'team review' component at the end of the programme, is determined in consultation with, and according to the needs of each client company.

The Baht Builder - How it works.
Having been given their initial briefing prior to embarking on Challenge 2b, (as is often the case) the team travels from Chiang Mai by coach and arrives at the chosen venue; either city hotel or a resort, or alternative location.

Note* If the participants are undertaking the combined Challenges 2a & 2b, Challenge 2a will flow straight into Challenge 2b, with participants arriving at their own pace.

On arrival the teams take up a position in front of the game board.

Each team is then provided with an instruction manual for 'The Baht Builder' challenge.

On being given the command GO, each team removes the cellophane wrapper from their instruction manual, and secures the Baht 1'500.- in (fake) game money therein.

The instructions advise the team that this is a business challenge in which they must carefully manage their allocated budget. They start with a cash fund of Baht 1'500.-.

Where participants are doing the combined Challenge 2b& 2a, they will have to pay any fines they incurred for arriving outside the time allocated to Challenge 2b, (The Chiang Mai City Challenge) and for any of the tasks on Challenge 2b, that they did not complete, or complete correctly.

They will use their remaining funds to 'buy' any one of the 18 challenges listed and described in their instruction manual.

The challenge name and a schematic of the material to be used is depicted on a 75 cm. sq. card, mounted on a 'game show' like board - 3 cards high, 6 cards across, and facing the group.

The instructions in the manual invite them to take the following steps.

Step One - The Aptitude test.

Before being allowed to buy their first challenge, they must work together to complete the 10 aptitude tests included under the section of that name in their instruction manual.

Questions are on acuteness, spatial recognition, physical analysis, verbal penetration, numerical deduction, observation and critical dissection.

On completion of the aptitude tests, they hand the test answer sheet to the 'challenge controller'.

If any of the answers are incorrect, the team pays a fine of Baht 500.-
If all the answers are correct they do not forfeit anything.

Step Two - Challenge selection.

Determine which of the 18 available challenges they want to buy first. They must consider:

1. Which challenges suit their collective skills.

2. Which of the challenges that suit their collective skills should they undertake in order to make the most money, in the shortest possible time, without too high a risk of losing all or part of their cash fund.

Pertinent information.

Of the 18 challenges, 6 are priced at Baht 500.- a further 6 at Baht 1'000.-, and the remaining 6 at Baht 1'500.-. The prices are of course based on the degree of difficulty involved within each particular category of challenge.

Within each of the challenge categories, each individual challenge has a predetermined challenge time written on it (ranging from 10 - 30 minutes - again, dictated by degree of difficulty).

There is a bonus dictated by the set time for each challenge. The bonus amount is also written on the placard along with the other detail.

On the downside, failure to complete the chosen challenge within the allocated time means the team earns no monetary reward at all. (no refund of game cost or bonus award for completion)

Having decided on which challenge they want to do first, and having completed and submitted the 10 'aptitude tests', they must then hurry to the 'challenge controller' to buy their challenge - assuming that the particular challenge has not already been taken by a 'quicker' team.

If it has been taken, they must then choose another challenge.

Step Three - Workstation allocation.

There are a number of wooden coupons (dictated by the number of teams), numbered 1-?, hanging on pegs on the game board.

Having bought their first challenge, the team must then choose one of the coupons to dictate which 'work station' they must use.

There is a schematic drawing of the site in each team's instruction manual. It shows the site overall, highlights the briefing area we are currently in, and indicates the location of each of the 'work stations'. (one per team)

It also shows the location of toilets, of the refreshment and first aid stations etc.

Step Four - The first challenge.

The team, carrying their challenge equipment, set off to their workstation with their first challenge.

The clock starts running when they take their coupon.

The 'challenge time' is the time taken from collecting the work

station coupon from the 'challenge controller', to returning all the equipment, and then handing back the coupon. The 'challenge controller' has a stop watch running for each team.

The coupon must travel with the team and be presented to the 'facilitator' overseeing that particular workstation.

The work station 'facilitator' will only hand the coupon back once the challenge has been completed to his or her satisfaction.

On returning the coupon after the first challenge, the challenge controller either awards the bonus, or deducts money based on whether the chsallenge was completed successfuly within the given timeframe or not.

The group then reviews its finances to determine which challenge (of those available) it should undertake next.

Step Five - The subsequent challenges.

The group selects the next challenge.

The sequence continues throughout the allocated 'team building challenge period', with the group building up as much of a fund as they can.

Refreshment breaks, toilet stops, etc. are at the group's own discretion.

Who wins.

The team with the most amount of money at the end of the programme is declared the winner.

The client company normally provides a range of prizes, and we can provide 'certificates' to all participants if so requested.

The half way debrief.

One of Track of the Tiger's 2 'senior facilitators' will give each of the groups a 10 minute interim briefing during the 2nd hour of the Baht Builder Challenge. This will be done as they finish one challenge, and before selecting another.

In practice, he gives the team a time out coupon valued at 10 minutes. That can be handed into the 'challenge controller' when next selecting a challenge.

During the interim briefing the facilitator will analyse with them:

· What they are doing well, or are not doing well.
· How they see the strengths and weaknesses of their particular teams.
· What if anything they could improve on in terms of their ability to function well as a team.
· How the analysis of their competencies should influence their choice of their remaining challenges.

Post challenge debrief.

The same facilitators will provide another 10 minute post challenge debrief for each team after the event, using the same format and will analyse with them:

• What they did well, or did not do well?
• How they see the strengths and weaknesses of their particular teams?
• What changes they made to the way they approached the challenge as a result of the interim briefing?.
• ·What if anything they could improve on in terms of their ability to function well as a team?
• How they could transfer the lessons learned here into their own workplace?

Examples of challenges.

1. Bridge Building - The team target is to build a bamboo bridge and use it to cross an obstacle. - Time 30 mins. Cost Baht 1'500.- Award Baht 2'500.- Bonus 2'500.-

2. Walking A-Frame - The team target is to build an A-frame and walk a pre-set course with it. - Time 30 mins. Cost Baht 1'500.- Award Baht 2'000.- Bonus 2'000.-

3. In Hot Water - The team target is to make fire and boil the water.
Time 20 mins. Cost Baht 1'500.- Award Baht 2'000.- Bonus Baht 1'000.-

4. Blind Square - The team target is to make the perfect square from rope whilst
they are blindfolded. - Time 15 mins. Cost Baht 1'500.- Award Baht 2'000.-
Bonus Baht 1'500.-

5. Tyre Puzzle - The team target is to move numerically ordered tyres across three
poles, putting them on the 3rd pole in the same order they were in on the first.
Time 15 mins. Cost Baht 1'500.- Award Baht 2'000.- Bonus Baht 1'000.-

6. Weight Order - The team target is to arrange bottles in a row according to their
weight. Each bottle contains a different amount of water, and the team are of course are blindfolded. - Time 15 mins. Cost Baht 1'500.- Award Baht 2'000.- Bonus Baht 1'000.-

The Challenge ending.

The challenge will end at a pre-set time. All work stops when the final whistle blows. Scores are tabulated and the winners will be announced shortly thereafter.

Prizes provided by the company may be presented at a later dinner function.

22/8 Moo 4,Tambon Nonghoi,A.Muang,Chiang Mai. 50100. Tel : +66 53 308 775-6 ,308 775 -6 Fax: +66 53 818 221 E-mail: tiger@loxinfo.co.th

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