GROUP SOUP
Where Small Group Dynamics Get Stirred Up!

Give your students a taste of group dynamics in action (or inaction!) through participation in and observation of group problem-solving scenarios.  A role-playing game, Group Soup creates a remarkably realistic – and fun – way to learn about the interacting forces among members of an informal group.  Participants and outside observers see what promotes and what subverts the effectiveness of a group, then step back and consider its influence on overall operations of an organization.

Group Soup offers practice in observing group processes, and in finding important insights into how groups and individuals can contribute more effectively to a problem-solving task.

HOW IT WORKS: Four or more participants, seated at a "conference" table, are each given a card with instructions guiding their actions.  What is on the card is unknown to the others. 

If you get a My Role card, you'll be assigned one of over 20 different behaviors, with hints on how to conduct yourself during the meeting.  For example:

• You're the Bully.
• Since your ideas are best, you'll have to push your ideas through, no matter how aggressive you need to be.
• Some ideas:
• Cut off everyone else who speaks.
• Speak loudly.
• Sigh noticeably when anyone else speaks.
• Call people names.
• Use phrases like:  "You'll be sorry," "I wouldn't if I were you," or, "I know people."
  

Some behaviors on the My Role cards are negative (for example, the Bully, the Road Blocker), some functional (the Initiator, the Compromiser), and others somewhat inconsequential (the Peacekeeper, the Questioner).

If you get a Hidden Agenda card, get ready to conduct yourself based on a particular, individual desire or belief, unknown to anyone else.  For example:

• You believe the person on your right has an extremely low workload, and needs more to do.
• Some ideas:
• Keep suggesting giving assignments to that person.
• Make cracks about how "some people don't have enough to do."
• Comment on the "unequal workload around here."

Your Hidden Agenda compromises and colors your contributions toward the meeting's true agenda.

Finally, you may get a blank card.  You have no hidden agenda or unique role.  Just be yourself and try to get the job done.

The role-play facilitator assigns a detailed Here's The Problem scenario, tasking the group to talk through a problem or situation and come to a workable solution.  For example, the group may be asked to decide how to allocate a large company surplus, find a course of action in handling an employee drawing numerous customer complaints, or plan a company outing within the boss's specific directives.

Those not participating in the role-play have the important task of observing and evaluating the group's dynamics and effectiveness.  The facilitator may give some observers a specific assignment, such as looking for a particular behavior, or determining who is in control.  Or, observers can use Observer Sheets during the meeting, with a list of what to look for, such as member participation levels, attitudes, and perceived motivations.

When the group has finished addressing the assigned problem, the facilitator leads a discussion among participants and observers on the dynamics that have occurred.  The Group Soup Leader's Guide gives several sample questions to initiate discussion. Topics routinely discussed after role-plays include:

• Why do groups act the way they do?
• Who did and who did not contribute, and why?
• What were the real issues underlying the discussion?

Ideas and hints on maximizing the learning experience and enjoyment for participants and observers are found throughout the Leader's Guide.

Group Soup's many role-playing options and wide range of scenarios allow students to gain experience and added insight with multiple run-throughs.