REVITALISING
THE TEAM
DYNAMIC
COMMUNICATION GETTING A BIT STALE?
LOOKING FOR AN ACTIVITY TO REVIVE
YOUR REGULAR ZOOM TEAM MEETINGS?
THE ACTIVITY: ZIN OBELISK
1 x person is the facilitator and knows the answers
Clues are in this document
Email each person their clue(s) - divide between the team
Follow this document for the instructions
NEED HELP?
CONTACT SHIRLEY ON
0416 058 830
TO WALK YOU
THROUGH THE TASK OR FOR ANY GUIDANCE ON HOW TO GET
THE MOST OUT OF ZIN OBELISK FOR YOUR TEAM
SAS CHANGE MANAGEMENT | 2020
PURPOSE
To study the process of information sharing in teams
To study leadership co-operation and conflict issues
METHOD
1. The facilitator distributes the group instruction sheet via email.
ZIN
OBELISK
2. The clues are divided randomly amongst the team members via email,
just prior to the commencement of activity.
3. The team completes the task.
4. The facilitator leads a review of the experience using the review sheet
and, if necessary, the answer and rationale sheet.
5. Approximately 25-35 minutes is required to complete the activity, with
additional time for review.
6. Has been conducted with teams of up to 20 pax. There can be more
than one team doing the activity in Zoom breakouts.
NOTES AND VARIATIONS
1. Any number of groups may be directed simultaneously.
2. Process observers may be used.
NEED HELP?
CONTACT SHIRLEY ON
0416 058 830
TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE
TASK OR FOR ANY GUIDANCE ON HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF ZIN
OBELISK FOR YOUR TEAM
SAS CHANGE MANAGEMENT | 2020
GROUP
INSTRUCTION
SHEET
In the ancient city of Atlantis a solid, rectangular obelisk
called a Zin was built in honour of the goddess Tina.
The structure took less than two weeks to complete and
your task is to determine on which day of the week it was
completed.
You
may
verbally
share
the
clues
you
have
received
in
you may not show or share your email
with other participants.
your email but
SAS CHANGE MANAGEMENT | 2020
Send out information clues for the activity via email to participants.
There are 31 clues to be distributed. Some team members may get more
clues than others (just like resources in the workplace).
The basic measurement of time in Atlantis is a day.
An Atlantian day is divided into Schlibs and Ponks.
The length of the Zin is 100 feet.
The height of the Zin is 50 feet.
The depth of the Zin is 10 feet.
CLUES
Each block is 1 cubic foot.
The Zin is built of stone blocks.
Day 1 in the Atlantian week is Aquaday.
Day 2 in the Atlantian week is Neptiminus.
Day 3 in the Atlantian week is Sharkday.
Day 4 in the Atlantian week is Mermaidday.
Day 5 in the Atlantian week is Daydoldrum.
There are 5 days in the Atlantian week
The working day has 9 Schlibs.
Each worker takes rest periods during the working day totalling 16 Ponks.
SAS CHANGE MANAGEMENT | 2020
There are 8 Ponks in a Schlib.
At any time when work is taking place there is a gang of 9 people on site.
One member of each gang has religious duties and does not lay blocks.
No work takes place on Daydoldrum.
What is a Cubitt?
A Cubitt is a cube, all sides of which 1 Megalithic Yard.
One metre equals a Megalithic Yard.
CLUES CONT.
Does work take place on Sunday?
What is a Zin?
Which way up does the Zin stand?
The Zin is made of green blocks.
Green has special religious significance
on Mermaidday.
Each gang includes two women.
Work starts on the first day of the Atlantian week.
Only one gang is working on the construction of the Zin.
Each worker lays 150 blocks per schlib
SAS CHANGE MANAGEMENT | 2020
What actions helped the group accomplish the task?
Which actions hindered the group in completing the task?
REVIEW
SHEET
How did leadership emerge in the team?
Who participated most?
Who participated least?
What feelings did you experience as the task progressed?
What suggestions would you make to improve team performance?
SAS CHANGE MANAGEMENT | 2020
ANSWER: NEPTIMINUS
RATIONALE
ANSWER &
RATIONALE
SHEET
The dimensions of the Zin is 50,000 cubic feet (100 x 50 x 10)
Blocks are 1 cubic foot, therefore 50,000 blocks are required
There are 7 working schlibs in a day (8 ponks = 1 schlib, workers rest = 16 ponks =
2 schlibs, 1 day = 9 schlibs, 9 – 2 = 7 schlibs)
Each worker lays 150 blocks per Schlib, therefore each worker lays 1050 blocks
per day ( 7 x 150)
There are 8 workers per day meaning that 8400 blocks are laid per working day
(9 – 1, 8 x 1050)
The 50,000th block is therefore laid on the sixth working day (50,000/ 8400 =
5.95)
As work does not take place on Daydoldrum, the sixth working day is Neptiminus.
SAS CHANGE MANAGEMENT | 2020