Group Exercise: The Paper Airplane Contest
Objectives
1. To consider how individual abilities influence group performance.
2. To examine the role of attitudes in completing a group based task.
3. To determine the impact of job satisfaction and job involvement on task performance.
Introduction
In this chapter, we discussed the impact of an individual’s values, attitudes, and abilities on a variety of outcomes such
as performance and turnover. We did not consider, however, that these same concepts apply in the context of working
on a team project. The purpose of this exercise is to examine the role of abilities and attitudes when working on a team
project to build a paper airplane. The quality of the team’s work will be assessed by measuring three aspects of your
team’s airplane:
(1) How far it flies, (2) how far it flies with a payload, and (3) design characteristics.105
Instructions
Your instructor will divide the class into groups of three to six people. Each team should pick a team name. Once
formed, begin to plan what type of plane you want to design and actually construct. Keep in mind that the quality of
your work will be measured through the three criteria noted above.
You will be provided with one 8.5-by-11-inch sheet of blank paper and adhesive tape. Try not to make
mistakes, as you will not be given more than one piece of paper. Use these materials to construct one airplane. Decorate
your plane as you see fit. It is recommended that you decorate your plane before actually building it.
Once all groups complete their work, a contest will be held to determine the best overall plane. There will be
three rounds to complete this assessment. In the first round, each team will be asked to launch their plane and distance
flown will be measured. The second round entails adding a payload—a paperclip— to your plane and then flying it
once again. Distance flown will be measured. The final round entails a subjective evaluation by the entire class of the
plane’s design. Each team’s overall performance will be assessed and posted.
Questions for Discussion
1. How did the group decide to design the plane?
2. Did the team consider each member’s abilities when designing and flying the plane? Explain.
3. Were all team members equally involved in the task and equally satisfied with the team’s final product? Discuss why
or why not.
4. How could the team have increased its members’ job involvement and task performance? Provide specific
recommendations.