How the Desert Survival Situation Works

Compare Individual versus Group Performance

The Desert Survival Situation requires participants to solve a specific problem in a limited period of time—first individually and then as a team. As participants work together in this team-building activity, they will draw upon their experiences and knowledge in search of the best answers. They are challenged to successfully integrate the expertise of all group members. By comparing individual and team solutions to the recommended solution, participants can see whether, as a group, they were able to achieve team synergy by taking advantage of what each member had to offer.

Strengthen Synergistic Problem-Solving Skills  

As members work to complete the Desert Survival Situation, they begin to see their own role in shaping the quality of the team’s performance. This understanding deepens as the simulation is scored and the impact of group processes on performance is discussed. Equipped with these insights, members can decide what they can do to enhance the team’s functioning—and get the results the team needs to succeed and make effective decision