Human Relations in Organizations: Applications and Skill Building 8th Edition by Robert Lussier

Exercise 41

Objective: To better understand how communication networks affect performance.
AACSB: The primary AACSB learning standard skill developed through this exercise is communication abilities.
Preparation: No preparation is necessary for this exercise.
Experience: Fifteen of the class members will form three teams that will try to put a puzzle together using different communication networks.
Set up three teams of five members. The members should be seated in the network positions shown below. All other class members should form a circle around the three groups and observe them work.
The arrows represent the communication flow. In team 1, A can talk only to B or D; B can talk only to A or C; C can talk only to B; D can talk only to A or E; and E can talk only to D. In team 2, A can talk to B, C, D, or E individually but not as a group. B, C, D, and E cannot talk to each other, only to A. In team 3, anyone can talk to anyone.
The instructor gives each team member one of the 5" × 5" square puzzle pieces. Wait until told to start before making the puzzle.
Each team has up to five minutes to finish the puzzle following its communication network.
The instructor gives each team a copy of the completed puzzle to check accuracy, or to show them how to do it.
Questions:
1. Each team tells the class how they felt about following their communication network.
2. Did any team finish? Which was first?
3. How did the communication network affect the performance of the team?
4. Which structure was most appropriate for this task?
Conclusion: The instructor leads a class discussion and/or makes concluding remarks.
Application (2- 4 minutes): What did I learn from this experience? How will I use this knowledge in the future?
Sharing: Volunteers give their answers to the application section.