TV Wasteland
| Overview | This activity allows teams to use their creativity and problem-solving skills while working together to create “the WORST television show ever.” This activity is best used in problem-solving skills and creativity workshops. |
| Suggested Time | Approximately 60 minutes (time will depend upon the number of groups and the discussion afterwards). |
| Materials Needed | Handouts for each group. Sheets of paper and pens for each group. |
| Participants | 12 to 30 people divided into groups of four to seven. |
| Procedure | Advise participants that they are going to have an opportunity to creatively
problem-solve. They will be divided into teams and each team will have the
same problem to solve. They will have 45 minutes to come up with as complete
a solution as possible.
Divide the participants into teams and assign them places to work. Hand out instructions for Team A to each person in the first group; Team B instructions to the second group; Team C instructions to the third group. If there are more than three groups, have two Team A’s, B’s, C’s. Have participants read their instructions. Make sure that they understand what they are supposed to do. Start timing. At 30 minutes, advise teams that they have 15 more minutes. At 40 minutes, advise groups that they only have 5 more minutes. Call time at 45 minutes. Reassemble the teams in one location. Have each team choose a spokesperson to describe their “worst ever” TV show. Ask the group to comment on the other team’s ideas. Ask each group to describe the process (or lack of a process) that they used to come up with solutions. Ask the participants whether they felt that the process helped them in obtaining a creative solution to the problem, or hindered them. |
| Debriefing | Brainstorming is not always the best way to come up with a creative solution. Some people may be shy. Politics may influence whose ideas are given more weight. Many people often believe that structure cuts down on creativity. However, a structured problem-solving method such as that used by Team B can be successfully used to generate novel solutions. It also works in situations where members can’t meet (use email to distribute ideas). Lead into a discussion of various creative problem-solving methods. |
| Author | Activity by Jean Dickson and Scott Godfrey. Jean V. Dickson is a Canadian-based entrepreneur who puts creativity's ZING into training and corporate communications. For FREE training resources, visit her websites at www.experientialexercises.com and www.jvdcreativity.com. To jazz up your PowerPoint presentations, visit The PowerPoint Joint at www.PowerPointjoint.com. |
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