Business Simulations / Training Games

Goldberg's machine

This innovative workshop training focuses on developing teamwork skills by constructing a complex Goldberg machine together. Working in teams, participants design and build interconnected mechanisms that form a single, cooperative whole. The program combines elements of creative technical thinking with practical learning of project management and inter-team communication. The training uses an experiential learning method, where each building block and each connection between modules becomes a metaphor for interdependence in an organization.

Issues

Team project management
Coordination of activities between groups
Creative problem solving
Communication in the project team
Planning complex projects
Working with limited resources
Time management in the project
Building team commitment
Systems thinking
Inter-team cooperation
Operating under time pressure
Achieving common goals

Benefits

Hands-on experience of the interdependence of activities in an organization through the physical connection of design elements develops process awareness
Intensive teamwork on a joint project strengthens bonds and improves communication between participants
The need to coordinate activities between teams develops project management and planning skills
A creative approach to solving technical problems stimulates creativity and innovative thinking
Achieving a spectacular end result together builds a sense of pride and team unity
The experience of working together on a complex project translates into a better understanding of organizational processes

Who is this training for?

Project teams working on complex projects

Employees from different departments in need of better coordination of activities

Groups in need of strengthening cooperation skills

Teams undergoing integration process after organizational changes

Departments seeking to improve internal communications

Groups of employees from different locations working together remotely

Newly formed teams in need of rapid integration

Prerequisites

Openness to teamwork
Basic knowledge of project work
Willingness to think creatively
Ability to work together in a group

Training program

Briefing and team formation — game rules, challenge presentation, role assignment, discussion of material and time constraints
Module design — each team designs its segment of the machine, defines input and output, plans the operating mechanism
Negotiating interfaces — teams agree on connection points between modules, establish standards, negotiate technical requirements
Construction and testing — building modules from available materials, local testing, iterations, solving technical problems
Integration and launch — connecting modules into a single machine, integration testing, synchronization, final launch
Debriefing and transfer — process analysis, discussion of interdependencies, communication and coordination, transferring insights to organizational reality

Delivery Methods

Online

Convenience of participating from anywhere
Interactive live sessions with trainer
Materials available for 30 days
No travel costs

On-site

Direct contact with trainer and group
Intensive hands-on workshops
Networking with other participants
Full focus on learning

Frequently asked questions

What are the prerequisites for this training?

For Goldberg's machine we recommend: Openness to teamwork; Basic knowledge of project work; Willingness to think creatively.

What is the format and duration of this training?

The training lasts 1 day and is available in online and on-site format. Sessions run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We can also customize the schedule to fit your team's needs.

Who is this training designed for?

This training is designed for: Project teams working on complex projects; Employees from different departments in need of better coordination of activities; Groups in need of strengthening cooperation skills.