Game of Imagination!

     We all know that Scrum games are helpful in building team cohesion, energizing everyone, and breaking the ice for shy teammates.

Here is a game that I found very interesting and easy to play. I got the idea for it from the thematic apperception test (TAT).

Necessary materials:

1. One large blurred image, which should show one person doing some activity. This image should be blurry enough that the team can imagine any human presence but cannot definitely identify who the person is and what exactly he or she is doing. For example:

That image may be shown:

• Through a projector.
• On a big screen in a conference hall connected to a laptop or PC.
• On a flip chart, pasted or drawn on.
• On a whiteboard, again pasted or drawn on (drawing a blurred image may be a tough job!).

2. Writing pads/papers for teammates

3. Pencils/pens for teammates

How to play:

1. The facilitator will ask each development teammate, "What would you be if you were not IT personnel?"

There will be different answers given, such as:

• Doctor
• Air force pilot
• Police officer
• Businessman
• Professor
• News reporter
• Poet/singer/guitarist
• . . . And you can add some unusual, imaginary roles as well.

 

2. The facilitator then shows the image and asks each team member to write a story about that image, related to the role each chose for himself or herself. The story should be five to seven lines long only. (Give a time limit of six minutes: one minute to think and five to write.)

3. Once everyone has finished writing their stories, the facilitator will ask each team member to narrate the story he or she has written.

4. After finishing the story-telling round, the facilitator will disclose the "real" role of the person in the image. This role will be the choice of the facilitator, preferably a role that was not among those the teammates listed in the beginning.

5. The facilitator will now ask the team to collaborate on writing a single story about the image, bearing in mind the role the facilitator named. It should contain ideas from each team member and be 10 to 12 lines only. (Time limit: 20 minutes, 5 minutes for discussion and 15 for writing)

6. The team will select the narrator of this story. The narrator may be the last one who entered the meeting, or decided through a draw, or whatever the team decides.

No conclusion will be given for any story. The image contents and theme used in one game may be modified for games in the future.

This exercise will not only be refreshing but it will also give wings to the imagination of team members.

A few explanations:

• Why individuals need to narrate the story?

 Narrating story will work as an ice-breaker for shy team-members.

• Why writing story two times, one individual and one group story?

First story will be individuals thought and will solely intended as an ice-breaker. The second story will be the result of team-work and team-cohesion.

• Why the image needs to be blurry?

If the image will be clear then it will stop the imagination from the team-mates. For example, if we see a person in army uniform then it will be tough to write a story on a doctor, at least as an active actor of the story. Same will apply when the second story will be discussed and written.

• What does ‘story’ imply here?

Story here means a few sentences on the role. For example- Harry is a teacher. He goes to nearby village over weekends and spread literacy. He does this free of cost ….continue with your imaginations.

• Why the facilitator will select a different role that was not listed in the beginning.

If the role is among the roles listed in the beginning then the story is already there.   The idea for a common story here is to ignite the team-work and cohesion, in action!

Please feel free to ask for any further explanation needed for this game.