A Taste of Teamwork

Description

Learning Objectives: ■ teamwork ■ organization strategies / devising a process ■ attention to detail ■ inter-team co-operation ■ free and open communication ■ the importance of working as one big team ■ meeting a deadline More about the activity: Two teams jointly represent the "Packing & Despatch Department" of a bakery supplying pies to retail outlets. The task involves ordering different kinds of pies from the Baking Dept, processing customer orders, invoicing, and packing up the orders, ready for despatch. Seemingly straightforward, there are a few issues that make the task a bit more involved. One team is responsible for Mushroom & Spinach and Mixed Vegetable pies; the other team for Leek & Potato and Cheese & Onion pies. Customers order a mixture of pie types and these orders are delivered randomly - some to Team 1 and some to Team 2. To confuse the unwary even more some customers have very similar names! Baking time takes 10 minutes per batch so it helps if teams order pies in good time. They are then packed in boxes, each box holding 18 pies. Finally, each customer requires an invoice for the pies and the delivery charge - based on the number of boxes and the distance to the customer. And then there's the surcharge to add to all 'late orders'. Will every customer receive their correct order and a correct invoice? Is it a piece of cake or a bit of a challenge? What's needed from teams is an overall process, clear communication, in-built checks and balances, and everyone on board.