The objective of "Starpower" is to help participants to re-evaluate their assumptions about the use and abuse of power. Participants have the opportunity to progress from one level of society to another by acquiring wealth through trading with other participants. Once the society is established, the group with the most wealth is given the right to make the rules for the game. The result is often a rebellion by those who are being oppressed by the wealthy class.
This game requires a minimum of 18 participants and a maximum of 35, making it ideal for a classroom setting. It is best to schedule approximately two hours for this experience (including time to process) but can be completed in two 50 minute sessions.
The objective of "Bafa Bafa" is to help individuals understand how stereotypes of other cultures, companies or occupations get formed and perpetuated. Participants experience living in a "foreign" culture and then discuss and process this experience. There are two cultures: Alpha and Beta. The Alpha culture is a warm, friendly, patriarchal society, while the Beta culture is a foreign-speaking, task-oriented society. Participants experience feeling frustration and intolerance toward the dissimilar culture and realize later the reason behind the difference.
This game requires a minimum of 4 (preferably 6) participants per culture and a maximum of 40. It is best to schedule approximately 2 hours for this experience (including time to process) but can be completed in two 50 minute sessions.
This learning tool is an extremely rich simulation in which participants make decisions, solve problems, and strive to complete tasks in multicultural groups. Participants experience the advantages and disadvantages of particular decision-making processes. They also experience the dynamics of decision-making differences with respect to nationality, culture, age, function, and organization.
This simulation game needs to be tailored to the participants' situation. It can be tailored in many different ways; one can adopt the tasks, case studies, and rule cards that are used; or real-life situations pertaining to the group can be formulated. Facilitators should plan their introduction, delivery, and debriefing of the situation and are encouraged to write case studies or task instructions that relate to the real-life situations of their participants.
Pre-written case studies are included in the game. Ecotonos takes close to 3 hours: one hour for the simulation and two hours for the debriefing. One facilitator and two small group facilitators most easily conduct the game. Between 8 and 50 participants are ideal for the simulation.
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