FOOD CHAIN

Source:

thiagi.com

Purpose:

To explore the relationship among suppliers, employees, and customers.

Time:

15 to 30 minutes.

Participants:

6 or more, divided into three approximately equal groups. This game works best with groups of 20-50.

Supplies:

A large number of index cards (cut in half)

Play money

Instruction sheet for each group. Use the samples given at the end of the game description below.

Timer

Whistle

Room arrangement:

Assign Group 1 to one end of the room and Group 3 to the opposite end. Place Group 2 in the middle.

Flow of the game:

Brief the players. Explain that the groups have slightly different objectives. Also explain that members of Groups 1 and 3 may not interact directly with each other.Distribute the materials. Give $200 in play money to each member of Group 3 along with the instruction sheet. Give $5 to each member of Group 2 along with the instruction sheet. Give 50 index card halves to each member of Group 1 along with the instruction sheet.

Ask the participants to read their instructions. Visit each group and answer any questions.Announce the beginning of the game. Blow the whistle and start the timer. Let the participants play the game for 5 minutes.

Stop the game. Blow the whistle at the end of the 5-minute period.Identify the winners. Ask members of the first two groups to count their money. Ask the members of Group 3 to count their cards. In each group, identify the winner and congratulate him or her.Debrief the participants. Link the activity to the customer-supplier chain. Relate the activity to the workplace.

Instruction Sheet for Group 1 Members

All members of your group have the same instructions. The two other groups have different instructions.

Your goal is to make more money than any other member of your group.You have a large supply of index-card halves. Sign your name on each card half. You can sell the signed cards to any member of Group 2. You cannot sell the cards to anyone else. The suggested retail price is $1 per card. You may sell up to five cards to a single person at any given time. You may not sell more cards to the same person until you have sold some cards to someone else. The game will end after 5 minutes. At that time, if you have the most money in Group 1, you win the game.

Instruction Sheet for Group 2 Members

All members of your group have the same instructions. The two other groups have different instructions. Your goal is to make more money than any other member of your group. You begin the activity with $5. Your job is to buy cards from the members of Group 1, sign your name under the signature on each card, and sell the cards to the members of Group 3. The suggested purchase price of the cards from Group 1 is $1 each. The suggested selling price to Group 3 is $2 each. You may sell only one card at a time to any Group 3 member. You may not sell another card to the same person until you have sold a card to someone else. The game will end after 5 minutes. At that time, if you have the most money in Group 2, you win the game.

Instruction Sheet for Group 3 Members

All members of your group have the same instructions. The two other groups have different instructions. Your goal is to collect more cards than any other member of your group. You begin the activity with $200. You use this money to buy cards from the members of Group 2. Each card costs $2. Make sure that the card has two different signatures, one below the other. You may not collect more than two cards that have the same two signatures. The game will end after 5 minutes. At that time, if you have the most cards in Group 3, you win the game.