Beyond the Valley of the Kings is a team simulation for management development training. Team members learn and practice the group process skills needed to achieve synergy, including problem solving, consensus decision making, and conflict resolution.

When it comes to synergistic teams, the sum of the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts. This is why most, if not all, organizations today look to teams to make important decisions, strategize, and solve problems. But in order to achieve peak performance, teams must be able to maximize a collaborative approach.

 

Part of the ever popular HRDQ Team Adventure Series, Beyond the Valley of the Kings is a survival-based classroom training exercise that provides a safe, non-threatening means for teams to practice and develop the group process skills they need to reach synergy. The simulation challenges teams to work together to overcome a disaster scenario by engaging effective methods of decision-making, communication, problem solving, and conflict resolution. Beyond the Valley of the Kings is an excellent exercise for new or developing teams, and it is particularly helpful for teams that struggle to achieve high performance.

 

 

Just after dawn, a group of members from an urban redevelopment project climbs into the passenger basket of a hot-air balloon to get an aerial view of the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. No one in the group has ever been up in a balloon before, so many are anxious about the adventure. Lift off is smooth and the group is soon enjoying the trip and the breathtaking views. But about an hour into the flight, the balloon suddenly lurches, and immediately begins descending at break-neck speed. The pilot can do little to control the flight of the balloon and, along with the rest of the passengers, can only brace himself for the inevitable bone-shattering crash. When the balloon and its basket finally come to rest, the dazed team members discover their pilot lying motionless, with blood trickling from his head. Stranded, the team must care for the pilot, and find a way to survive and using only the contents of the balloon.

 

Learning Outcomes
Theory and Development
Uses for the Simulation
How it Works
What to Order
Related Products

 

The authors’ lifelong interest in Egyptian culture was the inspiration for Beyond the Valley of the Kings. They created the survival simulation to demonstrate “the power of consensus decision making,” the belief that decisions made by groups are better than decisions made by individuals acting alone (Michaelson, Watson, & Black, 1989). Groups bring a greater sum total of knowledge and information to the discussion of a problem, as well as a greater number of approaches and perspectives. The simulation also demonstrates the concept of “process loss.” This phenomenon occurs when a knowledgeable group member outperforms the group, indicating that the member’s knowledge was lost sometime during the group discussion. In order for group decision making to work, unique information must be shared and absorbed by the group (Stasser, 1992).

Beyond the Valley of the Kings can be used on its own, or incorporated into a more comprehensive training program on team building, synergy, or decision making. Additional uses include:

 

This powerful roundtable simulation challenges teams to rank six action strategies and 10 salvaged items, first as individuals, and then again as a team. As the facilitator, you begin the exercise by introducing the adventure scenario. Participants then rank the strategies and salvaged items on their own, using pressure-sensitive scoring forms. Next, each team conducts the same ranking process as a unit. Finally, you lead participants into a group action planning discussion, providing the team with the opportunity to apply the learning to the workplace.

 

If you are planning to use Beyond the Valley of the Kings in a classroom training session, we recommend you allow approximately 1 hour for interpretation of scores, topic discussion, debrief, and action planning. The Beyond the Valley of the Kings Facilitator Guide includes everything you need to lead a successful training session from comprehensive background information and activities, to reproducible handouts and even a professional PowerPoint presentation. The Facilitator Guide also offers an easy-to-follow workshop outline that expands Beyond the Valley of the Kings into a 3-hour program.

 

Initial Rollout
 
You will need to order a Facilitator Guide per trainer and 1 Participant Guide for each individual learner. The Starter Kit is a great way to begin your rollout and includes a Facilitator Guide and 5 Participant Guides. Additional Participant Guides may be purchased separately. Purchasing all of the participant materials you need at one time may qualify you for quantity discounts that can save you money and simplify ordering.

 

If you are new to this product we highly recommend HRDQ QuickStart Training, whether you are a novice trainer or a seasoned facilitator. It’s an excellent way to quickly get up to speed on the product so you can step into your first training class with confidence. Personalized, one-on-one telephone coaching is provided at your convenience. Our subject matter experts will review the program with you, offer ideas for tailoring the program to your specific needs, discuss typical participant questions and reactions, and more.  
 
Ongoing Training
 
Each time you administer the simulation, you will need to order a new Participant Guide for each individual. Quantity discounts are available. Additional Facilitator Guides can also be purchased if you have additional trainers or require a new copy.

 

Simulation

 

2 ½ hours

 

Rollin Glaser, EdD
Christine Glaser, MEd