Introduction
Leading Change: What You Can Count On
Debriefing and Processing
References and Sources
Can Do Leadership Initiative Activity
Change Initiative Activity
Systems Initiative Activity
Zin Obelisk Activity

Zin Obelisk

Task Instructions

In the ancient city of Atlantis, a solid, retangular obelisk, called a zin, was built in honor of the goddess Elvira. The structure took less than two weeks to complete.

The task of your team is to determine on which day of the week the obelisk was completed. You will have 20 minutes to complete this task.

Each team member will be given several information cards related to the task.

You may share this information verbally with your teammates, but you may not show your cards to anyone.

Do not choose a formal leader.
One paper and pencil per table.

Zin Obelisk Answer and Rationale

The answer is Neptiminus.

Rationale:

1. The dimensions of the zin indicate that it contains 50,000 cubic feet of stone blocks.
2. The blocks are 1 cubic foot each, therefore, 50,000 blocks are required.
3. Each worker works seven schlibs in a day (2 schlibs are devoted to rest).
4. Each worker lays 150 blocks per schlib, therefore, each worker lays 1050 blocks per day.
5. There are eight workers working per day (the ninth is assigned religious duties), therefore, 8,400 blocks are laid per working day.
6. The 50,000th block, therefore, is laid on the sixth working day.
7. Since work begins at daybreak on Aquaday and does not take place on Daydoldrum, the sixth working day is Neptiminus.

Zin Processing Suggestions

Ask "what" questions.

• What types of thoughts/feelings did you have during the exercise?
• Did anyone else have the same feelings? Other feelings?
• What were your reactions to the activity?
• How many of the rest of you had a similar reaction? Other reactions?
• What were your observations about the activity?
• Did anyone else make a similar observation? Other observations?

Ask "so what" questions.

• So what can we learn about leadership/collaboration from this exercise?

Learning points: (Hopefully they will come up with some but if they don't, you can use some of these or others that you might think of.)

• Must have a clearly defined goal.
• Must collaborate--work together---share the leadership---share knowledge.
• Must listen to each other.
• Must be able to articulate an idea.
• Must be able to deal with ambiguous tasks.
• Must overcome language of vocabulary problems.
• Must perform under pressure of time demands.

If they don't come up with points, your job is to ask questions that make them think of points. Examples:

• What made this initiative difficult/challenging.
• What had to be shared for the team to reach success? (Knowledge)
• Why is this important? (On complex tasks, very seldom does one person have all the answers or all of the knowledge needed to solve the problem.)
• How does this relate to leadership? (Today, problems are so complex that no one in any field can be completely up to date or know it all. Must be willing to work together in teams to solve complex problems.)
• Did anyone benefit from the strengths of other team members?
• Why is diversity important?
• What was the impact of not choosing a formal leader?
• Did someone assert themselves in a formal leadership role?
• Did others follow? Why? Why not?

End with "now what" questions (Note: Adjust these to your specific situation.)

• Now, as you go back to your institutions, what are ways in which you as leaders/teachers can apply the thing you have learned from this exercise?
• How well is information shared in your organization?
• Where do you go to get information in your field?
• How can PKAL be a resource to you?

Learning Points:

• Importance of cross sharing, teaming, and collaboration.
• Importance of diversity.
• The only way to be successful was to share information and resources/skillsets.

Zin Obelisk Cards

• What is a Zin?
• The Zin is built of stone blocks.
• The width of the zin is 10 feet.
• The length of the zin is 50 feet.
• The height of the zin is 100 feet.
• Each block is 1 cubic foot.
• The basic measurement of time in Atlantis is a day.
• There are five days in an Atlantian week.
• Day 1 in the Atlantian week is called Aquaday.
• Day 2 in the Atlantain week is called Neptiminus.
• Day 3 in the Atlantain week is called Sharkday.
• Day 4 in the Atlantian week is called Mermaidday.
• Day 5 in the Atlantian week is called Daydoldrum.
• No work takes place on Daydoldrum.
• Work starts a daybreak on Aquaday.
• An Atlantian day is divided into schlibs and ponks.
• The working day has 9 schlibs.
• There are 8 ponks in a schlib.
• Each worker takes rest periods during the working day totaling 16 ponks.
• Workers each lay 150 blocks per schlib.
• At any time when work is taking place there is a gang of 9 people on site.
• One member of each gang has religious duties and does not lay blocks.
• Only one gang is working on the construction of the zin.
• Which way up does the zin stand?
• Green has special religious significance on Mermaidday.
• A cubitt is a cube, all sides of which measure 1 magalithic yard.
• What is a cubitt?
• The zin is made up of green blocks.
• Each block costs 2 gold fins.
• There are 31/2 feet in a megalithic yard.
• Each gang includes two women.
• There are eight gold scales in gold fin.
• Does work take place on Sunday?