1. The Marshmallow Challenge

2. Group competition: The Marshmallow Challenge
Step 1: Split into 4 groups
Step 2: Each group will receive
20 sticks of spaghetti
One meter of masking tape
One meter of string
One marshmallow
Step 3: Build the tallest free standing tower

3. Marshmallow challenge: rules
Height will be measured from the table top surface to top of marshmallow
The entire marshmallow must be on top.
Use as little or as much of the kit as you want, but no other items may be used.
Time: 18 minutes.
If you are touching the structure when time is called you are disqualified

4. What worked, what didn’t work and why?
Debrief
What worked, what didn’t work and why?

5. The marshmallow challenge: What can we learn
Forces people to collaborate quickly and as a team

6. The marshmallow challenge: What can we learn
Less successful teams
Spend more time planning
Have power struggles
Less willing to get started quickly, fail and improve
Let “Perfect being the enemy of the good”

7. The marshmallow challenge: What can we learn?
Which of the teams do you think were successful?
Business school graduates
Kindergarteners
CEOs
CEOs + executive assistants

8. Why do kindergartners succeed?
They try successive prototypes. If one fails they try again, if it works, they keep going.

9. Why do kindergartners succeed?
They try successive prototypes. If one fails they try again, if it works, they keep going.

10. Why do teams with CEOs + executive assistants do well?
A good example of how different people on a team bring unique skills and make the team stronger.

11. A lesson for coaches (or QI team leads)
The successful teams did not need to be told how to build, just what the expectation was.
Teams have common goal and decide how to build
There are many different approaches to a successful structure, just as there are many approaches to a successful QI project.
Encourage teams to try, refine, continue
The successful teams were not told how to build, just what the expectation was. It’s important for coaches and leaders to make their team aware and supportive of a common goal (more on this in resistance)
Expectation is to identify a gap using their data and work to improve
Coaching can help identify when they are stuck and how to get them to move on
Teams to decide how to build
Which gap, what solution
There are many different approaches to a successful structure, just as there are many approaches to a successful QI project.

12. Other take home lessons from the group?

13. References Tom Wujac, marshmallowchallenge.com/TED_Talk.html
Tanveer Naseer (
National Quality Center