Responses

Michael Discussion:

Hello everyone,

Using the Diffusion Simulation Game was an interesting task.  On my first attempt, I talked to the 5 people I thought were most important (principal and department heads) and then dove head first into trying to implement my idea and taking them on a field trip.  The results were disastrous and I found myself constantly going back to talk to other people and gain their involvement so that I could move forward again.  I found myself quickly out of time with only a couple adopters.

On my second attempt, I tried to talk to each person and find out all of the social circles before moving forward.  I then charged into trying to set up demonstrations and meetings without going back to check in with people again and found myself in almost the same scenario as the first attempt, although with a few more adopters this time.  While not 100% effective, my third attempt was my most successful.    I found that by talking to everyone, and then focusing my attention on those individuals that were in the most social circles and position of influence, I was able to move my gameplay forward a bit more successfully.  It was more about playing the politics of who influences whom rather than who had what position.  Certainly a lesson I will keep in mind as I contemplate bringing change as a leader.

In the video Who Moved My Cheese, the occupants of the maze are motivated by cheese.  When they find it, two are content and two are satisfied, but continue to be aware of their surroundings (Stoleiru, 2012).  I can apply this video to some of the things I found in the game.  Knowing what motivates people helped to get them onboard with my presentation, but watching for signs to ensure that motivation remained the same, became paramount.  The clues were there in the answers I received when making a choice, and often I moved too quickly to think about the sign that was being presented.  In order to make effective long term change as a leader, the message that I craft to motivate the team needs to be flexible enough to adjust to eventual change.

Reference

Stoleriu, A. (2012, July 8). Who moved my cheese [video]. YouTube.com. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDNhEYpBPbY

Carly Discussion:

The Diffusion Simulation Game was an interesting exercise. I found myself going in circles and passing weeks without receiving many points within the first game. As I played through the weeks, I realized that you have to play on the social circles, lunchmates and pay attention to who interacts with the other faculty. I kept having to “talk to” people to get through to other diffusion activity points. I found out quickly that in order to get the principal on board, you had to get personal information and talk to the secretary first. You also can not bypass the Janitor if you want to hold any training workshops. I also strategized that if you want any help or to have a presentation in a classroom, you have to talk to the teacher or chairperson first. I got 5 adopters in my first game, 11 my second, and 8 on my third. I made the mistake on the third of “compulsion” without understanding the consequences. I lost to adaptors after doing so and lost with a month or more of time left. This game taught me that the people within the highest positions, do not always have the greatest influence or path to change. For example, the Math Chairman is resistant to change and does not seem to find value in peer tutoring without getting other chairmen/women involved. The home Ec teacher is well-liked by faculty and students and therefore I found it successful to get her on my side early on. 

In the video, “who moved my cheese,” Hem was very resistant to change and was not willing to explore the maze. He was fearful of change as was Haw, but Haw knew that if he did not accept change, they could starve. The mice were described as simple-minded, but they were able to detect minor changes in the cheese daily and were quick to adopt a change movement of looking for additional cheese. Haw was motivated to find new cheese while Hem was comfortable and resistant to new cheese, therefore leaving him left behind when new cheese, in ample supply, was found. Haw was a change agent in an effort to get Hem to change. He posted writing on the wall for Hem to help him find the new cheese, a metaphor for change, as a way to fight the resistance of change (Stoleriu, 2012). 

 

Stoleriu, A. (2012). Who Moved my Cheese? [video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDNhEYpBPbY