Help me teach a business class.

[The Walking Dude]

I am taking a Human Behavior in Organizations class this semester. Part of our grade is to, in groups of four, teach a class. Our section of the book is Influence Tactics, Empowerment, and Politics. My part of the class will be to talk about social power. Everything is looking pretty good and I think we will have a good presentation(although I'm not sure how we can beat the football player who got an interview with the head coach). We are missing a few things that I could use some help with. We need some kind of activity, preferably one that is easy and quick to set up and takes ten to fifteen minutes. It should pertain to the overall topic and work for about thirty-five people(or smaller groups). I was hoping that with the large number of highly intelligent people on this board I would be able to find a few that teach(and some that teach business if I am really lucky). I suppose that is about it. I need to have two to three minutes of video clips on social power and I would be willing to accept any advice anyone is willing to give on the subject, or at least on teaching the subject. Thanks much to anyone who can help.

[CookingWithGas]

Just wanted to mention that the board has an explicit policy against asking for/providing help with homework, so you may not get any useful responses. It sounds like you are asking someone to provide an activity for you to perform, when part of the point of your assignment is to creatively think one up. 'Nuff said.

[ForumBot]

One popular trick in Social Psych classes is to show episodes of Candid Camera and analyze them. One clip that's particularly popular is the elevator trick. It goes like this: a person walks into an elevator to find four people all facing the rear of the elevator. Faced with an uncertain situation, the person follows the group and eventually faces the rear. Sometimes you see the uncertainty on peoples faces, and others struggling with resisting conformity, only to give in.

One poor chap got it bad--the confederates turned 90 degrees at the same moment, and the rube turned with them without even flinching. Four times.

[The Walking Dude]

Thanks for the info Cooking. I wasn't aware of the policy. Would it be acceptable for me to revise the request and ask instead for decent websites that have these types of activities or info on how to teach a class? It doesn't have to be original, we don't even have to have the activity. The way we teach the class is entirely up to us, I just wanted to include a hands-on activity. If not, then I apologize and will keep this in mind from now on.

Thanks much for the idea Forum. I may try something like that in the class. I could have the first few people that show up turn their desks to face the back wall and see how the rest of the students react. I appreciate the help.

[CookingWithGas]

Originally Posted by The Walking Dude

Thanks for the info Cooking. I wasn't aware of the policy.

Just fer the record, from here:

Originally Posted by SDMB

The board is not intended to furnish you with a forum for promoting your personal agenda. We reserve the right to ask you to limit postings on a particular topic, or to refrain from posting on such topics altogether. Please do not ask other members to do your homework or provide input for your article, paper, or other off-board project. We may waive this rule if you obtain prior permission from a moderator or administrator.

This is not a hanging offense, but you could get dinged by a mod.

[msmith537]

Originally Posted by The Walking Dude

I am taking a Human Behavior in Organizations class this semester. Part of our grade is to, in groups of four, teach a class. Our section of the book is Influence Tactics, Empowerment, and Politics. My part of the class will be to talk about social power. Everything is looking pretty good and I think we will have a good presentation(although I'm not sure how we can beat the football player who got an interview with the head coach). We are missing a few things that I could use some help with. We need some kind of activity, preferably one that is easy and quick to set up and takes ten to fifteen minutes. It should pertain to the overall topic and work for about thirty-five people(or smaller groups). I was hoping that with the large number of highly intelligent people on this board I would be able to find a few that teach(and some that teach business if I am really lucky). I suppose that is about it. I need to have two to three minutes of video clips on social power and I would be willing to accept any advice anyone is willing to give on the subject, or at least on teaching the subject. Thanks much to anyone who can help.

How about introducing them to a variation of the Prisoners Dilemma exercise? We did something like this in negotiations class in business school.

[The Walking Dude]

Thanks msmith. I like the idea. I'll just have to find a way to make it work for the entire class. It may be hard to coordinate. It is a good one though.

[msmith537]

Originally Posted by The Walking Dude

Thanks msmith. I like the idea. I'll just have to find a way to make it work for the entire class. It may be hard to coordinate. It is a good one though.

It's best to split the class up into small groups for this exercise and then discuss your findings.

It's a good exercise for anyone who wonders why companies, governments or other institutions make boneheaded or otherwise obviously bad decisions that are not in their self interest. And the short answer is that in a world of imperfect information, people will act in rational self-interest, even if it collectively means a worse outcome.