Nazareth College of Rochester
Department of Residential Life
Division of Student Affairs
Resident Assistant Selection 2002-03
VALUES CLARIFICATION
Lost At Sea Individual Worksheet
Instructions
You are adrift on a private yacht in the South Pacific. As a consequence of a fire of unknown origin, much of the yacht and its contents have been destroyed. The yacht is slowly sinking. You location is unclear because of the destruction of critical navigational equipment and because you and the crew were distracted trying to bring the fire under control. You best estimate is that you are approximately one thousand miles south-southwest of the nearest land.
Below is a list of fifteen items that are intact and undamaged after the fire. In addition to these articles, you have a serviceable rubber raft (with oars) large enough to carry yourself, the crew, and all the items listed below. The total contents of all survivors’ pockets are a package of cigarettes, several books of matches, and five one-dollar bills.
Your task is to rank the fifteen items below in terms of their importance to your survival. Place the number 1 by the most important item, the number 2 by second most important, and so on through number 15, the least important.
__ Sextant
__ Shaving Mirror
__ Five-gallon can of water
__ Mosquito netting
__ One case of U.S. Army C- rations
__ Maps of the Pacific Ocean
__ Seat Cushion (flotation device approved by the Coast Guard)
__ Two-gallon can of oil-gas mixture
__ Small transistor radio
__ Shark repellent
__ Twenty square feet of opaque plastic
__ One quart of 160-proof Puerto Rican rum
__ Fifteen feet of nylon rope
__ Two boxes of chocolate bars
__ Fishing kit
Nazareth College of Rochester
Department of Residential Life
Division of Student Affairs
Resident Assistant Selection 2002-03
VALUES CLARIFICATION
Instructions
This is an exercise in group decision making. Your group is to employ the group consensus method in reaching its decision. This means that the ranking, for each of the fifteen survival items, must be agreed upon by each group member before it becomes the group decision. Consensus can be difficult to reach; therefore, not every ranking will meet with everyone’s approval. As a group, try to make each ranking one with which all group members can at least partially agree with. Here are some guidelines to use in reaching consensus:
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Avoid arguing for your own individual judgments. Approach the task on the basis of logic.
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Avoid changing your mind if it is only to reach agreement and avoid conflict. Support only solutions with which you are able to agree at least somewhat.
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Avoid “conflict-reducing” techniques such as majority vote, averaging, or trading in reaching your decision.
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View differences of opinion as a help, rather than a hindrance in decision making.
__ Sextant
__ Shaving Mirror
__ Five-gallon can of water
__ Mosquito netting
__ One case of U.S. Army C rations
__ Maps of the Pacific Ocean
__ Seat Cushion (flotation device approved by the Coast Guard)
__ Two-gallon can of oil-gas mixture
__ Small transistor radio
__ Shark repellent
__ Twenty square feet of opaque plastic
__ One quart of 160-proof Puerto Rican rum
__ Fifteen feet of nylon rope
__ Two boxes of chocolate bars
__ Fishing kit
Nazareth College of Rochester
Department of Residential Life
Division of Student Affairs
Resident Assistant Selection 2002-03
VALUES CLARIFICATION
Lost at Sea Facilitators Sheet
Goals
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To develop consensus building skills within a team.
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To examine the benefits of consensus building vs. individual thinking in relation to scenario outcome.
Group Size
4 – 6 individuals per group
Time Required
Approximately 15 – 20 minutes for the individual worksheet and at least 30 minutes for the group worksheet.
Materials
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A copy of the Individual Worksheet and Group Worksheet for each participant.
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A copy of the attached chart (on a flip chart, board, etc.)
Instructions
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Distribute worksheets and have participants complete the individual worksheets.
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Divide participants into groups of 4 – 6 and have them complete a group ranking.
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Once all groups are finished, calculate the individual and group scores (See Calculating Scores section)
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Once the groups are finished, complete the chart to demonstrate the difference between working as a group and working individually. The numbers for the group should be lower than the individual marks. Have people compare their individual scores with their group score.
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Facilitate a discussion on consensus and the benefits of group decision making.
Calculating Scores
Using the answer sheet, the score is the difference between the actual answer and the individual/group ranking. Example:
Sextant Actual answer: 12 Individual/Group Ranking: 7 Score: 5
The lower the score the better. Calculate the score for each item and add them to find the total score. (These are the official answers as given by the U.S. Merchant Marines in their recruit training)
Answers
_12_ Sextant (No good without the chronometer)
_1 _ Shaving Mirror (Perfect for signaling passing aircraft)
_3 _ Five-gallon can of water (Can only survive app. 3 days without
water)
_14_ Mosquito netting (There are no mosquitoes that far out at
sea and moquito netting does not make a great fish net)
_4 _ One case of U.S. Army “C” rations (Better than nothing – you
have to eat)
_13 _ Maps of the Pacific Ocean ( You likely don’t know where you are so a map will only tell you where you aren’t)
_8 _ Seat Cushion (flotation device approved by the Coast Guard)
(Useful for saving people if they fall overboard)
_2 _ Two-gallon can of oil-gas mixture (Mixture will float on the
water and burn, good for signaling planes at night)
_15 _ Small transistor radio (Not a two-way radio, will not be able
to get a station that far out to sea)
_11 _ Shark repellent (Self explanatory)
_6 _ Twenty square feet of opaque plastic (Good for covering up and
keeping warm, also good for collecting water –
condensation)
_10_ One quart of 160-proof Puerto Rican rum (Alcohol makes you
dehyrdrate – DO NOT DRINK – use for cleaning wounds
etc.)
_9 _ Fifteen feet of nylon rope (Rope is always good)
_5 _ Two boxes of chocolate bars (Good energy source if desperate)
_7 _ Fishing kit (The fish are likely quite deep but the contents
are very handy)
Chart
INDIVIDUAL RANKING
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GROUP RANKINGS
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Group 1:
Group 2:
Group 3:
Etc.
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Average :
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Group Average:
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