Home > Activities > Specific Outcome Based Activities > Problem Solving
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The problem solving process begins when the problem is defined. The initial solution is often a non-creative one and a more creative solution may be required to adequately resolve the issue. Creative problem solving techniques includes methods designed to shift a person’s mental state into one that fosters creativity. There are also techniques that look for solutions to problems by reframing the problem. A further problem solving technique often employed is that of changing perspective to induce a novel solution to the problem. Problem solving skills are essential for individual and corporate success.
Other Outcome Based Activities: Goal Setting, Leadership, Communication, Cooperation, Resilience, Creative Thinking, Time Management, Decision Making, Trust
The team building exercises under the Problem Solving Outcome theme are selected to help achieve the specific objective of Problem Solving. Your facilitator will select the appropriate exercises from this list to match the venue and team on the day.
All Adrift - Whilst on a sailing holiday, an accident causes the boat to set on fire, with just enough time to grab a few items at hand – the team have to decide which items are top priority. Working together, the team have to use their decision making skills to prioritize the ten items listed...
Scrap Tower - Teams compete to build the highest tower that holds a weighted object off the ground for a minimum of ten seconds. Careful planning and creative thinking are essential for this fun team exercise. A newspaper and a roll of tape is all the team will receive to complete this exercise. Teams have forty minutes to build their tower...
Cane Tower - Your team are lost in a bamboo forest, the only real hope is to catch the attention of people in the nearest village before nightfall. To be seen from the village, articles of clothing must be hoisted to exactly 6 metres on two separate structures. Night is falling, there is limited time...
Spiders Web - The aim of the challenge is for the whole team to travel through the web. At the moment, the web is blocking your path to safety. Be careful though, as the web is extremely poisonous and any time a team member touches the web, the challenge will be restarted...
Electric Fence - The aim of the challenge is for the entire team to cross from one side of the fence to the other without touching the fence line. There are two variations of this challenge a more basic version and the more advanced one, both are great for developing teamwork and trust...
Traffic Jam - Traffic Jam is a real, ‘brain buster’ that requires a lot thinking and communication. This challenge is very similar to a human chess game. The group is split in two, with both sides working together to complete the challenge. Cooperation and planning are essential to complete this task...
Hover Ball - With the Hover Ball team building exercise, the team is in a simulation in which they are required to transport a ‘radioactive bomb’ through a series of obstacles from the start point to the safe zone, using only the cradle provided. No-one can touch the ‘bomb’ and all the team members must pass through each obstacle....
Blind Shapes - Teams are blindfolded and tasked with forming a number of geometric shapes defined by the facilitator. Participants have to put their hands in front of them and then place the length of rope in their hands.They are given a shape to create with the rope...
Lava Flow - Your team have come across a lava river, the only way to survive is to cross the river to safety. To complete the challenge, you will be provided with several platforms to use. If anyone steps on the hot lava, you will have to restart the challenge. Can you transport your whole team to safety and survive the lava flow?...
Sheep and Shepherd - In smaller teams, blindfolded team members must be guided into a pen by the shepherd giving them verbal commands. The team that pens the most amount of sheep in the quickest time, wins the challenge...
Leaky Pipe - Team’s race against the clock to try and retrieve a ping pong ball placed at the bottom of a leaky pipe. To do this they are provided with a bucket of water and several cups. Teams are required to use good teamwork and problem solving skills to complete the challenge...
All Aboard - Your team has been caught on a sinking ship and your team have managed to use the safety raft to travel to the nearest island. The Coast Guard has been notified of your situation and sent out a rescue ship. The area around the island is full of sharks and the tide is coming in quick, with the island shrinking with every minute that passes...
Marble Tube - Your team are on an archaeological expedition, you have been tasked with recovering precious marbles from an ancient burial chamber to a protected area. Using the tubing provided, you are required to transport these marbles from the start point through to the end of the course...
Hole Tarp - The objective of this challenge is for the team to work together to navigate a ball around a tarpaulin for as long as possible without the ball falling through a hole or off the tarp completely...
Minefield - The team have come to a battlefield that has been laid with mines. One person at a time must attempt to cross the battlefield without stepping on a mine. Once a team member steps on a mine, they must return back to the start position and the next person must try to navigate their way across the minefield...
Human Knot - Starting in a circle, participants connect hands with two others people in the group to form the human knot. As a team they must then try to unravel the “human knot” by untangling themselves without breaking the chain of hands.If the chain of hands is broken at any point, they must then start over again...
Missile Launch - Your team have to design and build a target and two devices that can launch a missile. The devices are required to launch the missile over the target which will be set 10 metres away from the launch point. 30 minutes in to the activity you will be allowed to take two practice shots using a golf ball. The final shot will be made using an egg...
Magic Cane - Teams are given a magic cane (also known as helium stick) which they must lower to the ground, using just their index fingers. All participants must remain in contact with it at all times – what seems like a simple task, can become incredibly frustrating and funny for all involved...
Scrapheap Challenge - Scrapheap Challenge involves a whole heap of scrap and lots of creative thinking. In this challenge, teams are tasked with building a product made of scrap to protect an egg when dropped from a height...
Customize your team building event by adding a Creative Problem Solving soft skills course to your team building activity.
Creative problem solving describes the process of solving a problem in a novel way. The process begins when the problem is defined and often leads to an initial non-creative solution. It may also incorporate previous creative solutions by others. If previous solutions to the problem do not adequately resolve the issue a creative solution is required, and creative problem solving skills will be needed. Solutions are also considered creative when the problem is solved through the creative use of components that are readily available.
Creative problem solving techniques include methods designed to shift a person’s mental state into one that fosters creativity. There are also techniques that look for solutions to problems by reframing the problem. Another creative problem solving approach is the multiple idea facilitation technique designed to increase the quantity of fresh problem solving ideas. A further technique often employed is that of changing perspective to induce a novel solution to the problem. Creative problem solving skills are essential for individual and corporate success.
TBAE’s Creative Problem Solving Workshop will provide participants with an overview of the creative problem solving process. They will be provided with essential problem solving tools that can be used in every-day situations. The course covers topics such as brainstorming, information gathering, analyzing data and identifying resources. Subjects covered in the Creative Problem Solving Course include the problem solving method, information gathering, problem definition, preparing for brainstorming, generating solutions, analysing solutions, selecting a solution, planning your next step and recording lessons learned.
For a virtual team building option of the Creative Problem Solving course see our Online Soft Skills Workshops for Teams.
Problem Solving Team Building Gallery
Recent Problem Solving Outcome BasedTeam Building Events
Rand Merchant Bank
at Devon Valley Hotel in Stellenbosch
Teach for All at Lagoon Beach Hotel in Cape Town
Morebo Wealth
at Indaba Hotel in Fourways
Africa Health Placements at The Wanderers Club in Johannesburg
Free State Cricket Union at Hadeda Creek in Parys, Free State
Massmart at The Amazing Place in Sandton
FHI360 at Velmore Estate in Centurion
Other Problem Solving Team Building Activities
Escape Room Team Building Activity
Murder
Mystery Team Building Activity
Creative Construction Team Building Activity
Blog Posts About Problem Solving
Ultimate Guide to Building Better Problem Solving Skills in Your Team
Develop Non-Linear Thinking in Your Team
Analyzing Your Team’s Problem Solving Solutions
Preparing the Way for Creative Problem Solving
Information Gathering Stage of The Creative Problem Solving Process for Teams
Creative Problem Solving for Teams
The Importance of Problem Solving for Team Leaders
Creative Problem Solving Team Building Exercises
Generating Solutions for Team Problems
To Solve The Problem First Define The Problem
Become a Problem-Solver
How to Solve Problems as a Team
Problem Solving Events Testimonials
" just wanted to say thank you for the time and effort you and your team has spent in ensuring the Morebo team building event at the Indaba Hotel was a massive success. The staff maintained a positive attitude and ensured we felt welcome during our visit. Everyone treated us with dignity and respect. I was amazed at the consistency in their performance and willingness to go the extra mile. The staff was well groomed and took pride as representatives of the TBAE." William Van Wyk, Morebo
"I have had very positive feedback from the candidates about the team building on Friday - thank you!" Monica Smit, Africawide Shared Services