Subarctic Survival Situation
Subarctic Survival Situation
PARAGRAPH 1 -What is the issue/problem/opportunity/challenge?
- PARAGRAPH 2 – What is your position on the issue?What do you think?
- PARAGRAPH 3 – What results/impacts (e.g., costs, legal impacts, people factor, etc.) action/inaction?
- PARAGRAPH 4 – Summary and conclusions
Subarctic survival situation is about surviving through life’s worst nightmares. It is a story of an airplane crash-landing in the subarctic region. The pilot of the plane is dead during the impact of the airplane to the ground. The survivors were able to save 15 items from being destroyed. The list of these 15 items have been provided. The problem in hand is to use these 15 items and work as a team to reach to safety before it’s too late. All the survivors are dressed in appropriate clothing that could help in limiting the impact of the severe cold weather. All the team member decided to stay in team which is in advantage of all the survivors. The items still in possession are also dry and in good condition. The weather is a challenging though as it is extremely cols. 25% of region is covered by rivers which would also be challenging for the team.
I think that this is one of the worst situation one can confront. Having said that, I think that instead of focusing on the condition being the worst ever faced, there is a need to focus on survival techniques. For me, it is encouraging to known that the team has decided to stay in together. This case study provides an opportunity to think critically. I think that this exercise can be used in corporations and other real life difficult situations where combined decision making is involved. Team work is advised as a step towards solution of the situation. Listening to one another would be important in such a situation. There would be many assumptions made by different team members. I think that facts should be preferred over assumptions to reach to a plausible solution. Team members should be encouraged to participate so new ideas are generated and each one feels motivated. The quiet ones often have the brightest idea as I have observed.
It is a fact that not all people who are a part of the team would think the same or even be equally motivated to find a solution to the problem in hand. To reach towards successful solution of the problem i.e. survive the arctic severe weather and reach safety, the situation must be analyzed properly. Different alternatives should be considered and team members should not stick to their point of view. In fact each person should be open to change. By mutual understanding, listening to each other, supporting each other along the way and participating in the decision making, the remaining survivors may be able to reach safety. There may be some adverse consequences of the different actions that must be taken. These consequences should not be overlooked and thoroughly discussed as the lives of many people are at stake here.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the situation can be handled only if there is trust among the team members. Team members may be interacting with each other for the first time. Trust building may be difficult but it does call for immediate action. This is a great teamwork exercise that can help create self-awareness by enhancing the capability to understand and recognize emotions and drives and how they impact a human being. Working as part of a team and learning to listen to others and putting away your differences can help in self-regulation. The situation discussed is the exercise is beyond material gains. It is about survival. It requires real critical thinking and cooperating with other to help them survive so you can survive. I would strongly recommend it for class and corporate practice.
