Name: Build a tower, build a team
Uploaded: 2010-04-22T08:53:00Z
Duration: 6 min 34 s
Description: Tom Wujec presents some surprisingly deep research into the "marshmallow problem" -- a simple team-building exercise that involves dry spaghetti, one yard of tape and a marshmallow. Who can build the tallest tower with these ingredients? And why does a surprising group always beat the average?

Tom Wujec: Build a tower, build a team

Build a tower, build a team

Tom Wujec presents some surprisingly deep research into the "marshmallow problem" -- a simple team-building exercise that involves dry spaghetti, one yard of tape and a marshmallow. Who can build the tallest tower with these ingredients? And why does a surprising group always beat the average?

Collaborative problem-solving thrives on quick prototyping, not rigid planning. In the marshmallow challenge, young children consistently outperform business graduates by experimenting early and often with their spaghetti towers, while adults usually overplan and fail dramatically at the last moment. Teams with facilitation skills and iterative mindsets build taller, more stable structures. High stakes can actually worsen performance unless groups learn to adapt on the fly.