The Car Race Challenge: An Intragroup and Intergroup Exercise

The Race Challenge exercise helps participants increase their understanding of both intragroup and intergroup dynamics. The challenges posed when group representatives must also participate in cross-functional work teams are integral to the exercise. Important to the exercise is the opportunity to engage in strategies for managing competitive behavior in situations in which collaborative behavior is necessary. The Race Challenge is appropriate for both classroom and corporate training. Comments from undergraduate students and corporate personnel are provided as well as debriefing guidelines. Variations that will increase or decrease the complexity of the exercise are also included.