Woodland Critters

1.5hrs - 2.5hrs

Game

Woodland Critters brings a new perspective to the DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) conversation by locating it squarely in a commercially pressured environment. Teams each start the challenge with a monoculture composed of a single creature type. In order to win the challenge they’ll need to bring other creatures into their clan and develop them into Elders. But it won’t be easy – some of the creatures don’t like each other!

In the Woodlands, far from prying eyes, a Critter Community has thrived for hundreds of years. Critters work together to ensure that there is enough food and other necessities for all the creatures of the Woodlands. Once in a generation a new clan must be chosen to watch over the Woodland for the decades to come. Over a year-long challenge, aspiring clans must demonstrate that they can feed all the creatures, nurture creatures to reach their potential, and most importantly represent ALL of the various creatures of the Woodlands.

Diversity

Equity

Inclusion

Overview

The simulation gives participants a real-time experience of the difficulties of building a diverse team, along with the ultimate benefits it brings. As they build themselves a clan to win the Woodlands Challenge they will wheel and deal, and try to develop their critters, keep them happy and help them feel they belong. Participants will come away with a simple, practical understanding of what diversity, equity and inclusion mean in everyday business.

The game is played in real time either face to face or virtually. Participants are placed into random (or preset) teams to build their clans, to haggle and trade with other teams, to compete for new talent and try to grow their clan. In a room full of energy, healthy competition and fun, your DEI conversation has never been this engaging!

Outcomes

Woodland Critters is designed to support organisational DE&I programs of all scales and sophistication. It has a flexible debrief that can be customised to meet your learning outcomes or conference themes. The simulation lends itself to discussions around:

Practical definitions of diversity, equity and inclusion and a simple model that connects them into belonging, and how this model plays out in a realistic setting;
The experience of the difficulty in building diverse teams, and some of the commercial challenges they face;
How to work with and influence team engagement metrics, and the impacts of unhappy team members;
The challenges of trying to grow and develop individuals and teams while also running a fast-paced organisation;
Attempting to negotiate and work with numerous different teams and stakeholders without any formal authority;
Dealing with and responding to random disruptions to planning, and adjusting strategy in response to the actions of others.