Developing Training Model Using Games to Encourage Teamwork Behaviors

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to develop a training program by using games to encourage teamwork behaviors, 2) to study the effectiveness of the training program and 3) to study the retention of the training program.
The sample group of this research, obtained from Purposive Sampling, was composed of 30 officers, employees and operating staffs from Local Administration, Wangchai Sub district Administration Organization, Mahasarakam who participated in an Operational Efficiency Increment Project Seminar on 6-8 February, 2014 at Phukaongam resort. Tools used in the research were 3 sets of questionnaires: a questionnaire on teamwork characteristics of the organization, a questionnaire on employees' teamwork behaviors and a training program utilizing games to encourage teamwork behaviors. Percentage, mean and standard deviation (SD), t-test Dependent measure and Descriptive Statistics were used in data analysis.
The research findings were as follows: 1) A training program that utilizes games to encourage teamwork comprised of main activities, namely Group Dynamics activity, Puzzle activity, Analysis activity, Silent Game activity, Elephant Shooting activity, Tower building activity, Walk Rally activity, Carnival activity, Warlord activity, Virtue Telling activity and Promise activity 2) The study of the training program that utilizes games to encourage teamwork was effective and showed excellent results. The pre-test on the teamwork characteristics of the organization was considered at a medium level (3.05) while the post-test was at high level (3.86). When comparing the two tests, statistically significant difference was detected at p = 0.05. The pre-test on teamwork behaviors in general was considered high (3.67) while the post-test was very high (4.36), giving statistically significant difference at p = 0.05. 3) The retention of the program, evaluated by comparing post-test and retention test one month after the training showed that the employees' teamwork behaviors were still at a very high level, with the statistically significant difference level of 0.05.