Structure & Flow: An organizational structure learning game
In Dr. Sharon Rallis’ graduate class “Strategies for Institutional Change” (Spring 2019) we were exploring Boleman and Deal’s structural framework analysis of organizations. I had been pondering the metaphor or magnetic polarity as it might correspond to the flow of an organization’s energy and wondering if I might model this for an assignment in which I was to teach the structure portion of that week’s class.
I put together a presentation which explained a brief history of magnetic turbines and how they can harness the natural flow of energy.
I then introduced the class to a game that I had developed which I call Structure & Flow.
The game uses an existing product – desk toys called Speks Blocks – which are small magnetic building blocks. Players assemble prescribed designs modelling various organizational structures paying attention to magnetic flow and structural balance. These designs are picked from a deck of cards depicting the designs from various angles. Some angles are more revealing than others, and subsequently earn the players more or less points depending on the level of complexity.
I was fearful that the game would be too simple for this audience, but they were thoroughly engaged, and the game (and my lecture) sparked some very interesting conversations about how organizations can be designed, and redesigned.
