Spaghetti Junction

This consensus-building activity develops group decision-making skills through collaborative problem-solving that requires teams to analyse, discuss, and agree on how to solve a complex challenge. Participants build communication and listening skills while learning to value different perspectives and reach shared decisions through careful observation and thoughtful discussion. Spaghetti Junction is a complex team-building activity that will strengthen group cooperation while teaching valuable consensus-building processes that teams can apply to real workplace situations.

Spaghetti Junction – Consensus-Building Activity

1. In advance, form 5 x independent rope circles by tying their ends together. Then, after threading the sixth rope through the loops of each of these five rope circles, tie the ends of this sixth rope.
2. Lay this bunch of rope circles on a flat surface and then purposefully twist and turn some of the ropes so that it looks tangled, ie so that it is not obvious which rope is threaded through all other rope rings.
3. Challenge your group to examine this bunch of ropes closely, from all sorts of angles, to determine which one rope is threaded through all others.
4. Ultimately, invite your group to make their decision by consensus.
5. Importantly, people are entitled to point, describe and look closer, but they are never permitted to touch or hold any of the ropes.
6. Allow ample time for your group to discuss and solve the problem.
7. When ready, ask your group to nominate which one (coloured) rope they believe is the one threaded through all other rope rings.
8. Pick up the nominated rope ring and shake out the tangles.
9. If the nominated rope has all other rope circles hanging off it, your group succeeded.
10. Regardless of the result, invite your group to reflect on their decision-making process.