The Regression Of The Pointy-Haired Boss
	found on The Guardian written by chlim01, edited by John (Plastic) [ read unedited ] posted Mon 2 Sep 5:41pm
		Building landscape models with LEGO bricks, giving them meaning through storymaking, and playing-out various possible scenarios, deepens understanding, sharpens insight, and socially "bonds" together the group who "plays" together. "The Observer has an amusing scoop on the latest management fad - corporate training via Lego," writes chlim01. "According to its advocates, playing with the colourful bricks will help executives 'uncover business insights and enhance business performance.' Executives who have undergone Lego Serious Play have found the sessions fun, and more importantly, much safer than previous fads like fire-walking and white-water rafting."

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show almost all: 13 commentsbest: 3 comments by oldest first (ignore threads) newest first highest scores first oldest first newest first (ignore threads)

1.  Would you rather have your CEO ...   by MAYORBOB       at Mon 2 Sep 6:17pm score of 1     ... a fire-walking freak or a drooling, hopeless Lego porn addict? Tending to final details.   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

2.  don't laugh too hard   by jandzero       at Mon 2 Sep 6:17pm score of 2 intriguing     we use Lego in our R&D lab for quick mechanical and kinematic prototypes. Most large company prototype shops are union, and having a piece of wood cut in half takes a week of paperwork. check out MIT's Media Lab where the Lego Mindstorm was developed. They have a full-time Lego professorship, and are finding all kinds of interesting ways to teach and learn using our little plastic friends. vacuum-formed and vacuum-sealed   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

3.  million uses and counting   by jandzero       at Mon 2 Sep 6:24pm score of 2 brilliant     it can also be used for safety training... vacuum-formed and vacuum-sealed   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

4.  Re: million uses and counting   by Black Art       at Mon 2 Sep 8:59pm score of 2 helpful   in reply to comment 3     Yeah... Like "Don't walk on those little lego pieces with bare feet". Actually these sort of exercises are meant to promote cooperation. What is more often needed is exercises to promote questioning of assumptions. (As if critical examination of anything that management is allowed in today's workforce.) "But Hercules -- I thought you wanted a stable job!"   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

5.  Lego is fun   by Violator       at Mon 2 Sep 11:59pm score of 1     Lego is a cheap, effective and versatile substitute for lead figurines for wargames. Consider www.brikwars.com as an example of the genre of lego wargames out there. Somewhat too cumbersome, but hey, it was given a demonstration match at GenCon this year, complete with lego 'mechs and dragons. I play a version of it myself, so paint me a geek. There is also somewhere out there on the net, a lego rubix Cube solver robot, made via lego technics. It includes a CCD camera slaved to a image recognition program, and moving motorised grippers for full axial movement and turning of the cube faces. It can solve a cube in less than 30 minutes. However, I really doubt that lego will help our corporate elite with their tax returns too much... Consistently modded down for being an asshole since 2003   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

6.  Finding Lego on the net   by Miguel Agullo       at Tue 3 Sep 4:09am score of 1   in reply to comment 5     JP Brown's rubik cube solver, as well as a bunch of new daily Lego stuff, can be found at www.lugnet.com.   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]   8.  Re: Lego is fun   by SteamboatDreamboat       at Tue 3 Sep 8:45am score of 1   in reply to comment 5     However, I really doubt that lego will help our corporate elite with their tax returns too much... I think that you are wrong, Violator. Everyone knows that Legos are expensive. Now that they are a business expense, it is just one more thing to write off on their taxes. "When life hands you lemons, make coffee... and then you'll have the desire to make lemonade." --Jon Friedman   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]   14.  Re: Lego is fun   by dorkgirl52       at Wed 4 Sep 4:47am score of 1   in reply to comment 5     It can solve a cube in less than 30 minutes Really? I whole group of my friends (call them a "club") could solve it in thirty seconds... (and they would do the last fifteen above their heads!) does the human algorithm really beat the computer's? Or maybe it's just easier to do if you have,you know, hands. Yeah, that's it. "You dont have to floss all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep."-- Schizopolis   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

7.  Making money while playing with Lego?   by Miguel Agullo       at Tue 3 Sep 5:00am score of 1     What a fantastic idea!   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

9.  Legos as caltrops...   by Kilroy77       at Tue 3 Sep 10:51am score of 1.5 funny     My son and I have a great time playing with Legos. I find creative things to build and he finds ways to destroy them(he's 2). But when the fun's over and the Legos and my son are put to bed, the threat of what Legos can become is clear. Fast-forward to the middle of the night. Nature calls and I begin my perilous journey toward the bathroom. The one Lego that I could not find while cleaning up, ultimately finds it's way under my foot. This hurts a great deal. Sure they can be fun, just make sure you find them all. Cuz they'll find you. It's only a matter of time... Limping from Lego Lacerations - WHO ATE MY BREAKFAST PANTS?   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

10.  ayup :-)   by gonzocanuck       at Tue 3 Sep 11:07am score of 1   in reply to comment 9     precisely why my brother and I lost our Lego as kids - we put the two dot pieces in Dad's shoes. Dad was not amused when he put them on! :-) You've got to coax him slow, that's the only way that he'll confess.   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]   12.  Re: Legos as caltrops...   by GreenElvis       at Tue 3 Sep 1:07pm score of 1.5 brilliant   in reply to comment 9     Just be thankful jacks aren't popular toys anymore. I stepped on one as a child. I didn't remember anything that happened the rest of that day. "Salary is no object: I want only enough to keep body and soul apart." - Dorothy Parker   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]

13.  Screw legos   by GreenElvis       at Tue 3 Sep 1:18pm score of 1.5 nuanced     I prefer the team building and communication exercises of Japanese corporate culture. They all go out and get loaded on company credit. "Salary is no object: I want only enough to keep body and soul apart." - Dorothy Parker   [ ...reply just to this | comment on the story... | next new ]