powerball
Strategy Meets Reality. Complexity Meets Execution.
PowerBall is a demanding team building simulation that exposes the real challenges of cross-functional collaboration through hands-on execution—success is not guaranteed.
how powerball works
Participants operate within a simulated organization made up of multiple project teams, each responsible for designing and building a critical part of a larger system. Using PVC pipes, connectors, and limited resources, teams create interconnected subsystems that must deliver PowerBalls (marbles) through the entire network.
The challenge is straightforward to understand but difficult to execute: teams must balance customer requirements, budgets, timelines, and performance targets—while coordinating with other teams whose work directly impacts their own. Each team builds to specifications, then links their subsystem to others to create one end-to-end solution—like a complex Mouse Trap system where every connection matters.
Here’s Where It Gets Really Interesting!
When teams fail to communicate clearly or are misaligned on their handoffs, the consequences are immediate and visible. PowerBalls spill. Systems fail. The entire process breaks down. This isn’t a forgiving activity—it reveals exactly where coordination, planning, and execution fall short.
what teams learn…
Systems Impact – See how local decisions affect the entire organization’s success
Planning & Handoffs – Learn to clarify roles, responsibilities, and dependencies before execution
Adaptation Under Pressure – Practice adjusting quickly as constraints and priorities shift
Real Consequences of Misalignment – Experience how unclear agreements and poor coordination derail complex execution
Cross-Functional Dependencies – Understand why communication and coordination across boundaries are critical
why powerball is effective…
✔ Makes abstract organizational challenges tangible and undeniable
✔ Creates pressure that mirrors real workplace dynamics
✔ Immediate consequences provide clear feedback on team performance
✔ Reveals gaps in communication, planning, and coordination
✔ Demands strategic thinking and flawless execution
✔ Success requires genuine cross-functional collaboration
who benefits
PowerBall is designed for cross-functional teams and matrix organizations that must execute across boundaries, not within silos. It is especially valuable for project management groups, engineering and product teams, and any organization managing complex interdependencies where precision and integration are non-negotiable. In these environments, success depends less on individual excellence and more on how well teams coordinate, communicate, and align priorities under pressure.
Leadership development cohorts and geographically dispersed teams also benefit significantly from the experience. PowerBall exposes the real friction points of organizational execution—competing objectives, resource constraints, unclear decision rights, and breakdowns in handoffs. Rather than discussing these challenges in theory, participants feel them in real time. The simulation makes the consequences of misalignment visible and immediate, creating powerful insights into how leadership behaviors, structure, and communication patterns directly affect outcomes.
Most importantly, PowerBall is for organizations ready to confront—not gloss over—the realities of execution. It doesn’t sugarcoat the difficulty of coordination; it makes it impossible to ignore. Teams leave with a deeper appreciation for systems thinking, clearer accountability, and the disciplined collaboration required to deliver results when interdependence is high and margins for error are slim.
clients who’ve benefited from powerball
frequently asked…
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PowerBall is best for teams of 20-50 participants. Reach out to us to learn more!
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PowerBall lasts between 3-5 hours, depending on the design. We can help you design a program that fits your agenda!
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PowerBall requires a flat, open area. Common spaces include parks, conference centers, or even the beach!
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Your group will be divided into multiple roles (senior managers, managers, and work teams) to simulate a real organization. The activity takes place over 4 simulated quarters and your organization will need to satisfy customers, stay on time, and within budget. Sound familiar?
Our Business Simulations are designed to mirror the challenges your team face every day to create concrete learning and drive change.