Abstract: Information systems (IS) and other instructors sometimes express frustration with coordinating and developing cohesiveness among their student project teams. The 'wuzzle-picture puzzle' exercise requires individual students, under the direction of the IS professor, to solve a series of information coded anagrams on their own, and then solve a similar series within a diversified team. The improvement concomitant with a diverse group of individuals in the second, wuzzle-puzzle condition demonstrates that cohesive and cooperative groups may indeed improve decision-making. This demonstration may be of special interest to the IS instructors as they encourage collaborative work. Further, systems practitioners may find the exercise useful for encouraging diversity in the workplace while improving teamwork, communication and cooperation among team members.

Keywords: Group cohesion, Decision-making, Collaboration, Word anagrams, Team building

Download this article: JISE - Volume 17 Number 1, Page 11.pdf

Recommended Citation: Dunphy, S. M. & Whisenand, T. G. (2006). Teaching Tip: Building Camaraderie Through Information Processing: The Wuzzle Picture-Puzzle Exercise. Journal of Information Systems Education, 17(1), 11-16.