Best Decision Making Games, Activities, and Exercises for Employees

In the modern workplace, the ability to make sound decisions quickly and effectively is a critical skill that influences everything from team dynamics to overall business performance. While expertise and technical knowledge are important, the ability to evaluate options, anticipate outcomes, and choose the best course of action drives success. Decision-making isn't just an isolated skill; it's intertwined with problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration, making it essential to cultivate within teams.

Organizations are increasingly recognizing the value of decision-making activities and exercises as a way to enhance interpersonal skills. These interactive games engage employees in scenarios that require thoughtful analysis and strategic thinking, helping them develop the confidence and agility needed to navigate complex challenges. By integrating decision-making exercises, companies can empower their employees to become more effective decision-makers, contributing to a more responsive organization. This blog explores some of the most impactful decision-making games and activities that can help elevate your team's ability to make strategic choices.

10 Best Decision-Making Activities, Games & Exercises for Employees

Effective decision-making is a cornerstone of organizational success, enabling teams to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and maintain a competitive edge. In today’s business environment, employees at all levels are often required to make decisions that can significantly impact the company’s performance. Therefore, cultivating strong team decision-making skills is essential for long-term success.

Decision making activities are vital in developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By simulating real-world scenarios and challenges, these exercises improve individual capabilities and help build a culture of strategic thinking and collaboration within the organization.

In this blog, we will explore 10 activities to help employees sharpen their decision-making skills, enabling them to make informed, effective choices that drive success in their roles and contribute to the organization’s objectives.

1. Pre-Mortem Analysis

“Pre-Mortem Analysis” is a structured decision-making activity designed to help employees anticipate and address potential challenges before implementing a project or decision. By simulating a failure scenario, teams proactively identify risks and develop strategies to mitigate them, enhancing a mindset of foresight and preparedness.

How to Conduct “Pre-Mortem Analysis” Activity:

1. Bring all employees together in a collaborative setting, ensuring access to brainstorming tools such as a whiteboard, flip chart, or virtual platform.
2. Introduce a hypothetical project or decision for evaluation, such as launching a new product, implementing a policy, or adopting technology, ensuring everyone understands the scope and objectives.
3. Explain that the project has failed catastrophically and provide a realistic context, such as unmet deadlines, resource mismanagement, or negative market response.
4. Encourage employees to brainstorm and document potential reasons for failure in small groups or as one team, considering factors like market conditions, team dynamics, or resource allocation.
5. Analyze each failure point to brainstorm actionable strategies for prevention or mitigation, group similar risks, and prioritize the most critical issues requiring immediate attention.
6. Lead a discussion to evaluate and refine the identified failure points and mitigation strategies, encouraging diverse perspectives to ensure comprehensive solutions.

Review and Reflection of the Activity:

• What potential failure points were most surprising to you?
• How did brainstorming failure scenarios change your perspective on the project?
• Were there any risks or factors you hadn’t considered before this activity?
• Which mitigation strategies do you believe will have the most significant impact on the project’s success?
• How can you apply the lessons from this activity to your daily decision-making processes?

Key Takeaways:

“Pre-Mortem Analysis” is a powerful activity that helps employees develop proactive decision-making skills. By visualizing potential failures, teams gain valuable insights into risk factors and develop robust mitigation strategies. This activity highlights the importance of critical thinking, collaboration, and anticipating challenges before they arise. It equips employees with a forward-thinking mindset, enabling them to make informed, strategic decisions that reduce the likelihood of costly mistakes.

2. Ethical Dilemma Workshop

The “Ethical Dilemma Workshop” is an effective activity to enhance decision-making skills by addressing complex moral and ethical challenges. By engaging with realistic scenarios, employees learn to balance competing values such as fairness, integrity, profitability, and empathy while making decisions aligned with organizational and personal principles.

‍How to Conduct “Ethical Dilemma Workshop” Activity:

• Gather employees in a collaborative setting, ensuring everyone has access to a whiteboard, flip chart, or digital collaboration tools for note-taking and brainstorming.
• Begin by explaining the importance of ethics in decision-making and the role of ethical considerations in achieving organizational goals. Provide a brief overview of the activity's structure.
• Divide employees into small groups or pairs and assign each group a different ethical scenario to analyze and resolve collaboratively.
• Ask groups to identify possible courses of action for their scenario, evaluate the pros and cons of each option, and consider the potential impacts on stakeholders. Encourage them to prioritize actions based on ethical principles and organizational values.
• Have each group present their chosen solution and justify their reasoning to the rest of the participants
• Encourage other groups to provide feedback, suggest alternative approaches, or discuss potential consequences not previously considered.
• Summarize the ethical principles, decision-making frameworks, and organizational guidelines that can help employees navigate real-world ethical dilemmas.

Review and Reflection of the Activity:

• What factors influenced your group’s decision-making process?
• Were there any conflicts within your group regarding the ethical dilemma? How were they resolved?
• How did you prioritize competing values (e.g., integrity vs. profitability) in your decision?
• Were there any alternative solutions you considered but ultimately rejected? Why?

Key Takeaways:

The “Ethical Dilemma Workshop” equips employees to navigate complex moral challenges by enhancing critical thinking, empathy, and integrity. It highlights the importance of aligning decisions with ethical principles and organizational values while considering the broader impact on stakeholders. This activity enhances employees' confidence in addressing ethical concerns and builds a culture of trust and accountability within the organization.

3. Red Team vs. Blue Team Exercise

The “Red Team vs. Blue Team Exercise” is a decision-making activity designed to help employees refine their strategic thinking and problem-solving skills by simulating real-world challenges. Employees are divided into opposing teams that develop strategies and counter-strategies, enabling them to anticipate challenges, critically evaluate decisions, and improve adaptability under pressure.

How to Conduct “Red Team vs. Blue Team Exercise” Activity:

• Assemble employees in a collaborative setting equipped with brainstorming tools like whiteboards, flip charts, or digital platforms, and explain the purpose of the activity.
• Assign participants evenly to two teams Red Team and Blue Team and ensure diverse skill sets within each team to simulate realistic dynamics.
• Present a detailed hypothetical situation, such as Red Team entering a new market and Blue Team defending their market position, and clearly define the strategic goals for both teams.
• Provide each team 20–30 minutes to brainstorm and document their strategies, emphasizing the need to anticipate the opposing team’s actions and prepare counter-strategies.
• Have teams take turns presenting their strategies and justifications while the opposing team critiques their approach and identifies potential weaknesses.
• Allow teams to revise their strategies based on feedback received during the challenge phase, and prepare final, refined plans for presentation.
• Teams present their revised strategies, highlighting improvements and addressing feedback from the earlier critique session.
• Lead a discussion about the overall decision-making processes, risk assessments, and areas of improvement, and highlight key lessons and effective tactics demonstrated during the activity.

Review and Reflection of the Activity:

• How did your team decide on its initial strategy?
• What factors did you consider when anticipating the opposing team’s actions?
• Were there any moments when your assumptions about the opposing team were proven wrong? How did you adjust?
• How did feedback from the opposing team influence your revised strategy?

Key Takeaways:

The “Red Team vs. Blue Team Exercise” helps employees build critical decision-making skills by enhancing strategic thinking, adaptability, and collaboration. This activity simulates real-world challenges and encourages participants to anticipate potential obstacles, critically evaluate their decisions, and refine their strategies.

4. Dot Voting

“Dot Voting” is an interactive decision-making activity designed to help employees prioritize options or democratize decisions. This game involves employees visually voting on their preferred choices by placing dots next to them.

How to Conduct the “Dot Voting” Activity:

1. Gather the group in a space where everyone can clearly see a board or wall
2. Present a list of options, ideas, or tasks on the board. These can be related to anything the group needs to prioritize, such as potential projects, features, or solutions to a problem
3. Provide each employee with a set number of sticky dots (usually 3 to 5) or allow them to place dots using a marker
4. Instruct employees to place their dots next to the options/ideas they prefer. They can spread their dots across several options or concentrate them on one
5. Once everyone has placed their dots, count the number of dots next to each option to determine which options the group most favors
6. Facilitate a group discussion about the results, exploring why certain options received more votes and how the group feels about the final priorities

Review and Reflection of the Activity:

After completing the Dot Voting activity, encourage employees to reflect on the process by discussing the following:

• What factors influenced your decision when placing your dots?
• Did the final prioritized options match what you expected? Why or why not?
• How do you feel about the overall group decision compared to your preferences?

Key Takeaways:

“Dot Voting” is a simple game that allows employees to enhance their decision-making skills. It enables them to quickly and democratically identify priorities, making reaching a consensus on important decisions easier. This activity highlights the value of visual decision-making techniques and the importance of group dynamics in determining outcomes.

5. The Survival Scenario

"The Survival Scenario" is a decision-making game in which employees are presented with a fictional survival situation, such as being stranded on a deserted island. Teams are given a list of items and must collaborate to decide which are most crucial for their survival. The game involves selecting a limited number of items from a list and then justifying those choices.

How to Conduct “The Survival Scenario” Activity:

1. Assemble all the employees in a comfortable space and divide them into small teams of 2-3 members each
2. Present employees with a survival scenario where they are stranded in a difficult environment (e.g., a deserted island, a raft in the ocean, or an Arctic landscape)
3. Provide a list of 20 to 30 items useful for survival (e.g., rope, fishing hook, mirror, matches, compass)
4. Instruct teams to evaluate the list and decide which five items are most important for their survival
5. Teams must reach a consensus on their selected items and prepare to justify their decisions to the other groups
6. Each group presents their chosen items and explains why they selected them, discussing their reasoning and the survival strategies they considered
7. Facilitate a discussion comparing the decisions made by different groups, focusing on the different approaches and strategies used to prioritize the items

Review and Reflection of the Activity:

• What criteria did your team use to prioritize certain items over others?
• How did your team reach a consensus on the final list of items?
• Were there any disagreements during the decision-making process? How were they resolved?
• Would your selected items effectively ensure survival in the scenario? Why or why not?

Key Takeaways:

"The Survival Scenario" is a decision-making exercise that develops critical thinking and collaboration among team members. It emphasizes the importance of evaluating options carefully, communicating effectively, and working together to reach a consensus in challenging situations. This activity stresses the need for strategic thinking and the ability to justify decisions, skills that are essential in survival scenarios and everyday business situations.

6. The Investment Game

"The Investment Game" is a strategic decision-making exercise where employees act as investors with a set budget. Teams are tasked with allocating resources across various fictional business ventures, each with potential risks and rewards. The objective is to maximize returns while effectively managing risk, teaching employees the principles of resource allocation and strategic planning.

How to Conduct “The Investment Game” Activity:

1. Divide employees into small groups and provide each team with a fictional budget to invest
2. Present a range of business ventures or investment opportunities, each with varying levels of risk and potential returns. The options include startups, stock options, real estate, or other investment types
3. Teams must analyze the information provided about each venture, discussing the potential risks and rewards
4. Each team decides how to allocate their budget, investing in one or multiple ventures based on their analysis and strategy
5. After investments are made, the outcomes of each venture, which could be pre-determined or simulated based on certain criteria, are revealed
6. The success of each team is measured by the return on their investments, taking into account both profits and losses
7. Conclude with a discussion on the decisions made, what strategies worked best, and how risk was managed

Review and Reflection of the Activity:

• What factors influenced your investment decisions?
• How did your team balance risk versus reward in your investment strategy?
• Were there any investments that performed differently than expected? How did this impact your overall strategy?
• What would you do differently if you could play the game again?
• How can resource allocation and risk management concepts be applied to everyday business decisions?

Key Takeaways:

"The Investment Game" is an effective decision-making activity that teaches the importance of calculated risk-taking and strategic resource allocation. Employees learn to analyze opportunities, make informed decisions, and understand the consequences of those decisions in a controlled environment. This activity highlights the complexities of risk management and the need for decision-making in achieving successful outcomes.

7. The Customer Complaint Simulation

"The Customer Complaint Simulation" is a decision-making activity designed to help employees develop their decision-making skills in handling challenging customer service situations. Employees are presented with various customer complaint scenarios and must navigate these situations by making decisions that balance company policies, customer satisfaction, and resource limitations. The game encourages employees to think critically and act quickly under pressure.

How to Conduct “The Customer Complaint Simulation” Activity:

1. Gather all the employees, divide them into small teams or pairs, and assign them various customer service roles within the simulation
2. Present each team with different customer complaint scenarios they might encounter in a real-world setting (e.g., a delayed product delivery, a billing error, or a product defect)
3. Teams must quickly assess the situation and decide how to resolve the issue, considering factors such as company policy, customer satisfaction, and available resources
4. After each scenario, allow the teams to present their solutions and explain the rationale behind their decisions
5. Facilitate a group discussion where teams can compare their approaches, discuss alternative solutions, and reflect on the impact of their decisions on customer satisfaction and business outcomes

Review and Reflection of the Activity:

• What were the key factors that influenced your decision in each scenario?
• Were there any decisions you would change after hearing other teams' approaches? Why?
• How did the pressure of the situation affect your decision-making process?
• What lessons can you apply from this activity to your daily customer interactions?

Key Takeaways:

"The Customer Complaint Simulation" is an excellent game that teaches the importance of balancing customer satisfaction with company policies and resources. Through this activity, employees gain valuable insights into the complexities of customer service and learn to make informed, strategic decisions even when under pressure.

8. The Decision Tree Exercise

"The Decision Tree Exercise" is a decision-making activity that helps employees learn systematic decision-making by mapping out all possible options and outcomes. Employees are given a complex problem and must create a decision tree that visually represents the choices available at each decision point and the potential consequences.

How to Conduct “The Decision Tree Exercise” Activity:

1. Gather all the employees in an open area
2. Distribute stationery items such as cardboard, markers, sketches, etc to all the employees
3. Present each employee with a complex problem or scenario that requires a decision (e.g., a business strategy dilemma, a project management challenge, or a personal career choice)
4. Instruct employees to create a decision tree on cardboard, starting with the main decision point and branching into all possible options and their corresponding outcomes
5. Encourage employees to consider various factors that could influence each choice, such as risks, benefits, and potential impacts on other areas
6. Once the decision trees are completed, employees review their trees to identify the most logical and beneficial course of action based on their analysis
7. Conclude the exercise by discussing how the decision tree helped in clarifying the decision-making process and what insights were gained from mapping out the options

Review and Reflection of the Activity:

• What did you find most challenging about creating your decision tree?
• How did mapping out all the possible outcomes affect your final decision?
• How can using decision trees improve your decision-making in real-life situations?
• What did this exercise teach you about considering all potential consequences before deciding?

Key Takeaways:

"The Decision Tree Exercise" is a helpful game for developing structured decision-making skills. It encourages employees to take an all-around view of the problem, considering all possible options and outcomes before making a final decision. This systematic approach helps reduce impulsive decisions and ensures that all potential consequences are evaluated, leading to more informed decision-making.

9. The Innovation Challenge

"The Innovation Challenge" is a creative decision-making game for employees tasked with either developing a new product or improving an existing process, all while working with limited resources. The game encourages creative decision-making as teams navigate various aspects of innovation, such as design, marketing, and budgeting.

How to Conduct “The Innovation Challenge” Activity:

1. Assemble all the employees in a comfortable room
2. Divide employees into pairs and present them with a challenge: create a new product or improve an existing process within a specific industry or context
3. Provide limited resources, such as materials, time, and budget, that teams must work within to accomplish their task
4. Pairs brainstorm and collaborate to develop their product or process, making key decisions on design, functionality, marketing, and budgeting
5. Once the development phase is complete, each team prepares a pitch to present their innovation to the rest of the group. This pitch should highlight the key features of their product or process, the decisions made during development, and the anticipated impact
6. After all teams have presented, facilitate a group discussion to reflect on the innovations and decision-making processes used

Review and Reflection of the Activity:

• What was the most challenging part of innovating with limited resources?
• How did you prioritize your decisions when working on design, marketing, and budgeting?
• What innovative approaches did you discover during the process?
• How did collaboration with your partner influence your decision-making?

Key Takeaways:

"The Innovation Challenge" is a dynamic exercise emphasizing the importance of creativity and collaboration in decision-making, particularly in product or process innovation. Employees learn to think outside the box and prioritize effectively by working within constraints, leading to innovative solutions.

10. Prioritize Me!

"Prioritize Me!" is a dynamic decision-making exercise for employees to sharpen their time management and prioritization skills. In this game, teams are presented with a list of tasks, each assigned different point values. With a limited time to complete as many tasks as possible, teams must strategize on which tasks to prioritize, effectively balancing the value of each task against the time available.

How to Conduct “Prioritize Me!” Activity:

1. Gather all the employees and divide them into teams of 4 to 6 members
2. Provide each team with a list of tasks, and assign each task a specific point value based on its difficulty or importance
3. Explain that teams have a set amount of time (e.g., 20-30 minutes) to complete as many tasks as possible, aiming to accumulate the highest number of points
4. Teams must first strategize and prioritize which tasks to tackle, considering factors like time constraints, task difficulty, and potential points
5. Throughout the game, teams may delegate tasks among members based on their strengths, ensuring an efficient approach to task completion
6. At the end of the time limit, teams tally their points based on the tasks they completed
7. The team with the highest score is announced as winners

Review and Reflection of the Activity:

• What criteria did your team use to prioritize tasks?
• How did your team decide on the division of tasks among members?
• Were there any tasks that your team chose to skip? Why?
• How did the time pressure affect your decision-making process?

Key Takeaways:

"Prioritize Me!" is an excellent activity for enhancing key workplace skills such as time management and prioritization. It teaches employees to make quick, strategic decisions under pressure and allocate resources efficiently to achieve the best possible outcome. This game highlights the importance of teamwork and decision-making, as success often depends on how well the team works together to prioritize and complete tasks.

Case Study: Google’s Approach to Data-Driven Decision-Making

Google is a prime example of how data-driven decision-making can transform a business's internal processes and overall success. In a competitive industry where attracting and retaining top talent is crucial, Google recognized that traditional hiring metrics like GPAs and standardized test scores were not the most reliable indicators of a candidate's potential for success within the company.

To address this, Google turned to data analytics to guide its decision-making process. The company conducted extensive research, analyzing years of employee performance data to uncover what made employees successful at Google. This deep dive revealed that traditional indicators like academic achievements were less predictive of on-the-job success than skills such as problem-solving, adaptability, and collaboration.

The decision to shift focus was driven by a clear, data-informed understanding of what works, exemplifying the company's commitment to making decisions based on evidence rather than convention. This approach improved the quality of hires and enhanced employee retention and performance, solidifying Google's reputation as a leader in innovation and business efficiency.

Key Takeaways:

• Strategic Decision-Making: Google's approach highlights the importance of using strategic decision-making to make business decisions, leading to more effective outcomes.
• Data Utilization: Google's shift to data-driven hiring processes exemplifies the power of using data to inform and enhance decision-making.
• Innovation in Decision-Making: Google's methodical, data-centric approach to decision-making is a model for other organizations aiming to optimize their processes and improve overall performance.

Conclusion

Incorporating decision-making games, activities, and exercises into training programs can significantly enhance team performance. These activities help develop critical skills such as strategic thinking, problem-solving, and effective collaboration while cultivating a confident and agile decision-making culture. As teams engage in these exercises, they gain valuable practice in making informed decisions, leading to better outcomes when faced with real-world challenges.

By investing in decision-making training, organizations can build stronger teams that are better equipped to navigate complexities and capitalize on opportunities. This commitment to continuous development drives immediate results and lays the groundwork for long-term success in an organization.