Strategy Challenge – Darryl & Team

Strategy Challenge – Darryl & Team

by Team F (Darryl, Meshantha, Urwashi, Maribeth, Marilyn)

The location we were given, Ouzhuang, was only a few stops away from Tancun Station.

While we were able to complete our exercise virtually hassle-free, there were strategies we implemented that made our journey easier and new things we learned that will benefit future forays into foreign localities.

• Be clear about your destination
  We circled our start point and destination on the map of the city, as well as on the schematic of the various train lines, so we could easily orientate ourselves en route and homeward bound.
• Collaboration can be a shortcut to success
  Having exceptionally tall competent classmates means that you can follow them easily and be certain that they will lead you to the station.
• Make sure you are understood
  When in doubt, point. Speaking English to people that don't understand a word is confusing, speaking Mandarin in a terrible accent is worse. But if you point to a place on a map, they will take it from you and lead you in the right direction.
• Know the rules of the game
  In the public transport world, coin is King and 100 Renminbi notes will take you nowhere. One team member purchased all our tickets so we could head onto the train faster, with a selfie to prove we were there.
• Check that you are on track to achieving your objectives
  Ensure your train is heading in the right direction before you queue up, or you will be heading nowhere fast.
• Pay attention to your environment
  Having seen people separated by the fast moving doors, we knew we had to embark/disembark speedily. Following the directional queuing arrows on the floor mean you enter safely.

Overall, when in China, do as the Chinese do, eat, shop and socialise....