The purpose of this exercise is to give you experience in using influence tactics to modify the…

The purpose of this exercise is to give you experience in
using influence tactics to modify the behavior of others. Follow these steps:

a. During this exercise, your objective is to get other
people in the class to give you their points. If you get more than 50 percent
of the total number of points distributed to the whole class, you’ll win. Each
person in the class has a different number of points, as shown in the class
list. You can keep or give away your points in whatever manner you choose, as
long as you follow the rules for each round of the process. There are five
rounds, described
»

The purpose of this exercise is to give you experience in
using influence tactics to modify the behavior of others. Follow these steps:

a. During this exercise, your objective is to get other
people in the class to give you their points. If you get more than 50 percent
of the total number of points distributed to the whole class, you’ll win. Each
person in the class has a different number of points, as shown in the class
list. You can keep or give away your points in whatever manner you choose, as
long as you follow the rules for each round of the process. There are five
rounds, described next.

Round 1. In this round, you will write memos to your
classmates. You can say whatever you want in your memos, and write them to
whomever you choose, but for the 10-minute writing period, there will be no
talking, only writing. You will deliver all your messages at one time, at the
end of the 10-minute writing period.

Round 2. In this round, you will respond in writing to the
messages you received in the first round. You can also write new memos as you
see fit. Again, there is to be no talking! At the end of 15 minutes, you can
distribute your memos.

Round 3. In Round 3, you can talk as much as you like. You
will have 15 minutes to talk with anyone about anything.

Round 4. In this round, you will create ballots to
distribute your points any way you see fit. To distribute your points, put a
person’s name on an index card, along with the number of points you want that
person to have. If you choose to keep any of your points, put your own name on
the card, along with the number of points you want to keep. Do not hand in your
cards until asked to do so by the professor.

Round 5. If there is no clear winner, Round 5 will be used
to repeat steps 3 and 4.

b. Class discussion (whether in groups or as a class) should
focus on the following questions:

• What kinds of social influence attempts did you make
during this exercise?

• How successful were you at influencing others to go along
with you?

• What kinds of influence did others use on you?

• What was the most successful way you saw someone else use
influence during the memo-writing and discussion sections?

• What other factors determined how you voted?