REPORT ON

HARVARD SIMULATION
“MOUNT EVEREST”
UM18MB506 - LEADERSHIP

BY

PANNAGA BHATTA A R
PES1201802515

SIMULATION ROLE PLAYED

ENVIRONMENTALIST
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INTRODUCTION:

This report is an evaluation of individual and group

performances within Team 11’s undertaking of the Everest
simulation challenges, particularly of an Environmentalist. This report
particularly analyses the reasoning for success and failures during the
simulation through a management lens, critically discussing concepts
of leadership and communication that were applicable to the success
of Everest climb.

The Everest Climb simulation is a virtual group experience that

requires students to collaborate together of key management
theories and concepts along the way. The exercise, developed by
the Harvard Business School, provides students insight into the value
of competent for group coherence, as well as the importance of
leadership for building the foundation of a healthy and cooperative
team environment.

We were required to participate in simulations, virtually. Each

student of a team was individually given a role, as well as a unique
set of differing and often conflicting objectives. The team was to
collaborate together to optimize the group's objectives.

REPORT
The experience of simulation learning began with each student
divided into a team of players. The class received an explanatory
video of the simulation and each player had their roles assigned. An
initial explanation of their strengths, weaknesses and individual tasks
and the team goals to be achieved was given.
 The role of a leader was to discuss with the team member to
make the best decisions to continue the hiking or rest in the camp.

The role of the photographer was to click pictures and had to

stay an extra day in camp 1 and camp 2.

The role of a physician was to supply medicines required when

any of the camp members’ health decreases.

The role of the environmentalist was to guide the team

members if they have to rest in the camp or continue hiking and the
main goal is to clean the mountain.

The role a marathoner was to achieve the goal of reaching the

mountain. Marathoner was also supposed to predict the weather
conditions of the next camp based on the previous camps weather
conditions.

The role of an observer was to observe the verbal and non -

verbal aspects, their decisions and their acceptance of leadership
decisions as a team. He also observed the compatibility between the
team members, the degree to which they agreed and how they
resolved each other.

It was a 29,000ft trek to the Mount Everest summit from the

base camp, we were supposed to reach the summit in 6 days and
travel through 5 camps on the way to the top of Everest. There is
only one day per camp schedule and the team had to use it
judiciously. At each camp, we had an opportunity to analyze current
conditions and share our reviews with the team. Conditions such as
weather, physical health, supply inventory, and average hiking speed
were taken into consideration for climbing decisions.
 The dashboard view provides up-to-date information on the
conditions as well as the status of the climb. At any time, we could
look into the dashboard for more detailed information on each
category. After a team discussion, everyone must input their
climbing and other decisions separately in order to advance to the
next day. The ability to effectively evaluate and exchange
information will determine the team's success on the climb. During
the session, we could talk with each other through the chat tool and
face-to-face also.

ABOUT THE ROLE PLAYED

I was allotted the role of an Environmentalist. The
Environmentalist is an experienced trekker and had reached the
summit many times in the past. An Environmentalist's individual
goals were as follows:

 Reach Summit – 2 points

 Avoid Rescue – 3 points
 Stay in camp 4 for 2 days – 2 point
 Convince everyone to clean the Everest while coming back – 1+
bonus 3 points

As an environmentalist, I had a health issue of Altitude Mountain

Sickness, which could attack while climbing. And it looked serious
that it might be my last Everest climbing in my lifetime. My job was
not only to reach the summit but also to clean the plastics that were
thrown by tourists and to convince my team members to do the
same while coming back from the summit.

 At Camp 1, we understood the weakness and strength of each

other and decided to continue the trek without resting in
Camp.
  At the next stage, the photographer’s health condition was sick
and the doctor decided to give Asthma the necessary
medicines. Since the photographer had an extra day to stay,
the team decided to stay at camp 2 and the marathonist
predicted the right temperature again and got it on point. We
decided not to stay or rest in another camp after Camp 2.
 The marathonist got sick in Camp 3 and the doctor had to give
him acetazolamide medicine to recover his health, but instead,
an inhaler should have been given. Anyhow, we could continue
walking, after which his health got even sicker at the next
camp.
 At camp 4 both the marathonist and photographer were in
severe condition and had to be given medicine so they were
made to stay and took medicines. They rested a day.
 At the end of the summit, I and the leader were the only two to
reach to the top and the rest were sent back due to problems
and issues.

LEARNING OUTCOMES/MY OBSERVATIONS:

i) Triumphs: One triumph that our team members experienced was

that we got one team member to reach the summit. Even though
3 out of the 4 members dynamic to the summit. our group
collectively decided that we wanted to get as many people to the
top as possible. our group spoke between each round about how
we could use our different skills to maximize the number of
people to reach the summit. Another triumph that we achieved
was that we enabled 2 members to avoid the airlift on day 5.
ii) Decision Making: For our team, we made decisions as a group.
Before and after each day in the beginning and till the end we
would assess information, discuss it with each other. Each group
member had their own unique abilities which give them unique
information. It was important to discuss each person's information
before moving on and advancing through each day.

iii) Translating to Industry: The way our group decisions translate to

a specific industry is by the dynamic group decisions call for. In
any business industry, we are required to make group decisions
with all the departments to be successful. An organization can
move up its mountain only with its group decisions.

iv) Challenges: One of the key challenges we had working as a team

together is unfamiliarity factor. For example, at first not having
any experience ever climbing a mountain. We had very limited
knowledge or skills to achieve the goal. However, as we started
working together we figured out the strategy to keep progressing
forward.

v) Key Lessons: the key lessons we learned from this activity is the
experience with the task we had to rely on others. And an attempt
to use each other's strengths to succeed. For exam[le, learning to
overcome failures. Another point is understanding our strengths
and weaknesses and being transparent about those so that the
team knows what is working with. This was the most important
thing in my opinion since we had very limited resources and we
had to be very efficient throughout the process also.
vi) Learning points and importance: We found much different
learning points from our team. In any random group of people
team members must be able to work together effectively to
accomplish a goal. Our entire team was able to come together and
finish the project. Many of us were unfamiliar with one another
but we easily overcome that barrier. We all focused on the climb
by matching our pieces of information together to make effective
decisions. Team members must be flexible with others. Sacrifices
may have been made the betterment of the team. In order to
make the sacrifices, certain personality traits may have to be
silenced such as selfishness. This skill requires team members to
step out of their comfort zone so that the whole team is not
hindered by competing personalities.

CONCLUSION

Through an analysis of the key issues encountered during the

simulations, the report concludes that for self-progression in the
workforce and improvement in leading, students are encouraged to
improve their communication skills and develop their leadership
qualities. An improvement in communication skills is found to be
achieved through this simulation. An increase in confidence through
an uptake risk-taking is required for enhancing leadership traits, and
more careful evaluation of Leadership styles is needed for future
coherence in group environments.