The Derdians

The Derdians is a cooperative game featuring engineers and a fictional local population, the Derdians, who must collaborate to build a bridge. This game allows participants to explore cultural differences, misunderstandings, and the necessary adaptations in intercultural collaboration. It is ideal for raising awareness among participants about the issues of communication and cooperation in a multicultural context.

Walkthrough

1. 1

   Introduction and Group Separation

   10 min

   The facilitator presents the context of the game and separates the participants into two groups: the engineers and the Derdians. The engineers are taken to a separate room to receive their specific instructions. Meanwhile, the Derdians remain in the main room to familiarise themselves with their role and the social rules of their fictional culture.

   Tip — Ensure that the groups cannot hear each other's instructions to maintain the element of surprise and the authenticity of the interactions.

2. 2

   Derdians Briefing

   15 min

   The facilitator explains the culture and social rules to the Derdians. The Derdians must touch each other to communicate, greet with a kiss on the shoulder, and never explicitly say 'no'. They must also respect gender roles in the use of tools. Participants practice these behaviours to become accustomed to them.

   Tip — Encourage the Derdians to have fun with their role to enhance immersion and understanding of cultural differences.

3. 3

   Engineers Briefing

   15 min

   The facilitator explains the mission to the engineers: to teach the Derdians how to build a bridge. They must meet deadlines or risk losing the contract. The engineers are unaware of the social rules of the Derdians and must adapt to this unfamiliar culture.

   Tip — Emphasise the importance of non-verbal communication and observation for the engineers.

4. 4

   Meeting and Start of Construction

   30 min

   The engineers join the Derdians and the bridge construction begins. The engineers must navigate the social rules of the Derdians without explicitly knowing them. The Derdians, on their part, must try to understand the engineers' instructions while remaining true to their culture.

   Tip — Observe the interactions and take notes on key moments of misunderstandings or successes for the debriefing.

5. 5

   Finalisation and Bridge Presentation

   20 min

   The teams must finalise the bridge construction within the allotted time. Then, each group presents the bridge and shares their experience of collaboration. The engineers explain the challenges faced, and the Derdians share their feelings about interacting with outsiders.

   Tip — Encourage participants to express their personal feelings to enrich the debriefing.

Variants

• Rotate roles mid-game so participants can experience both perspectives.
• Add unexpected obstacles (e.g., missing materials) to intensify collaboration.
• Integrate a neutral observer who can provide real-time feedback on interactions.