Section28- BE
2nd Dec 2008, 01:15
Via the SMH website ex the Brisbane Times, today 02/12/08:
Ex-staffer plays games with Virgin Blue
http://images.smh.com.au/2008/12/02/312539/420-virgingame-420x0.jpg
Torsten Koerting's board game
Shannon Molloy
December 2, 2008 - 9:51AM
A disgruntled staffer of Virgin Blue has taken a parting shot at his former employer by designing a board game (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/multimedia/virgingame.pdf) that criticises the company's decision making process.
Torsten Koerting worked for the budget airline in its Brisbane headquarters until last month, when he was knocked back for a promotion and subsequently resigned.
In a farewell e-mail to his colleagues, Mr Koerting attached a copy of the NextGen board game - his spiteful take on the classic Snakes and Ladders format.
Players begin the game in the "hangar" and work towards the final destination, the decision, which is 50 squares away.
Between the start and finish squares are hazards, including slides and ladders, as well as action cards which carry either a bonus or penalty and appear to be modelled on business decision processes.
Actions range from "CEO on holiday - go one step back" to "We are perceived as a hyperactive child with a personality disorder - decide if you go three steps forward or back".
Others take a pot shot at workplace bureaucracy, dealing with lengthy meetings, disinterested managers and pointless project requirements.
In his e-mail, Mr Koerting compares the difficulty in reaching the end of the game to making decisions in real-life at Virgin Blue.
Scenarios described in the game's action cards were "based on some situations we faced". Other staff had given their input, he said.
The face of chief executive Brett Godfrey is used on one of the game pieces.
Virgin Blue did not respond to requests for comment. Mr Koerting also declined to comment.
brisbanetimes.com.au (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/)
Ex-staffer plays games with Virgin Blue
http://images.smh.com.au/2008/12/02/312539/420-virgingame-420x0.jpg
Torsten Koerting's board game
Shannon Molloy
December 2, 2008 - 9:51AM
A disgruntled staffer of Virgin Blue has taken a parting shot at his former employer by designing a board game (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/multimedia/virgingame.pdf) that criticises the company's decision making process.
Torsten Koerting worked for the budget airline in its Brisbane headquarters until last month, when he was knocked back for a promotion and subsequently resigned.
In a farewell e-mail to his colleagues, Mr Koerting attached a copy of the NextGen board game - his spiteful take on the classic Snakes and Ladders format.
Players begin the game in the "hangar" and work towards the final destination, the decision, which is 50 squares away.
Between the start and finish squares are hazards, including slides and ladders, as well as action cards which carry either a bonus or penalty and appear to be modelled on business decision processes.
Actions range from "CEO on holiday - go one step back" to "We are perceived as a hyperactive child with a personality disorder - decide if you go three steps forward or back".
Others take a pot shot at workplace bureaucracy, dealing with lengthy meetings, disinterested managers and pointless project requirements.
In his e-mail, Mr Koerting compares the difficulty in reaching the end of the game to making decisions in real-life at Virgin Blue.
Scenarios described in the game's action cards were "based on some situations we faced". Other staff had given their input, he said.
The face of chief executive Brett Godfrey is used on one of the game pieces.
Virgin Blue did not respond to requests for comment. Mr Koerting also declined to comment.
brisbanetimes.com.au (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/)