Finding the perfect “team vs team games” can bring new excitement and engagement to your corporate team-building events.
After one decade in marketing leadership, I’ve experimented with dozens of team building activities to foster collaboration and improve workplace dynamics. Nothing has proven more effective than well-designed team vs team games.
In this case study, I’ll share my experience implementing the three most successful team games at Eric Javits, a heritage accessories brand known for blending timeless design with 45 employees divided into creative, strategic, and client services departments.
The Challenge: Breaking Down Departmental Silos
In 2023, our company faced a critical challenge: small teams departmental silos were creating communication breakdowns, affecting project delivery and client satisfaction.
Employee satisfaction surveys revealed:
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67% of team members felt disconnected from colleagues in other departments
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54% reported communication skills gaps affecting their work
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43% expressed interest in more opportunities to collaborate across teams
Our leadership group members team set ambitious team building goals:
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Improve cross-departmental communication
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Build stronger relationships between other team members
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Develop problem solving skills that would translate to client work
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Create a more cohesive company culture through friendly competition
After consulting with HR and team member leaders, we designed a quarterly team building game
Case Study: The 3 Best Team vs Team Games and Their Measurable Impact
1. Capture the Flag - The Classic Outdoor Adventure
Implementation:
We organized a half-day outdoor retreat at Riverside Park, creating two teams with members deliberately mixed across departments. Each team developed strategies to capture their opponent’s flag while defending their own.
2. Trivia Quiz Show - The Intellectual Showdown
Implementation:
We developed a customized fun game trivia competition with questions spanning company knowledge, industry expertise, and general knowledge. The format required small teams of 5-6 people to collaborate before answering.
3. Escape Room Challenge - The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure
Implementation:
We booked an entire escape room facility with multiple themed rooms, creating teams with members from different departments who rarely worked together.
Each team member faced identical challenges but in different themed environments.
Comparative Analysis: Which Team vs Team Game Delivered Best Results?
While all three team vs team games delivered significant benefits, our data showed distinct advantages for each:
|
Game |
Communication Improvement |
Problem Solving Enhancement |
Team Bonding |
Implementation Difficulty |
|
Capture the Flag |
89% |
47% |
76% |
Medium (requires outdoor space) |
|
Trivia Quiz Show |
65% |
54% |
61% |
Low (can be done in-office) |
|
Escape Room |
78% |
93% |
85% |
Medium (requires booking) |
Analysis:
The escape room challenge delivered the strongest overall results, particularly for problem solving abilities and team bonding. However, the trivia quiz show offered the best return-on-investment considering its minimal setup requirements and strong results.
Implementation Strategy: Creating Your Own Team vs Team Games Program
Based on our experience, here’s how you can implement these best team building activities in your organization:
1. Preparation Phase
Before introducing any team vs team games, we recommend:
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Group Size Assessment: Determine appropriate group size and number of teams
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Clear Objective Setting: Define specific goals (improved communication, problem-solving, etc.)
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Team Composition Planning: Deliberately mix departments and personality types
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Logistics Preparation: Secure necessary space and materials
2. Implementation Tips for Each Game
Capture the Flag
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Select a location with natural boundaries
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Create balanced teams considering physical abilities
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Establish clear rules and safety guidelines
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Include strategy sessions between rounds
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Position yourself at the finish line to document outcomes
Trivia Quiz Show
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Create question categories that leverage diverse knowledge areas
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Include company-specific questions to build organizational knowledge
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Use technology for screen share capabilities if including remote teams
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Ensure balanced team composition across departments
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Maintain a fast-paced format to keep energy high
Escape Room Challenge
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Book facilities that can accommodate your entire group
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Brief team leaders on observation techniques
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Plan a structured debrief session immediately after
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Document specific team dynamics and problem-solving approaches
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Consider creating a DIY escape room using everyday objects if budget is limited
3. Measurement Framework
To assess effectiveness, we implemented:
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Pre and post-event surveys measuring team cohesion
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Observation rubrics for leadership and communication patterns
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30-day follow-up assessments of workplace collaboration
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Quarterly performance metrics tied to team effectiveness
Real Results: The Business Impact of Our Team vs Team Games Program
One year after implementing our quarterly team vs team games program, Eric Javits experienced:
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28% reduction in project delivery delays
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34% improvement in employee satisfaction scores
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23% decrease in staff turnover
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19% increase in client satisfaction metrics
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42% more cross-departmental collaboration initiatives
Participating in team vs team games has significantly helped my business streamline operations and improve customer satisfaction.
By leveraging the expertise and resources of top outsourcing companies, we could provide high-quality support without the overhead costs associated with maintaining an in-house team.
This improved our service levels and allowed us to focus on strategic growth initiatives.
Increased Productivity: According to a study by the University of Central Florida, team-building activities can improve team performance by up to 25%.
Enhanced Communication: A report from Gallup shows that teams with high employee engagement, which can be fostered through team-building games, show a 21% increase in productivity.
Employee Satisfaction: The Harvard Business Review states that team-building activities lead to a 50% increase in employee satisfaction and a 34% decrease in turnover rates.
Problem-Solving Skills: A study published in the Journal of Business Research found that team-building exercises improved problem-solving skills by 20%.
Creativity Boost: Research from the American Psychological Association indicates that team-building activities enhance creativity and innovation within teams by 15%.
These statistics underscore the importance of incorporating team vs team games into corporate team-building programs to enhance overall team performance and job satisfaction.
Why Play Team vs Team Games in Corporate Settings?
Team vs. team games offer a unique combination of fun, competition, and collaboration, making them ideal for corporate team-building. They can break the ice, build strong team dynamics, and provide an enjoyable way to unwind.
These games have been instrumental in fostering a sense of unity and cooperation among colleagues, ultimately enhancing workplace productivity and morale.
Benefits of Team vs Team Games
After analyzing our fun team building activities program results, we identified these crucial entire team success factors:
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Intentional Team Composition: Deliberately mixing departments, experience levels, and personality types creates the most powerful learning opportunities
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Clear Objectives: Each game should target specific organizational challenges
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Structured Debriefing: The post-game discussion is as important as the activity itself, connecting game experiences to workplace applications
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Follow-Up Integration: Create opportunities to reference and reinforce learnings from the games in daily work contexts
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Inclusive Design: Ensure games accommodate different physical abilities and personality types
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Measurement Framework: Establish clear metrics to track impact over time
This improved our entire group service levels and allowed us to focus on strategic growth initiatives.
Read also our blog post on “How to Build a Team: 10 Essential Strategies for Success“
Buyer's Guide
When choosing team vs team games for corporate team-building, consider the following factors:
Group Size: Ensure the game can accommodate the number of participants.
Physical Requirements: Choose games that match the physical abilities of the group.
Interests: Select games that align with the participants’ interests and preferences.
Venue: Consider the available space and whether the game requires an indoor or outdoor setting
Budget: Factor in any costs associated with game setup, equipment, or venue booking.
Summary: The Transformative Power of Team vs Team Games
Our case study demonstrates that when strategically implemented, team vs team games deliver measurable improvements to workplace communication, problem-solving capabilities, and team cohesion.
The three games we tested—Capture the Flag, Trivia Quiz Show, and Escape Room Challenge—each offer unique benefits that address different aspects of team development. When rotated quarterly, they create a comprehensive approach to building stronger, more collaborative teams.
As Dario Markovic noted in our final survey: “These activities changed how we work together fundamentally. We now approach challenges as a unified team rather than competing departments.”
Dario's Key Insights about Team vs Team Corporate Team-Building Activities
With nearly two decades in marketing, I’ve seen firsthand the impact of team vs team games in corporate settings. These activities are invaluable for fostering collaboration and improving overall team dynamics. They require teamwork and communication, pushing members to share ideas and work together.
Games like Capture the Flag and Escape Room Challenges enhance problem-solving skills by forcing teams to think critically and creatively, encouraging fresh perspectives on work challenges.
Trust and camaraderie are built through these shared experiences as team members showcase their strengths and break down barriers. Friendly competition motivates employees to strive for rewarding excellence customer service, fostering a driven and goal-oriented workplace culture.
Physical activities like Capture the Flag relieve stress and boost morale, while mentally stimulating games like trivia quizzes engage the brain and provide a refreshing break from routine tasks.
Team vs team games also reveal hidden leadership potential, helping managers recognize and nurture future leaders within the organization. These activities can be tailored to address specific goals, such as improving communication or fostering creativity, making them both fun and relevant.
The impact of these games is measurable through increased employee engagement, satisfaction, and improved team performance.
From my personal experience, organizing team vs team games has transformed team dynamics, leading to more open communication and cohesive work environments.
The positive energy and mutual respect generated during these activities have lasting effects on workplace culture. In conclusion, team vs team games offer a mix of fun, challenge, and learning that enhances collaboration, innovation, and productivity in corporate team-building.
Ready to Transform Your Team Dynamics?
If you’re interested in implementing similar team building activities in your organization, we offer consultation services to help design custom team vs team games programs tailored to your specific organizational challenges.
Contact Dario at dario@dariomarkovic.com to discuss how these proven approaches can enhance your team’s performance.
FAQ
Yes!
While our case study focused on in-person activities, many team vs team games can be adapted for remote teams using video conferencing and digital tools. Virtual trivia shows, online escape rooms, and digital team challenges can be highly effective.
Read our blog post “How to Boost Team Morale with Free Virtual Team-Building Activities“
Consider your specific objectives, team composition, available resources, and physical space constraints.
Our case study suggests trivia for communication improvement, escape rooms for problem-solving enhancement, and outdoor games like Capture the Flag for physical team bonding.
Yes!
The games in this case study were successfully implemented with employees ranging from 22-58 years old. The key is adapting rules and physical requirements to ensure all team members can participate meaningfully.
In our corporate implementation, we found that mystery/detective, science laboratory, and historical themes worked well. The key is choosing themes that don’t advantage any particular department’s knowledge areas.
In our implementation, Capture the Flag sessions lasted 3 hours including debriefing, Trivia Quiz Shows ran 2 hours, and Escape Room Challenges took 3-4 hours including travel and debriefing. However, each can be scaled to fit available time constraints.
