Just In Time, If Ever, Airplane Company (JITIEAC)

You work for the Just In Time, If Ever, Airplane Company (JITIEAC). You manufacture paper airplanes that fly 10 feet
and hit walls. JITIEAC is a functional organization. You and your teammates have been supplied with the tools
necessary to make a top-notch paper airplane. In your central supply area, you will find a template, scissors, pencils,
paper, and paper clips. How you are rewarded is determined by the total points accrued. Scoring is as follows:

SCORING:
+10 points for each successful plane
-10 points for each unsuccessful plane
-2 points for each wasted full or partial sheet of paper and airplane in progress when time is up
-50 points for not following instructions

GOAL: Maximize your score by making as many of the sample airplanes as you can in the time allotted that will
successfully fly 10 feet and hit the wall.

RULES:
1. You will have five minutes before your work time begins to read through the instructions for your role.
2. Do not communicate in anyway with your teammates.
3. Follow the instructions given to you for your job exactly.

ROLES:
Paper Aerospace Machinist #1:
 Pick up raw materials in your assigned color from the central supply area and return to your seat.
 Prepare raw materials using the paper, template, scissors and pencil. The rectangular piece of paper will be
used for airplane construction, and the “L” shaped piece is waste.
 Return both pieces to the central supply area, and repeat.

Paper Aerospace Machinist #2:

 Pick up rectangular piece of paper in your assigned color prepared by paper aerospace machinist #1 from
central supply area and return to your seat.
 Fold in ½ the long way and return it to the central supply area. Repeat.

Paper Plane Design Specialist 1st class:

 Pick up folded rectangular piece of paper in your assigned color from central supply area and return to your
seat.
 Unfold paper with crease down.
 Fold the top right corner to the central fold.
 Fold the top left corner over to the central fold.
 Repeat, folding each of the new top corners to the center.
 Turn the plane over.
 Fold the left vertical edge (wing edge) to central fold.
 Fold the right vertical edge (wing edge) to the central fold.
 Refold the plane along its spine. Release wing edges.
 Return to central supply area. Repeat.

Paper Aerospace Machinist #3:

 Pick up planes in your assigned color from central supply area and return to your seat.
 Put a paper clip on the nose of airplane.
 Write “JIMIEAC” on both sides of the plane
 Return to central supply area. Repeat.

Paper Airplane Quality Control Person:

 Pick up finished planes in your assigned color from central supply area and take them to the airplane test site.
 Fly the plane 10 feet to hit the wall.
 Keep track of which planes are successful and which ones aren’t. Repeat.
 ORS Airplane Construction Company (ORSACC)

Your company, JITIEAC has been merged with the ORS Airplane Construction Company (ORSACC). You
manufacture paper airplanes that fly 10 feet and hit walls. ORSACC is a process organization. You and your
teammates have been supplied with the tools necessary to make a top-notch paper airplane. In your central
supply area, you will find a template, scissors, pencils, paper, and paper clips. How you are rewarded is
determined by the total points accrued.

SCORING:
+10 points for each successful plane
-10 points for each unsuccessful plane
-2 points for each wasted full or partial sheet of paper and airplane in progress when time is up
-50 points for not following instructions

GOAL: Maximize your score by making as many of the sample airplanes as you can in the time allotted that
will successfully fly 10 feet and hit the wall.

RULES:
1. You will have five minutes before your work time begins to get your team together and determine
your strategy.
2. Organize yourself and your work however you wish.
 Airplane Exercise Discussion Guide
1. Why do you think you scored better when working for ORSACC then for JITIEAC?

2. How did you feel while working for JITIEAC? Why?

3. How did you feel about the bottleneck that occurred when you worked for JITIEAC?

4. How did you feel after the merger?

5. Did any of you prefer working for JITIEAC than for ORSACC? Why?

6. How did different personalities affect your team?

7. Do any of you have stories to tell about an organization (including ORS) that you have worked for
that was either functional or process oriented, and how things worked at that organization?

8. What did you learn about which kind of organization (functional or process) is most successful?