In
BaFa'BaFa' participants come to understand
the powerful effects that culture plays in every person's life. It may be used to help participants prepare for living and working
in another culture or to learn how to work with people from other
departments, disciplines, genders, races, and ages. 
Here are a
few of the ways BaFa'BaFa' has been
used in the hundreds of thousands times it has been run around
the world:
- Build awareness of how cultural differences
can profoundly impact people in an organization.
- Motivate participants to rethink their behavior
and attitude toward others.
- Allow participants to examine their own bias
and focus on how they perceive differences.
- Examine how stereotypes are developed, barriers
created, and misunderstandings magnified.
- Identify diversity issues within the organization
that must be addressed.
BaFa'BaFa' initiates
immediate, personal change. This simulation makes participants
personally aware of the issues around culture differences. Participants
feel the alienation and confusion that comes from being different. BaFa'BaFa' shakes participants out
of thinking in stereotypes of anyone who is different. They learn
the value of all faces in the workplace in a safe, stimulating
environment.
What happens in BaFa'BaFa'?
After an initial briefing two cultures are created.
The Alpha culture is a relationship oriented, high context, strong
ingroup outgroup culture. The Beta culture is a highly competitive
trading culture. After the participants learn the rules of their
culture and begin living it, observers and visitors are exchanged.
The resulting stereotyping, misperception and misunderstanding
becomes the grist for the debriefing.
How has BaFa'BaFa' been used?
It's been used in two basic ways by schools
and charity organizations. The most common use is to help students,
parents, neighborhood groups in all kinds of programs and situations
to work together more effectively. For example, Universities
such
as MIT and Temple have used BaFa' BaFa' to orient
freshman students to the multicultural environment of the university.
Many business schools use it to help their students understand
the value and importance of working with a diverse work force.
It's also been used in sociology, anthropology courses to help
students understand the meaning and importance of culture. For
uses by business and government agencies look at the corporate
BaFa' page, BaFa'
BaFa'.
How much time does BaFa'BaFa' take?
Plan for a minimum of one and one-half hours for
the simulation and 30 minutes to two hours for the debriefing
depending on your goals.
What is the minimum and maximum number of participants for BaFa'
BaFa'?
It requires a minimum of 12 participants. It works
best, however, with 18 to 35 participants. It has been played
in groups as large as 300 with special accommodations.
Are any consumable forms or special equipment needed?
Everything is included in the kit with the exception
of two cassette players and a chalkboard or newsprint pad. It
is necessary to have an additional space besides the classroom
such as a hallway, another classroom, stage or a patio.
Purchase the BaFa'BaFa' (Educational Edition) Online Now! *
*Important! - Orders for BaFa'BaFa' (Educational Edition) must ship to a qualified school (universities, colleges, high schools, intermediate or elementary) or charitable organization. All others (especially businesses, consultants, government agencies, hospitals and the military) must purchase our Business Edition of BaFa'BaFa'.
