Strategy · Fast decisions
Red Team, Blue Team
One group presents a plan, a red team tries to find its weak points, and the blue team defends and improves it. A structured way to stress-test ideas.
Quick answer
How do you run Red Team, Blue Team with a team?
One group presents a plan, a red team tries to find its weak points, and the blue team defends and improves it. A structured way to stress-test ideas. Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes. Group size: 8–40 people. Setting: Indoor. Below you will find a step-by-step guide, the materials and facilitator tips.
- Duration
- 1 hour 15 minutes
- Group size
- 8–40 people
- Setting
- Indoor
- Energy level
- Active
- Materials
- A short written plan or proposal (one page), Two rooms or corners, Flip charts and markers
- Price
- Free, no sign-up
Objective
Strengthen a plan by inviting constructive challenge, and practise separating ideas from the people who propose them.
Materials
- A short written plan or proposal (one page)
- Two rooms or corners
- Flip charts and markers
- A timer
Step by step
- Choose a real plan and share a one-page summary with everyone.
- Split into a blue team (the plan's owners) and a red team (challengers). For larger groups, create several pairs of teams.
- Red team (20 minutes): prepare the three strongest arguments why the plan could fail, thinking like a competitor, a sceptical customer or a regulator.
- Blue team (20 minutes): anticipate weaknesses and prepare improvements.
- Exchange (20 minutes): the red team presents its challenges; the blue team responds, accepting the points that are valid.
- Together, list the changes to the plan and assign owners.
Facilitator tips
- Set ground rules: challenge the plan, not the people, and back up points with evidence or examples.
- Thank the red team explicitly; their job is to help the plan succeed.
Variations
- Rotate roles so everyone experiences being challenged.
- Combine with a pre-mortem as a warm-up.
Accessibility
Seated discussion. Give the plan in writing in advance so that everyone, including non-native speakers, has time to prepare.
