A study examined the effectiveness of an experiential learning exercise in a speech communication classroom setting. Participants were 62 students in communication classrooms in a large southwestern university. The exercise, entitled "The Ace, Incorporated Hanging Tray Company Exercise" was done as a group communication exercise preceding a regularly assigned group project and involved the manufacture of a simple product using paper as the base material. Students completed two surveys and answered three questions following the exercise. As a result of the exercise, students learned the extent to which group decisions are effective in reaching goals. Students also learned about the major strengths and weaknesses which are involved and how communication in groups can facilitate and, if dysfunctional, impede group decision making. The survey questions are included. (RS)