Notes
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Method to solve problems without discussion.
- Replace all open and unstructured discussions with a clear solving problem process.
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Methods like brainstorm have discussions in which may cause a problem like:
- Discussions that losing focus and don't solve the problem.
- Very long talks that left the team very fatigued.
- The one with the higher voice may impose his/her ideas.
- People may sabotage each other to promote his/her "good" idea.
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Supplies (the colors can be changed):
- Rectangular post-its (yellow).
- 2 two different color post-its (blue and pink).
- Voting dots, two different colors (red and green).
- Sharpies.
- A timer that clearly shows the remaining time.
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Choose a moderator.
- He/she can join in on the process but must focus on making sure no discussions break out.
- Has to keep time.
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The method:
- Write the problems.
- No discussion.
- 7 minutes.
- Everybody writes all the challenges, annoyances, mistakes, problems without discussion. Can be anything.
- Write in blue squared post-its.
- Present the problems.
- The moderator selects one person to present each of his/her problems and stick them to the surface.
- Nobody else in the team is allowed to speak.
- Each person has 4 minutes.
- Select problems to solve.
- 6 minutes.
- The moderator gives two voting red dots to each member of the team.
- They can vote on their posts.
- They can put two votes on the same post.
- After voting, the moderator arranges the posts in order of priority.
- Reframe/rewrite the problems as standardized challenges.
- 6 minutes.
- Reformat problems to standardized "How might we...".
- Focus only on the prioritized problems (most voted).
- Rewrite in a way that makes the problem solvable and standardized.
- For instance, instead of "I have no idea what's going on project X", rewrite as "How might we make sure everyone stays in the loop with all running projects".
- Produce solutions.
- The top-left-most voted problem is chosen.
- If there are two most voted problem just pick the most left one.
- Each team member has 7 minutes to produce as many solutions as possible on pink squared posts-its.
- No discussions.
- Aim quantity over quality.
- Stick the pink squared post-its on the surface.
- The top-left-most voted problem is chosen.
- Vote on solutions.
- 10 minutes.
- The moderator gives six green voting dots to each team member.
- Each member votes on the solutions they think would best solve the problem.
- Prioritize solutions
- 30 seconds.
- The team arrange the solutions list.
- Ignore the solutions with less than two votes.
- Decide what to execute on.
- 10 minutes.
- Put the solutions in a graphic Impact x Effort.
- Choose the solution with higher impact and less effort, even if it isn't the most voted one.
- Turn solutions into actionable tasks.
- 5 minutes.
- The moderator takes the selected solution of the previous step.
- Each member writes actionable solutions on the rectangular yellow post-its.
- Actionable means something that can be executed in a time frame (1 or 2 weeks).
- Execute the actionable tasks.
- Write the problems.
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What about that great idea that was not selected?
- Here good ideas don't matter, executing and testing is what matters.