PoddarCo

Getting to the common vision can be fun!

A common vision, a shared approach, mass adoption – IMO, convey very similar aspirations.  Books are written about how you can adapt your leadership style, management technique or change management strategies to accomplish these goals.  But, I found greater application and value in one simple exercise.  It’s called Design-the-box. 

Jim Highsmith and Bill Shackelford developed the Design-the-box exercise (Reference: Highsmith, Jim.  Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products.  Addison-Wesley, 2004) as a very effective practice to develop a common product vision.

For this exercise, assign people to several teams (team size is dependent on total participants but generally I have found 3 to 6 to be a good size).  Each team should be given a box, and be asked to prepare the front and back covers to sell the product which could be an application, a building, a restaurant (or just the menu) – basically any product or service.

Though once you get there the alignment creates positive energy

Each team should be directed to work amongst themselves to come up with a name, a graphic (logo) and a few key points for the front cover.  For the back cover, each team must record detailed features and operating requirements.  Once all teams have their individual boxes designed, all teams should work collectively as one unit to consolidate ideas from all boxes onto one box.  This one box represents the team’s common vision.

Just like in any other undertaking of this nature, in this too, participation is the key to success.  Some times to encourage participation, I try to make a small competition out of this exercise.  Criteria I have used to judge teams for their recommendations (boxes) are:  feasibility / practicality, applicability, attainability and creativity. 

Next time you want to lead your crew towards a common vision or goal, try this exercise.  If you need help tweaking it to your environment or industry, just holler – you know where to find me.  Btw, when you conduct this exercise if you want some inspiration or reference material, just pull out a few software boxes, DVD covers or books.

References:
Highsmith, Jim.  Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products.  Addison-Wesley, 2004

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