Template as Agenda

As an alternative to a traditional agenda, use a large visual template to capture the process and the ideas of the day.

The template above connected five progressive design thinking activities: 

1. Identifying key strategic drivers, 

2. Assessing possible value drivers, 

3. Selecting the top five value drivers,

4. Designing concept posters for solutions, and

5. Identifying common the success factors of those solutions. 

Over the course of the day, small groups formed and reformed against each of these activities. A graphic recorder captured highlights from the discussions as they are shared back to the large group. A graphic facilitator guided the group through the process of assessing value drivers and selecting the top five. 

Facilitating against one large visual template has several advantages. Participants can better understand the expected outcome for each activity if they know how it fits into the bigger picture. They can anticipate and better prepare for the next step. It’s easier to trace the provenance and progression of an idea, and consequently, to expose, validate, or challenge assumptions. As the template is populated, it serves as a visual check on the day’s progress. As with all visual methods, it gives the ideas more permanence and makes them easier to recall. Most importantly, the template makes the decision making process more transparent by unpacking it from the typical black box of participants’ heads.