Dot Voting

Dot Voting is a simple and visual technique that allows a group to prioritise ideas or topics using stickers to vote. Each participant has a limited number of stickers to express their preferences, facilitating collective decision-making and group alignment. This game is particularly useful for teams looking to quickly converge on a consensus regarding ideas or actions to take.

Walkthrough

1. 1

   Introduction

   5 min

   The facilitator explains the purpose of Dot Voting: to prioritise ideas. They specify that each participant will receive a limited number of stickers to vote on the displayed ideas. It is important to emphasise that each participant can distribute their stickers as they wish across the different options.

   Tip — Use different coloured stickers to represent different groups of participants if necessary.

2. 2

   Presentation of Ideas

   10 min

   Participants are invited to propose ideas that are then displayed on a board or wall. The facilitator ensures that each idea is clear and understandable for everyone. This step is crucial to ensure that everyone fully understands the options they will be voting on.

   Tip — Encourage participants to ask questions to clarify the ideas before moving on to the voting.

3. 3

   Distribution of Stickers

   5 min

   The facilitator distributes an equal number of stickers to each participant. They explain that these stickers represent their votes and that they can distribute them as they see fit across the displayed ideas. Generally, between 3 to 5 stickers per participant is sufficient.

   Tip — Ensure that the number of stickers is proportional to the number of ideas to avoid excessive dispersion of votes.

4. 4

   Voting

   10 min

   Participants stand up and stick their stickers on the ideas they prefer. They can choose to place multiple stickers on a single idea or distribute them across several. This step should be done quietly to allow everyone to reflect on their choices.

   Tip — To avoid mutual influence, ask participants to vote silently and individually.

5. 5

   Analysis of Results

   10 min

   Once the voting is complete, the facilitator counts the number of stickers on each idea and announces the results. The ideas with the most stickers are considered priorities. This step allows for a quick visualisation of the group's preferences.

   Tip — Take photos of the results to keep a visual record of the established priorities.

6. 6

   Discussion and Action Plan

   10 min

   The group discusses the results and decides on actions to take based on the established priorities. The facilitator facilitates the discussion to ensure that each participant understands the next steps and is aligned with the decisions made.

   Tip — Encourage participants to express their opinions on the results and propose concrete actions.

Variants

• Use stickers of different colours to represent different voting criteria.
• Limit the number of stickers per idea to enforce stricter prioritisation.
• Conduct the vote in two rounds: a first round for initial selection, followed by a second round to refine the choice.