To the Board!

"To the Board!" is a playful workshop that allows participants to understand the importance of visual management in teamwork. Through several iterations, teams create a task board that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The goal is to promote collaboration, clarity of objectives, and continuous improvement of work processes.

Walkthrough

1. 1

   Introduction to Visual Management

   10 min

   The facilitator begins by explaining the relevance of visual management within an agile team. They introduce key concepts and explain how a task board can enhance communication and transparency within the team. Participants are invited to ask questions to clarify their understanding.

   Tip — Use concrete examples of successful visual boards to illustrate your points.

2. 2

   Team Formation

   5 min

   Participants are divided into small teams of 3 to 5 people. Each team receives materials to create a task board (post-its, markers, boards). The facilitator explains that each team will need to design a board that reflects a specific work process.

   Tip — Ensure that each team has enough space to work comfortably.

3. 3

   Board Design

   20 min

   Teams begin designing their board using the provided materials. The facilitator circulates among the teams to answer questions and provide guidance if necessary. Teams should focus on the clarity, functionality, and aesthetics of their board.

   Tip — Encourage teams to think about the end user of their board: how can it be most useful and understandable?

4. 4

   Board Presentations

   15 min

   Each team presents their board to the other participants. Teams explain their design choices and how their board could be used in a real context. The facilitator encourages questions and constructive feedback from other participants.

   Tip — Ensure that every team member has the opportunity to speak during the presentation.

5. 5

   Feedback and Improvement

   10 min

   After the presentations, teams receive constructive feedback from the facilitator and other participants. They then have a short moment to integrate this feedback and improve their board. The facilitator emphasises the importance of continuous improvement in visual management.

   Tip — Encourage kind and specific feedback so that teams can genuinely improve their work.

6. 6

   Conclusion and Link to the SPACE Framework

   10 min

   The facilitator concludes the workshop by linking visual management to the SPACE framework. They explain how a good task board can positively influence satisfaction, performance, activity, communication, and collaboration within the team.

   Tip — Use concrete examples to show how each dimension of the SPACE framework can be impacted by an effective visual board.

Variants

• Use a digital whiteboard software for an online version of the workshop.
• Add a time constraint to simulate a high-pressure work environment.
• Ask teams to create a board for a specific work process, such as software development or project management.