Values Advocacy

Values Advocacy is a serious game that allows participants to explore the values of the Agile Manifesto through a structured debate. By dividing into groups, participants learn to defend and critique these values, fostering a deeper understanding and critical reflection. This game encourages engagement and creativity by placing participants in the roles of advocates and jurors.

Walkthrough

1. 1

   Introduction and team formation

   10 min

   The facilitator presents the game and its objective: to explore the values of the Agile Manifesto through a debate. They divide the participants into four groups, two to defend the values and two to act as the jury. The facilitator explains that each group will need to defend a part of the values and highlight their limits.

   Tip — Ensure that each participant clearly understands their role to avoid confusion during the game.

2. 2

   Preparation of arguments

   15 min

   The defending groups write their arguments on post-it notes. Each group focuses on a part of the value to defend and critique. Meanwhile, the jury observes and notes their impressions. The facilitator can circulate to answer questions and ensure that the groups remain focused.

   Tip — Encourage participants to think of unexpected arguments to stimulate a richer debate.

3. 3

   Structured debate

   20 min

   The groups present their arguments in turn. Each team has a few minutes to express their viewpoints. The jury listens attentively and takes notes. The facilitator ensures that each group respects the allotted time and encourages respectful exchanges.

   Tip — Use a visible timer to help teams manage their speaking time.

4. 4

   Jury deliberation

   10 min

   The jury discusses the performances of the teams and evaluates the relevance of the arguments presented. They decide on the most convincing team, taking into account the clarity of the arguments and overall performance. The facilitator can guide the jury by asking questions to stimulate reflection.

   Tip — Suggest that the jury focus on specific criteria such as the originality of arguments and the impact of presentations.

5. 5

   Role change and new value

   10 min

   The roles are swapped between the groups, so that each participant can experience different aspects of the game. A new value from the Agile Manifesto is chosen, and the preparation and debate process is repeated. The facilitator ensures that the transition is smooth and without confusion.

   Tip — Make sure all participants clearly understand the new value to debate before starting.

6. 6

   Conclusion and retrospective

   15 min

   The facilitator gathers all participants for a retrospective. They encourage participants to share their reflections on the game, what they learned, and how it could apply to their daily work. The facilitator notes areas for improvement for future sessions.

   Tip — Use a whiteboard to capture the key ideas and learnings shared by participants.

Variants

• Include a mediator role to help clarify arguments during the debate.
• Reduce the preparation time for arguments to increase the challenge.
• Introduce a phase where participants must swap their roles of advocate and jury for more perspectives.