Reflection – Visualisation

Challenge  A client had asked us to build a new tool to help them evaluate their raw materials and certify their  finished products. Unfortunately, we had little information about the old tools. Users knew how to  operate them but there was no technical information available. We needed to start from a clean sheet  although the hidden expectations were high.

Since the information we had access to was minimal and the processes we needed to address were  highly customized, we had to start from the beginning: establishing a common understanding of the  problem to solve. Later in the project we would use the same visualisation tool to present our solutions  and, in the end, to train the end-users.

Selection  The client company was familiar with LEGO Serious Play (https://www.lego.com/en-us/seriousplay).  You can use LEGO bricks to visualise a challenge or a solution, but their use should not be limited to  visualisation. They also trigger “play”.

One of the team members spontaneously introduced visualisation using LEGO bricks at a moment  where we got stuck. Instantaneously, the atmosphere improved, and we managed to make progress.  Whereas, up to that moment, we failed to understand each other, spoke a different language and did  not manage to grasp all the nitty gritty yet important details.

Application  On a high level, the client’s process works as follows. All raw materials are evaluated individually. Once  approved, they are tested in various combinations with other materials. Their final products are  certified based on the successful evaluation of raw materials and all relevant combinations.

We used LEGO bricks to represent different materials, certifications, etc.

Imagine 3 raw materials

Each of the raw materials is successfully evaluated (represented by orange stamp)

3 out of 4 combinations of raw materials are tested successfully (again represented by orange stamp)

raw material 1 raw material 2 raw material 3

ok ok ok

raw material 1 raw material 2 raw material 3

Based on these approved combinations, several final products can be certified, whereas some others  cannot:

This is a simplified visualisation of what really happened. Doing this in excel gives little room for “what- if” scenarios. e.g. what would happen in case raw material 1 was no longer available due to changing  rules in the evaluation? Combinations 2 and 4 would no longer be available resulting in only final  product 1 that can remain certified.

Now imagine how much “play” we had, doing this kind of exercises with LEGO bricks and how easy it  was to test several what-if scenario’s?

Insight  Visualisation using LEGO Serious Play has helped us in various ways.

Bringing the bricks to the table enabled us to unblock a situation where we were no longer making  progress. The factor “play” and the ability to make abstract concepts tangible were most important.  Suddenly we were able to define a common language, explaining vague ideas became fun and cross- checking with each other became like an act of play. The “we” from business and “they” from IT  disappeared rapidly.

Best of all was the long-term effect of these exercises. Change management and training went  smoother than expected since we had a common model and tool to refer to. Again, the factor of “play”  made it fun and reduced the impact of the anticipated fear for change.

nok ok ok ok

ok ok ok ok

ok ok ok ok

ok

raw material 1

raw material 3

combination 1 combination 2 combination 3 combination 4

raw material 1

raw material 2

raw material 3

raw material 1

raw material 2

raw material 2

raw material 3

cert cert cert cert

ok ok ok ok

ok ok ok ok

ok

combination 2

combination 4

final product 1 final product 2 final product 3 final product 4

combination 2

combination 3

combination 4

combination 2

combination 3

combination 3

combination 4

not cert not cert not cert

ok ok ok

nok nok nok

combination 1 combination 1 combination 1

final product 5 final product 6 final product 7

combination 2 combination 3 combination 4

Approach  Bringing LEGO bricks to the table invites people both inside and outside of their comfort zone. Playing  at work is odd at first but play as such feels very natural. It helps discussing abstract topics by making  them tangible.

When we tried to visualize on a whiteboard using sketches like the ones above, people found it hard  to understand them. It was the introduction of the bricks that helped.

Were the bricks the key factor for success? Maybe. Even the best tools and processes will lead you  nowhere if you don’t know how to use them well … That is why I want to emphasize the importance  of the facilitator in the process.

While we only used basic features of the LEGO Serious Play methods, I like to find out more about its  full potential. And I am considering some training to improve my facilitating skills.

