We’ve spent years optimizing our sprint decisions to be as efficient as possible. We ended up with a five-step process.
We’ve structured Wednesday to one thing at a time—and do it well. We’ll evaluate solutions all at once, critique all at once, and then make a decision all at once. Kind of like this:
Your goal for Wednesday is to decide which solutions to prototype. Our motto for these decisions is “unnatural but efficient.” Instead of meandering, your team’s conversations will follow a script. The structure is socially awkward, but logical—if you feel like Spock from Star Trek, you’re doing it right. It’s all designed to get the most out of the team’s expertise, accommodate for our human strengths and shortcomings, and make it as easy as possible to come to a great decision.
Clear examples
1. Heat map (individual)
The heat map exercise ensures you make the most of your first, un-informed look at the sketches. At the beginning of the day, each person follows these steps individually:
Don’t talk.
Click on a card below to look at a solution sketch, one by one.
Mark the parts you like (if any) by adding to the table under the sketch.
Put two or three dots on the most exciting ideas.
If you have a concern or question, write it down below the sketch.
Move on to the next sketch, and repeat.
The Henry Ford
Lawrence Fitzgerald
Henry Ford, up close and personal
Adam Davis
The Mind Reader
Lola Tseudonym
All promising ideas
All sketch questions
2. Speed critique (team)
In the speed critique, you and your team will discuss each solution sketch above ☝️ and make note of standout ideas and important objections.
The
@Facilitator
narrates the sketch while the creator of the sketch remains silent until the end. At the end, ask the sketcher if the group missed anything. (p. 135)
Three minutes per sketch:
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3. Straw poll
Set the timer for 10 minutes. Each person silently chooses a single favorite solution sketch by filling out the form below (A).
Once everyone has submitted their straw vote, expand all the responses (B) and take turns verbally sharing your vote and reading your rationale out loud. For example, “I think we should test The Henry Ford, Up Close and Personal, because I think the extensive product details will allow us to learn whether customers care deeply about product quality.”
Remember to err on the side of risky ideas with big potential.
@Decider
: you don’t vote in this step - wait for your supervote in the next section.
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A. Cast your vote
Your name
I think we should test...
Choose a solution sketch from the list below.
....because it will answer these sprint questions.
Choose the sprint questions that your chosen solution will answer.
Rationale/Notes
Include additional notes about why we should prototype this solution. Type Cmnd (or Ctrl on Windows) + Shift + E to expand the cell.
Responses won't be saved because this doc is in play modeSubmit
B. Straw poll responses (
3
)
Once everyone has submitted their straw poll, review each of the responses as a group.
Your name
I think we should test...
....because it will answer these sprint questions.
Rationale/Notes
Your name
I think we should test...
....because it will answer these sprint questions.
Rationale/Notes
1
Adam Davis
The Henry Ford
Will customers trust our expertise?
This solution really gets at the heart of the question around trust.
2
Polly Rose
The Henry Ford
How can we improve our supply chain?
Will customers care about quality?
Our biggest bottleneck is our supply chain - I’d like for our solution to include that aspect.
3
Felix Marlin
The Mind Reader
How can we improve our supply chain?
I really like the simplicity of this solution.
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4. Supervote
The supervote is the ultimate decision. Each
@Decider
will get three special votes (with a star on them!). The
@Decider
can use just one supervote, or all three. When the
@Decider
has placed her votes, the sketches with the supervotes on them (even just one!) are the winners. You’ll plan your prototype around those ideas and put them to the test on