Techniques for team decision making or do you know that a camel was originally

a horse designed by a committee….

by eugene.veselov@magento.com

Vs

GoalTo reinforce Magento team with base knowledge

about teamwork

To share positive knowledge

Plan Pros & Cons of Team decision making

Decision making tools

Creativity techniques

Pros of team decision making

Synergy (S. in general, may be defined as two or more things functioning together to produce a result not independently obtainable)

1+1=3

Cons of team decision making

It is very hard to get synergy in a team. There are lots of obstacles for that and the most serious one is the human factor.

Reasons of inefficient team work (some of them)Lacking of openness usually due to low level of trustLow level of collaboration among team members, usually it is

caused by undeveloped communications skills like active listening, asking good questions

Cons of team decision making

Reasons of inefficient team work (some of them)Inadequate EGO which leads to fights inside the

team and reduces safety level in itImpossibility to make a decision and choose the

only option from manyLacking of information to make a decision

Decision making tools. Idea/Mind mapping

A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. Mind maps are used to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and as an aid to studying and organizing information, solving problems, making decisions, and writing.

Decision making tools. Idea/Mind mapping

Mind maps can be used for: problem solving outline/framework design anonymous collaboration individual expression of creativity team building or synergy creating activity Enhancing work morale(!)

Decision making tools. Ishikawa/Fishbone Diagram

Ishikawa diagrams (also called fishbone diagrams, cause-and-effect diagrams or Fishikawa) are causal diagrams that show the causes of a certain event -- created by Kaoru Ishikawa (1990). Common uses of the Ishikawa diagram are product design and quality defect prevention, to identify potential factors causing an overall effect. Each cause or reason for imperfection is a source of variation.

Decision making tools. Affinity Diagram (KJ method)

The affinity diagram is a business tool used to organize ideas and data. The tool is commonly used within project management and allows large numbers of ideas stemming from brainstorming to be sorted into groups for review and analysis.

Creativity techniques. Delphi technique

Delphi may be characterized as a method for structuring a group communication process so that the process is effective in allowing a group of individuals, as a whole, to deal with a complex problem.

Creativity techniques. Delphi technique

General Idea Anonymity of the participants The facilitator sends out questionnaires, surveys etc. Responses are collected and analyzed, and then common and conflicting

viewpoints are identified. If consensus is not reached, the process continues through thesis and antithesis, to

gradually work towards synthesis, and building consensus.

Creativity techniques. Delphi technique

Can be used: More individuals are needed than can effectively interact in a face-to-face exchange Time and cost make frequent group meetings infeasible Disagreements among individuals are so severe or politically unpalatable that the communication process must be refereed and/or anonymity assured to avoid bandwagon effect, halo effect

the lyrical digression

Halo effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_effect

Bandwagon effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandwagon_effect

Creativity techniques. Delphi technique

Let’s solve following problem:

What is the best way to improve the Magento’s CE/EE quality?

Creativity techniques. Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a technique for generating a large number of creative ideas with a group or team of people. It is based on the premise that ordinary discussions will not produce many creative ideas because we habitually place constraints and injunctions on our thinking for fear of how others will judge us.

Creativity techniques. Brainstorming

General Idea Facilitator states the problem Then asks the team to generate their ideas, groups them When the team runs out of ideas – selects and evaluates them

Rules of Brainstorm No idea too stupid Watch the clock Record your progress Quantity not quality

Creativity techniques. Brainstorming

Let’s solve following problem:

What is the best way to integrate a new employee to his new team?

Creativity techniques. Nominal Group technique

Nominal group technique (NGT) is a structured method for group brainstorming that encourages contributions from everyone. NGT separates ideas from people.

Creativity techniques. Nominal Group technique

General Idea:

Facilitator states the subject of the brainstorming. Clarifyies the statement as needed until everyone understands it.

Each team member silently thinks of and writes down as many ideas as possible in a set period of time (5 to 10 minutes).

Each member in turn states aloud one idea. Facilitator records it on the flipchart.

Creativity techniques. Nominal Group technique

General Idea:

Discuss each idea in turn. Discussion may clarify meaning, explain logic or analysis, raise and answer questions, or state agreement or disagreement.

Prioritize the ideas using multivoting or list reduction.

Creativity techniques. Nominal Group technique

Can be used

When some group members are much more vocal than others.

When some group members think better in silence.When there is concern about some members not

participating.When the group does not easily generate quantities of

ideas.When all or some group members are new to the team.

Creativity techniques. Nominal Group technique

Practice

  Let’s try to do NGT for ideas from previous tasks

The end.

Questions ?

eugene.veselov@magento.com

Literature

http://is.njit.edu/pubs/delphibook/ http://www.case.edu/artsci/engl/emmons/writing/assignments/Hyde_Brainstorm.pdf http://www.mftrou.com/brainstorm-technique.html http://www.knowledgeboard.com/item/2980 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishikawa_diagram http://www.pmhut.com/affinity-diagram-kawakita-jiro-or-kj-method http://asq.org/learn-about-quality/idea-creation-tools/overview/nominal-group.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synergy http://www.teambuildingportal.com/articles/team-failure http://www.botexpert.com.ua/korner/korner_758.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandwagon_effect