Obeya Summit 2024

Agile transformation is challenging. Any significant change is! So, how can we spark engagement in an organisation with over 5000 people?

Culture and community cannot be constructed; they must emerge organically. How can we nurture an environment where time and commitment are limited, akin to an open source project with volunteer contributors?

The Open Decision Framework (ODF) is essential for fostering engagement and making decisions that everyone can support, whether in a corporate setting or a community. Integrating the ODF into your Nemawashi process and Obeya room can significantly unify people and initiate a vital feedback loop.

In this talk, I will introduce the Open Decision Framework and share insights from our experience using it to co-create a vision statement for a 5000+ employee organization. I'll discuss how we collaborated remotely, the benefits and challenges we faced, and how an open decision-making process positioned us for success.

This presentation will offer practical examples and learnings, providing you with the tools to implement the ODF in your own organisation and drive successful, inclusive transformation.

Key learnings:

• Understand the principles and application of the Open Decision Framework (ODF) in fostering engagement and decision-making in large organisations.
• Effectively integrate the ODF into the Nemawashi process and Obeya room to enhance collaboration and initiate a crucial feedback loop.
• Implement Open decisions and understand their benefits and preparation steps.

Our approach is to create a comprehensive and complete visual Obeya space, divided into key visual components:

1. Vision and strategy board: a visually engaging representation that captures the overarching product vision, strategic goals and long-term objectives and ensures that all team members are aligned with the company's mission.
2. Performance dashboards: real-time visual metrics and KPIs that track product value performance, user engagement and technical health, providing instant insight into product status and areas requiring attention.
3. Improvement wall: a dedicated visual space for continuous improvement initiatives, including feedback loops, retrospective results and action plans that foster a culture of continuous improvement and learning.
4. Stakeholder map: a visual representation of all stakeholders, their roles, responsibilities and communication channels, facilitating clear and effective stakeholder engagement and management.
5. Context diagram: A visual representation of the products ecosystem, including integration with other systems, market positioning and user personas, providing the developer with a clear understanding of the product's value proposition.

Key learnings:
Comprehensive visual approach:
Understand the importance of a fully visual Obeya space to streamline product development.

Vision and Strategy Board:
Learn how to create a visually appealing board that captures and aligns the product vision, strategic goals and long-term objectives with the company mission.

Selection of product-specific artefacts:
Create a visual space dedicated to product overview, continuous improvement initiatives, and ongoing improvement through feedback loops and action plans.

Obeya is super super powerful. But we must go deeper to enable greater Business Agility. In this talk/workshop, I will be delving into the critical need to overhaul current communication strategies to create an environment where Obeya can thrive.
Participants will explore the pervasive issue of existing communication overload and its detrimental impact on productivity and clarity. We will dissect common pitfalls that hinder efficient information dissemination and examine practical methods to streamline communication channels. By addressing these foundational burdens, we can clear the path for a more cohesive and dynamic Obeya setup.
Attendees will learn to identify and eliminate communication bottlenecks, implement streamlined information flow practices, and help build a culture of transparency and collaboration.

Key learnings:

• Understand how information flows in an organisation
• Assess the impact and burden of existing communication
• Clear the path for optimum Obeya effectiveness