Story writing workshop

So, you are in your week out of time during your season beat.

What are we going to do next season? Time to find out by organizing a story writing workshop where scenarios define the wish result in a big pile of titles for user stories that eventually end up in a comprehensive story map for the next development episode (or two).

Bring in qualified people, forming a broad, deep and cross crew:

• subject matter experts like:
  • product owners;
• actual (future) users of the product;
  • business analysts;
  • architects;
  • testers;
• developers;
• scrum masters, who can be of help with the process;
• visioneers;
• imagineers;
• a fisherman and a female cellist.

Setting the stage

To set the stage, give direction, stick the following to the walls and windows:

• Unity of Purpose
• vibrant personas A1-sized paper; especially listing needs, goals, drives, wishes, and emotions like frustrations;
• theme(s) for the next version (next one or two seasons);
• kano poster
• banners of the rules for better brainstorming

Bring any other material that can provide input:

• User Manuals from the current product that can be used as example;

Atelier

Requirements for the room:

• a large room with space for twice the number of participants;
• (smooth) walls and windows that support sticking banners, Post-its and flip charts to it;
• fresh air and light from outside;
• one large table for each group of six plus or minus one
• banners with the brainstorming rules:
  • give everything a chance (defer judgement);
  • encourage wild ideas

Material

• plenty of:
  • A6 index cards
  • different sized and different colored Post-its; make sure they keep stuck to the walls…
• decorator tape (to stick anything to the walls or glass)
• one sharpie per participant
• a set of Big Ones
• highlighters
• laptops:
  • record scenarios
  • record user story titles
• video projector
• flip charts (one per group)
• a bicycle bell, to ring whenever someone forgets one of the rules for better brainstorming