what’s in your toolbox to drive innovation and creativity? · what’s in your toolbox to drive...

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What’s In Your Toolbox To Drive Innovation and Creativity?

Angela Wick, CBAP, PMP

Angela Wick, CBAP, PMP

Copyright BA-Squared, LLC

Consultant: •  BA Best Practices and BACoEs

Trainer: •  Public and Private Courses in Creative/

Innovation and Visual Facilitation •  Private BA Courses at your organization •  Univ Minnesota BA Instructor

Volunteer: •  IIBA BABOK v3 Core Team Lead •  IIBA Competency Model Chair

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Learning Objectives Ø Discover why innovation and creativity are

important to the BA role

Ø Discover ways every BA can facilitate innovation and creativity

Ø  Learn about common and new BA Techniques that inspire creativity and innovation


Drum Jam


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BABOK and Creativity & Innovation The New defini0on of Business Analysis in BABOK V3: “The prac*ce of enabling change in an organiza*onal context by defining needs and recommending solu*ons that deliver value to stakeholders.” “Creativity is any act, idea, or product that changes an existing domain, or that transforms an existing domain into a new one… What counts is whether the novelty he or she produces is accepted for inclusion in the domain.” – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Creativity – Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention Innovation is the practical application of creative ideas that are new, useful and feasible


Is Your Organization Begging For Creativity? •  Types of projects? •  In your work style?

Ø What does this mean to requirements?


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Obstacles To Creativity -  Our own beliefs

-  Defining the problem only one way

-  Limiting alternative solutions

-  Using one language (words) to define and assess the problem

-  Not filtering out irrelevant information

-  Defining boundaries too narrowly

-  Not asking questions

-  Not thinking – avoiding mental work


BAs MUST be Creative and Innovative! •  Group Learning and discovery

through complex ambiguity

•  Problem solving!

•  Career Growth

•  Conflict Resolution

•  Leading Change – sometimes the change future is blurry

•  BAs need to bring it out in others


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Personalities of Problem Solving, Innovation, and Creativity a) Visionary: Has big picture ideas, not concerned with details. Jumps from one idea to the next. Enjoys discussing ideas and possibilities and sees many solutions that will work. Others frustrated that there is no follow through. b) Explainer: Loves details and wants a clear understanding of the problem/opportunity before looking at answers and solutions. Is uncomfortable moving forward if the details and root cause are not understood. Enjoys researching. Others get frustrated with the analysis paralysis this person gets into. c) Executer: Action oriented, gets things done. Easily puts structure to ideas so they can be acted on. Concerned most about getting the ball down the field. Others may be frustrated that they act too quickly. d) Builder: Likes to examine the pros and cons of ideas, comparing ideas, and planning the detailed steps to implement, enjoys crafting a rough idea into a solution.



Multi-Tasking – Is This a Problem? Ways to avoid it!

•  Simple & Meaningful Visuals

•  Small Group Work

•  Draw! •  S0cky Notes •  Feedback on Visuals

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Visuals and Frameworks

•  Sketching •  Matrices •  Metaphors •  Models and Diagrams

à They don’t need to à be perfect, they need to create dialog!


Use Visuals Spontaneously


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Facilitate Differently •  Using multiple senses, action, and fun! •  Using fun engaging meeting supplies and

props •  Get participants into pairs or small groups

to create content outputs and solve problems

•  Do not discuss new ideas, options, or solve problems with more than 8 people. Break the group up to get everyone involved.


Brainstorming Common brainstorming approaches, elevating innovation:

1)  Round table discussion 2)  Everyone write their ideas on post it notes and we will all review/

react 3)  Get into small groups and each group come back with 3 ideas 4)  Give the group categories/areas of reflection that trigger different

lenses of ideas, ask them to write down on sticky notes. Looks for themes.

5)   Innovative Brainstorming: Ask the group to brainstorm ideas individually then, ask them react to others ideas and accept or transform the idea into something else à This is where innovative ideas happen!


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Collaboration Games

•  Planning Poker •  Buy a Feature •  Dot Voting •  Product Box •  Empathy Map •  Impact/Effort Matrix


Empathy Map •  What will they think about

the change? •  What will they need to see

about the change?

•  What will they say to others about the change?

•  What do they feel about the change?

•  What do they need to hear from others about the change?


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Lets Try One – Empathy Map •  Get into groups of 3 or 4 •  Scenario - Your local grocery

store is switching to a self checkout only model.

•  You are the BA and thinking about the impact to the customers. Work through the Empathy Map in your small groups


What Did You Experience?

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Results of Using Creative Techniques Those trained in and using creative problem solving techniques impact the behaviors in others: •  More engagement and responses •  Less criticism •  More verbal support •  More laughter and smiles •  More ideas generated •  More meaningful dialog


Angela Wick, CBAP, PMP TwiXer: @WickAng

Blog: www.BATimes.com

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.BA-‐Squared.com


what’s in your toolbox to drive innovation and creativity? · what’s in your toolbox to drive...

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