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194 The Disney Way
■ Question conclusions or answers in noncompetitive, nonhierarchical
way.
■ Provide positive feedback.
■ Keep the process moving.
■ Stimulate group to work on its own.
Things to Keep in Mind during Session
■ What has been achieved so far?
■ Where do we stand?
■ What still needs to be done?
Storyboarding: The Process
In our work with organizations, we have seen every imaginable variety of
storyboard technique, some using nothing more complicated than a bunch
of index cards and a fistful of markers, others utilizing charts, pictures, draw-
ings, or computer-generated printouts, and some dependent on information
technology networks.
While electronic storyboarding is fine for collecting ideas and even for
some degree of brainstorming, it cannot generate the creative energy that is
sparked by in-person storyboard sessions. In these sessions, you are likely
to see people jumping up from their chairs to point at various pieces of the
puzzle. Some may even move a card from one place on the storyboard to
another in order to prove that a particular idea fits better elsewhere. The
increase in spontaneity and enthusiastic communication moves the meeting
along at a fast pace. And because everyone is working from the same road
map, it’s easier to build consensus.
From a procedural standpoint, storyboarding evolves in a logical pro-
gression as mentioned above. First, the team identifies the topic to be defined
or the problem to be solved, and this is written on a card and posted at the
top of the storyboard. Then it establishes a “purpose,” meaning the reasons
for pursuing the topic. The facilitator allows the participants time to sit and
answer the question or problem, jotting down their thoughts, one idea per
card. The facilitator then collects the cards as participants continue to write
more thoughts and may choose to sort the cards moving duplications to the
back of the stack. When the group has completed the writing exercise, the
facilitator reads each card aloud, invites discussion, and asks the participants