Here's a technique I read about in Blue Ocean Strategy. The authors call it Drawing Your Strategy Canvas. They say that this strategy increased revenues for a financial services firm by 30 percent.

Step 2: Visual Exploration. The company sent teams out to meet face-to-face with customers. As they say, "a company should never outsource its eyes." This step overturned many of the things the insiders had identified in Step 1. Hmmm.

Step 3: Visual Strategy Fair. This meeting included people who worked for the company as well as many customers and non-customers! Twelve teams were formed. Each had ten minutes to present a strategy. Presentations were kept short "on the theory that any idea that takes more than ten minutes to communicate is probably too complicated to be any good." Judges put sticky notes on their five favorites. The judges were asked to explain why they made these choices. The authors say that this fast process by-passed corporate politics that usually goes along with strategic planning.

This three-step process allowed the company to see itself in a new light and develop new innovative strategies. The book covers the Drawing Your Strategy Canvas process in much greater detail. (Blue Ocean Strategy. Kim and Mauborgne. Harvard Business School Press. 2005)

It seems like this process could be very helpful as part of many large change projects. And let me know if you find this useful. Thanks.

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Sincerely,