Interactive Development

Organising and facilitating analysis and design workshops

Course benefits:

Rapid delivery of applications is an objective of all successful information systems teams. When rapid delivery is not being achieved, one reason can be the seemingly never ending task of requirements analysis followed by a long, drawn out wait for approval to proceed. Another can be the inordinate time it can take to agree the design, particularly of interfaces. Yet both of these are critical areas for the success of projects.

How can we identify the true requirements quickly and efficiently, ensure that the design is acceptable and workable, and gain the consensus with users that is so vital to project success?

This course teaches a participative workshop approach to quickly achieving understanding and agreement of the requirements and design characteristics of a system. The approach does not compromise quality by haste and superficial treatment, but enhances the process through better, and better-controlled communication, through identification of ownership and commitment to the task in hand.

The workshop approach is particularly effective when employed within an overall rapid application development approach, but its benefit will accrue to any development.

Who should attend:

This course is suitable for both:

Prospective workshop facilitators
Workshop participants

Prerequisites:

No prior knowledge of workshop techniques is required, but experience of attending workshops and meetings would be useful.

What you will learn:

This course covers the practical concepts of workshop planning and execution. It provides prospective facilitators with experience in organising and running a workshop. It will also help participants gain an insight into the workings and potential benefits of the process.

On successful completion of the course, attendees will be able to:

Describe how workshops can compress the time taken to collect information on all types of projects
State the qualities that every participant should bring to each workshop
Apply practical experience of designing and facilitating an effective workshop
Define the further steps needed to become fully competent workshop facilitators
Work towards implementing these techniques in their organisation

What you will cover:

The Planning Stage - Choosing workshop content; planning the agenda; selecting and preparing participants
The Execution Stage - Facilitator style; session approaches; hidden agendas; approaches to documentation; logistics; gaining consensus
The Consolidation Stage - Follow-up activities; resolving issues; planning the next workshop session
Modes of Interaction - Influencing the interactions of the group; interpersonal skills and goal achievement
Group Dynamics - Determinants of group effectiveness; maximising group synergy
Facilitators Toolbox - Essential qualities of the facilitator; handling different personalities; dealing with contention
Facilitator Workshop Sessions - The practical issues of running workshops; how to ensure the agenda is followed and that required outputs are produced

How you will learn:

Interactive development techniques can be taught, but the real understanding comes from practice. The course simulates workshops where attendees develop the agenda and play the roles discussed in lectures. The instructors play roles as required and offer feedback to improve performance in the workplace.

Duration and availability:

Two days non-residential. In-house only.