When we are focused on process and efficiency, it is sometimes hard to explore the fun side of what we do. Business Analysis is an art and science, so why do we sometimes view the artistic side as having less merit? You needn’t be a clown to be playful. This talk will look at tools of the playful analyst and how to work with resistance from the joyless stakeholder! You will leave with an understanding of why we need play and creativity, how it can improve the state of your facilitation and projects, and when play is probably not a good idea (disclaimer, there will be toys on your seats!)

1. The Playful BA
Georgiana Mannion

2. "You can learn more about a
person in an hour of play than
you can from a lifetime of
conversation"
- Plato

3. 9 – Questions
8 – Other uses of play
7 – Doodles
6 – Games to play
5 – LEGO Serious Play™
4 – Power of Play
3 – Epistemology
2 – Understanding groups
1 – Legitimising play

4. Legitimising play
But I am a grown up

5. "Every child learns at a very early stage
that when they’re asked a question in
school they must first ask themselves a
question: What answer does the asker
expect? That’s the way you get through
school, by providing people with the
answers they expect."
- Dr. Russell L. Ackoff

6. What playfulness doesn’t do
Negate fundamentals
Remove structure
Remove the need for seriousness
Cost a fortune

8. Understanding
groups
With group dynamics

9. Barriers and opportunities
Stereotypes / Prejudice
Personalities and Personas
Introvert/Extrovert
Emotions

10. The problems with groups
Too weak / too strong authority
Blocking
Free riding
Over evaluation
Groupthink

11. Epistemology
The theory of knowledge

15. Tacit Knowledge Study
Dr Kevin De Souza –
Facilitating Tacit Knowledge
Exchange, COMMUNICATIONS
OF THE ACM June 2003/Vol.
46, No. 6

16. Power of Play
And being abstract

20. Lego Serious Play ™
Not actually serious

21. Seriously Lego
Strategy development and exploration
Organisational development
Innovation and product development
Change management
Scenario development and testing

23. Teaching grown ups Test Driven
Development …using Lego
Kev McCabe http://bigmadkev.com

24. Games to play
Do try this at home

25. Personas
Name them
Describe their input
Everyone contribute
pieces
Agree the person
Refer back

26. Strategy Play
Provide Lego
Ease in with games
Set times
Set the challenges
Everyone talks

27. Lego Estimation
Plan
Assign times
Build
Update
Review

29. Devil’s advocate
Use the consensus
Empower one or more
Invite all challenges
React

30. The opposite of play
isn’t work, it’s
depression.
- Dr Stuart Brown

31. ADULTS
PLAYING

32. Doodles &
daydreams
To keep attention!

33. Why the crayons?

34. Other uses of play
Not just for BAs

36. Questions
Or even complaints

37. Georgiana Mannion
@processincolour
Skype: georgianafleur
Georgiana@processincolour.co.uk
www.processincolour.co.uk