van Gogh, V.

Storyboarding is an effective method to use for improving processes, developing ideas, finding causes of problems, and planning projects. It uses some of the principles of both brainstorming and cause and effect diagram. Like brainstorming, storyboarding is a group process that encourages participation, creativity, and trust. Members generate ideas and organize them under main headings as when developing a cause and effect diagram. Identifying all the components of the area we are storyboarding helps later when making task assignments.
Suppose a team is designing a new training program. First, they determine the purpose of the training program. Then they break down the topic into major categories. These categories could include specific training concepts as well as various related issues. Next, members of the team write their ideas for each category on cards and post the cards on the storyboard under the appropriate headings. Someone may act as a "pinner" and do it for them. The result of the storyboard session is a list of the topics where training is needed as well as a list of issues related to training. To complete the storyboard, the group spends time analyzing and selecting ideas so that the project will be manageable.

WHAT IS NEEDED FOR STORYBOARDING?

A group willing to work together.

For a successful storyboard session, we need a group of people who are willing to share their ideas. Who should be included? As in brainstorming, we include everyone who will be a part of the project. There are two reasons for this. First, we need the support of the people who will be part of the project. Involving them in the development through storyboarding helps win their support for the implementation. Second, we need their ideas, especially to make sure that we don't leave anything out.

A leader.

Anyone can lead the storyboarding: one of the regular members of the group, or even an "outsider".
It's the leader's responsibility to help the team to storyboard efficiently. The leader helps the group determine the type of storyboard session - whether they will be planning, evaluating, or generating ideas. He or she guides the process to make sure that it stays on target, that members of the group have the materials they need, and that people's ideas get placed under the proper headings. The leader exercise enough control to keep things working in an orderly manner. At the same time, he or she encourages people's ideas and participation. He or she must put aside personal goals and serve the group. The leader directs but must also encourage participation.

<>h4 Depending on the size of the group and the layout of the room, we may need a pinner. This person takes the cards as members fill them out and posts them on the storyboard, it may work for the members to place their own cards. The pinner should have the chance to contribute ideas, too. Another member can write out ideas for him or her.

The group should have a meeting place where it will bot be interrupted or distracted. This may be a training room, a section of the cafeteria, a supervisor's office, or a conference room.

Equipment.

The group needs chairs, tables to work on, blank cards, water-based markers, masking tape or pins, and a very large board. It helps the group process if the tables are set up so that people can see one another. The cards should measure approximately five by eight inches. Some group use different colours for header and idea cards. Markers should have broad points so that everybody can easily reads the cards when they are posted on the board. The "board" can be a wall where the cards are temporarily attached with masking tape, or a cork board on which cards are pinned.

The following are some ground rules for storyboarding:
1. Decide what kind of storyboard session this is. Is the group looking for causes of a problem or coming up with a remedy? Are we generating new ideas or are we evaluating ideas from an earlier session? Are we planning a project or developing an implementation?
2. Be sure that all members understand the subject of the storyboard. Post the subject on its own card at the top of the storyboard.
3. Determine the purpose of the storyboard. Why are we working on this subject? What do we want to see happens?
4. Brainstorm for possible categories, or headers, of the subject, using the rules for brainstorming.
5. As a group, select main categories from the headers that were brainstormed. Write them on blank cards. Arrange them across the top of the board under the subject of the session. Be sure there is plenty of room for the idea cards under each heading.
6. Work through a heading before going on to the next.
7. As in brainstorming, members write down any ideas they have and be brief. Don't worry about spelling.
8. When a card is completed , the member calls the pinner over and tells him or her under which heading the card fits. (If a card belongs under more than one category, write out a duplicate card but wait until that heading is being discussed before pinning the card on the board.)
9. The pinner posts the completed card under the appropriate category as instructed.
10. As in brainstorming, hold all evaluation until the storyboard is done.

The leader monitors the storyboard process and can stop it at any point. If a major category has only a few cards, the leader should direct the group's attention there. If someone comes up with a possible new heading, he or she should ask the group if it should be included. The leader or a member may ask to have a card clarified.
Just as there are different kinds of storyboards, so there are different ways to come up with the ideas under the headings. We can "freewheel it", where each member writes out a batch of cards for the category on which the group is working. Or follow a "round robin" brainstorm, where the leader asks each member in turn for a contribution. In this case, member can write down their ideas at any time, but the pinner picks up only one card at a time.

In reviewing the cards, we can see a few things. The storyboard gives us a number of issues that we must address in our design. Once an item is on the list, they can make sure that it is carefully considered in the design. The list can be shown to others for their input. During the evaluation session, the group selects the most appropriate items, prioritize them, and makes assignments.

Brainstorming
Cause and Effect Diagram
Pareto Analysis
Flowcharts
Scatter Diagrams

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