LEGO® Serious Play®. How To Solve Your Business Challenges Playfully

LEGO® Serious Play®
How To Solve Your Business Challenges Playfully
Michael Tarnowski
Plays-In-Business.com
www.plays-in-business.com
Picture Credit: Leonora Giovanazzi https://www.flickr.com/photos/lyonora/1413224950

What is LEGO® Serious Play®?
LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP) is a structured and facilitated workshop
method for strategic decision making and problem resolution in
business www.plays-in-environments.
business.com
Picture Credit: Bill Ward, https://www.flickr.com/photos/billward/3640805316

What does LEGO® Serious Play®? 1/2
LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP):
 Is a structured, facilitated method.
 Answers questions rephrasing the business topics.
The models built and their stories shared by the builders are the answers.
 Is a playful and still serious way to create new insights and to develop innovative
ideas;
Picture Credit: desbiens_jean, https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeandesbiens/6079961911

What does LEGO® Serious Play®? 2/2
LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP):
 Is a secure and safe place to image and explore ideas by building models with
LEGO® bricks;
 Creates a shared understanding about the problem space in question;
 www.Investigates plays-in-business.complex com
and dynamic dependencies and emergences;
Picture Credit: desbiens_jean, https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeandesbiens/6079961911

LEGO® Serious Play® Engages People
“Lean Backward” Meetings:
only a few participants are
engage.
Picture Credit: Zach Graves, https://www.flickr.com/photos/basictheory/849025205 Picture Credit: http://www.mathewbirch.com
“Lean Forward” Meetings:
all participants engage equally.
vs.

Who should use LSP ? 1/4
Everyone who…
 …is faced a complex problem and does not know how to handle it.
 …wants to engage all resources available in her organisation.
 www.…wants plays-in-to business.turn com
visions into commitments.
Picture Credit: Graham Richardson, https://www.flickr.com/photos/didbygraham/8420446592/

Everyone who…
 …wants to design actions.
 …develops leadership and teams.
 www.…does plays-in-1:business.1 coaching
com

Everyone who…
 …looks for a solution to a shared problem.
 …has to create a shared mind-set about something.
 www.…builds plays-in-a business.shared com
vision.

Everyone who…
 …wants constructive discussions where everybody is heard.
 …has to create a shared mind-set about something.
 www.…wants plays-in-constructive business.com
discussions where everybody is heard.

How LEGO® Serious Play® works
1. Challenging
The facilitator sets a challenge to the group. This challenge depends entirely on
the issues and topics the workshop shall address.
2. Constructing
You answer the challenge by building a model with LEGO® bricks. Make sense of
what you know, imagine, and build with your own 3D model in response to the
challenge given.
Picture Credit: Martin Alvarez Espinar, https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinalvarez/14641980635

How LEGO® Serious Play® works
3. Story Telling
Share your story covering the meaning of the model, i.e. explain your thoughts,
associations, emotions and feelings coming to your mind when constructing.
4. Reflecting
Crystallise key insights that are uncovered; ask clarification questions to the
models. Sum up surprises and connections.

In 3D We understand the World Easier
(Model Plans for the Shanghai Expo 2010)
2D model
3D model
Benefit of 3D models: they address all our senses – we can interact with
them www.plays-– change in-business.them com
physically, touch them, taste them, and smell them.
Picture Credit: i a walsh, https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivanwalsh/3780451836 Picture Credit: i a walsh, https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivanwalsh/3779640773

Thinking with Your Hands
Play with the bricks! – Stimulate your brain by using your hands
unconsciously.
Think with hands – Play with the bricks, fiddle around, and be baffled by
the www.result.
plays-in-business.com
Picture Credit: kreezzalee, https://www.flickr.com/photos/repoort/2579139642

Constructing Models
Construct models to answers challenges.
Picture Credit: http://www.mathewbirch.com

Models are Metaphors – Give Them Meaning!
Rituals our floor shop
Skills & Technology
are my pride
Management
leads me
Management
collaborates with
Shares & Gains
rewards
Near
competitors
endanger me
Controlling
watches me
Product
Development
brings me money
Business
Development
improves me
supports me
Construct models to answers challenges.
Picture Credit: http://www.mathewbirch.com
Vision & Strategy
drive me

Performing a LSP Workshop
Run a LSP workshop in groups of max. 12 participants per facilitator.
The facilitator sets the challenge and timelines, and guides the process.
Scale www.plays-it if in-needed: business.com
10 facilitators/10 tables, 20 facilitators/20 tables…
Picture Credit: markorillo, https://www.flickr.com/photos/markorillo/4587599434/

Roles in LEGO® Serious Play® Workshop
Facilitator:
sets the challenge and timelines,
and www.guides plays-in-business.the process.
com
Picture Credit:
Tinker*Tailor loves Lalka, https://www.flickr.com/photos/tinker-tailor/4284883477
You – Group/Participants:
solve the challenge raised by building
models & sharing their meaning
Picture Credit: Bill Toenjes, https://www.flickr.com/photos/toomuchdew/6008136303

The Philosophy Behind LSP
1. Focus on the Story – Not on the Bricks
Bricks create stories.
2. Understand the Metaphors used in Stories
Metaphors provide richer descriptions of the reality, and open a wider look for new
possibilities.
3. Explore, Prepare – Don`t Implement
Gather intentionally to apply your imagination. Explore possible and plausible possibilities.
Generate options and develop new understandings together.
4. The Knowledge is already in the Room
LSP unlocks hidden and constructs new knowledge. LSP fosters the understanding of the
system modelled. LSP sharpens the view for connecting purposes between organisation and
individual.
Picture Credit: Jeremy Keith , https://www.flickr.com/photos/adactio/377537734

Why LSP works 1/2
 While playing participants think outside the box creatively without
stress.
 Participants construct the models in a flow of intense playing.
 The models “emerge” out of the bricks at hand without any long-term
rational pre-design.
 Playing with and challenging the model constructs new knowledge
through self-reflection.
Picture Credit: Sonny Abesamis, https://www.flickr.com/photos/enerva/11057276504

Why LSP works 2/2
 As metaphors the models opens a wide door of interpretation and
fantasy.
 LSP engages communication: participants explain the metaphors of all
the model’s meanings.
 Building with the hands creates strong involvement and commitment.
“Hands-on”, “Minds-on” building.
Picture Credit: Wolfgang Lonien, https://www.flickr.com/photos/wjlonien/11027445953

Workshop Principles 1/5
 The facilitator sets the challenge and timelines, and guides the process.
 The model is your answer to the challenge.
 www.There plays-in-is business.no right com
or wrong answer in building with the bricks.

 “Stealing ideas” from the other participants is allowed.
 Playing with the brick unlocks and constructs new knowledge.
 www.Everyone plays-in-business.builds com
and everyone tells.

 Don’t have a workshop with your self about what to build – trust the
process: Think with your hands!
 Don’t assume, ASK yourself!
 Build systems, play scenarios, envision strategies – get commitments
and actions.

 The builder owns the model and its story.
 Accept the builder’s meaning and story in the model.
 www.Question plays-in-business.the model com
and its story – not the person.

 Take Responsibility for your own and the learning of the others.
 Finally: Have FUN!

The Method: The 4-step Core Process
These 4 procedures are fundamental to all LSP applications:
1. Challenge
2. Construction
3. Sharing
4. Reflection

The Method: The 4-step Core Process
These 4 procedures are fundamental to all LSP applications.
1. Challenge 2. Construction 3. Sharing 4. Reflection
Picture Credit: Julien GONG Min , https://www.flickr.com/photos/bfishadow/3634061465

The Method: 1. Challenge
In step 1 the facilitator pose a challenge. This challenge depends entirely on the issues and
topics the workshop shall address.
There is no standardised question set in LSP.
This question will determine the content of steps 2, and 3.
The results of steps 2 and 3 will serve as answer to the challenge raised.
Picture Credit: Jaap den Dulk , https://www.flickr.com/photos/11527081@N05/2940863843

The Method: 2. Construction
In step 2 the workshop participants image and build their models.
At this step very often a coarse story line of the story to be shared emerges.
Picture Credit: ben dalton , https://www.flickr.com/photos/noii/1362859802

The Method: 3. Sharing
In step 3 every participant shares the interpretation of her model – why the model is a valid
answer to the challenge.
This shared communication in the group ensures that all participants will be able to realise that a
variety of total different models can be valid answers.
And they will better understand the thinking and rational of each builder behind a model.

The Method: 4. Reflection
Step 4 – Reflection – can be done in two ways:
 After the builder had told his story the group and the facilitator ask questions to the model
explained: asking for more details on the meaning of parts of the model.
The builder provides the information wanted.
 After all models are explained the group summarise each model in one single sentence; e.g.:
“What me most impressed on model X.”
You can combine both.

The Method: Application Techniques
1. Building Individual Models and Stories
2. Building Shared Models and Stories
3. Creating a Landscape
4. Making Connections
5. Building a System
6. Playing Emergence and Decisions
7. Extracting Simple Guiding Principles
The AT 1-AT 7 are concrete applications resp. realisations of the 4-step core process.
AT 1-AT 7 is not a linear sequence. However a LSP workshop always starts from AT 1 you can
jump to the other techniques by your decision.
Which techniques and in which order will be applied depends on the workshop topics and
purpose.
Picture Credit: Plays-in-Business, customer-centric LEGO® Serious Play® Workshop

The Method: AT 1: Building Individual Models and Stories
The goal of AT 1 is to share individual and personal knowledge with the group.
In AT 1 each builder images and constructs an individual model for her one to answer the
question raised by the facilitator.
After building the builders shares their stories.
Picture Credit: Bill Ward , https://www.flickr.com/photos/billward/3640804476

The Method: AT 2: Building Shared Models and Stories
The goal of AT 2 is to create a shared understanding and consensus of certain topics.
The group consolidates all individual models in a common model agreed by all.
For this the participants integrate either (1) parts of the individual models, or (2) complete
individual models.
After integration the participants could extend the shared model with further bricks.

The Method: AT 3: Creating a Landscape
The goal of AT 3 is to analyse collections of individual models.
Participants analyse / categorise the collection of all individual models to see differences or
common patterns.
Within this inspections no original details or meanings are lost.

The Method: AT 4: Making Connections
The goal of AT 4 is to identify relationships between the meanings of two constructed models:
• Interfaces / breakpoints between parts of a (shared) model
• Relationships / dependencies between different (individual) models.
Connections are constructed by building physical links in using a chain, a tube, a string, or a
hose.
Connections can be strong, weak, or flexible.
Picture Credit: http:// istockphoto.com

The Method: AT 5: Building a System
A system of models emerges when multiple models are connect in a way that cascaded effects
occur.
AT 5 “Building a System” is an extension of AT 4 “Making Connections”.

The Method: AT 6: Playing Emergence and Decisions
The goal of AT 6 is to simulate the consequences of decisions by playing scenarios.
In AT 6 participants explore how the models or the landscape responds to dynamic changes /
event
E.g. “What would happen, if a weak connection is changed to a strong one?”; “what would
happen, if certain parts (of a model) are move far away, or near together?”

The Method: AT 7: Extracting Simple Guiding Principles
The goal of AT 7 is to support strategic decision making in the real world.
In AT 7 the participants develop high-level guidelines to implement in the real world actions /
decisions derived from the models built.
To transfer lessons learned in the LSP workshop, drill down these guidelines to most achievable,
realistic actions as much as possible.
AT 7 is a consequence of AT 6.
Picture Credit: Les Chatfield, https://www.flickr.com/photos/elsie/8326905483

How can I use LEGO® Serious Play®?
LEGO® Serious Play® is open source.
However, for best results, hire a trained LSP facilitator – like m e
Picture Credit: David Pickett, https://www.flickr.com/photos/fallentomato/15243811625/

Give LEGO® Serious Play® a Chance!
Solve with LEGO® Serious Play® your REAL problems:
Engagingly • Playfully • Constructively • Appreciatively • Innovatively
Picture Credit: Ellen Forsyth, https://www.flickr.com/photos/ellf/7094498773

Are you facing a complex problem and don’t know what to do next?
Michael Tarnowski, Certified LEGO Serious Play Facilitator
Picture Credit: Ellen Forsyth, https://www.flickr.com/photos/ellf/7094498773
1 click to get in touch with me!

References
Books / Websites
1. Per Kristiansen, Robert Rasmussen: Building a Better Business Using the Lego Serious Play Method.
John Wiley & Sons, 2014.
2. LinkedIn groups:
 https://www.linkedin.com/groups/LEGO-SERIOUS-PLAY-visit-wwwlegoseriousplaycom-39243
 https://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=4398137
3. Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/6463330677/
4. Websites:
• http://www.seriousplay.com
• http://seriousplaypro.com
Short version of this presentation:
LEGO Serious Play For Managers
http://bit.ly/pibLSP4Managers
Picture Credit: Julien GONG Min, https://www.flickr.com/photos/bfishadow/3634884928/

Questions? – Comments? – Interested in LEGO
Serious Play workshops, and Consultancy?
Drop me a note:
info@plays-in-business.com
Or call me:
+49-172-6915261 • +49-611-2056820
(cell phone/mobile) (regular phone)
Twitter: @M_Tarnowski, @PlaysInBusiness
Facebook: http://bit.ly/PiB-FB
LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/MT-LinkdIn
Xing: http://bit.ly/MT-Xing
SlideShare: http://bit.ly/MT-SShare
This document may be further distributed free-of-charge in its original, complete form only. Please credit Plays-in-Business.com.
All images used are – if not stated otherwise – taken from flickr.com under Common Creative License.

 Trained LEGO Serious Play Facilitator
 Trained Innovation Games Facilitator
 Management 3.0 certified Facilitator
 Certifed Scrum Master, Agile Coaching
 ISO 15504/Automotive SPiCE Assessor
 Requirements Engineering & Management
consultancy
 Quality Assurance & Management consultancy
 Project Management & Configuration Management
consultancy
ISO 15504 Assessor
Industrial Sectors:
Automotive, Finance, Logistics & Public Transport,
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Plays-In-Business.com • Fritz-Kalle-Str. 4 • D-65187 Wiesbaden • Fon: +49-172-6915261 • Fax: +49-3212-1312401
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