pre-work instructions & goals - tom peterstompeters.com/pdfs/wowprework.pdf · you love!...

This package contains activities to prepare you to participatefully in our upcoming workshop: WOW!Projects.™

Enclosed you will find:

A letter from Tom

Six activities with specific goals:

1. Belbin Self-Perception Inventory: Complete this immediately!Please fax your response to our office in Cincinnati at 513.683.4708. If you have difficulty, please contactAnne Carter at 1.888.221.8685.

2. Project Selection: Select a current project that requires a healthy dose of innovation.

3. WOW!Projects™ Planner: to make project status “concrete”.

4. Innovation Assessment: Gauge the degree to which youconsider your company innovative.

5. Personal Biography: Prepare an innovative biography tobring to the workshop as a method of introduction.

6. Innovation Example: Bring an example of any innovationyou love!

Pre-WorkInstructions & Goals

READ THIS FIRST!

Our expectations for the WOW!Projects™ workshop arestraightforward. This workshop will be enable you to:

1. Create WOW! for any project by using the four steps ofWOW!Projects.™

2. Apply 50 innovative ideas that will make a project WOW!

3. Maximize team roles for innovation.

4. Adopt a fast prototype approach for ensuring a project’ssuccess.

5. Learn how to overcome the three major barriers to innovation.

6. Rethink the design and beauty of every project.

7. Gain solid sponsorship through innovative communications.

8. Add execution to the primary focus of innovation.

9. Experiment with ways to apply one of the four WOW!Projects™ stages to your own project.

10. To make specific plans to develop our project using theWOW!Projects™ methodology, and to gain feedback fromcolleagues.

Welcome aboard! We look forward to being with you!

© tompeterscompany! 2001

Dear WOW!Projects™ participant:

We believe we are at the beginning of a White-CollarRevolution. So we’ve been asking ourselves this question:when the productivity tools take all the grunt work out ofwhite-collar jobs, just as the forklift took it out of blue-collarjobs, what will be left for us?

Our answer: what’s left for us is to transform assignmentsinto genuine value-added-through-creativity-and-intellectual-prowess PROJECTS. Hence, our relentless, obsessive pursuitof the project that matters, the project that makes a difference,or, what we call, the WOW! Project.

The experience you’re about to participate in—theWOW!Projects™ workshop—is a laboratory in which you can“seriously play”—to quote our friend, author Michael Schrage—with the concepts of inventing, selling, and implementingWOW!Projects™. This is a different approach to projectmanagement than you’ve likely seen before. The goal of thisworkshop is to give you new tools to differentiateyour projects.

Wherever you are, we suspect that work—and your work inparticular—is undergoing transformation. We hope thatWOW!Projects™ is a useful way of thinking through your owncreative response to “ALL THIS.”

Cheers,

Tom Peters

The BelbinSelf-Perception Inventory

WOW!P R O J E C T S

INTERPLACE

Instructions:

For each of the following sections distribute a total ofexactly 10 points between the sentences that you think mostaccurately describe your behavior. These points may bedistributed between several sentences.

Try to avoid both extremes of giving one sentence all tenpoints or allocating one point to every sentence in eachsection.

Please allocate whole numbers only – no fractions ordecimals. If you have no points to allocate to a sentence,please leave the box blank.

After you have completed all of the sections in this booklet,transfer all scoring to the answer sheet provided. Thecompleted answer sheet must be faxed to 513.683.4708 forscoring at least one week prior to the workshop!

Section 1.WHAT I BELIEVE I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A TEAM:

1.0 I think I can quickly see and take advantage of new opportunities.

1.1 My comments on both general and specific points are well received.

1.2 I can work well with a very wide range of people.

1.3 Producing ideas is one of my natural assets.

1.4 My ability rests on being able to draw people out whenever I detect they have something of value to contribute to group objectives.

1.5 I can be relied upon to finish any task I undertake.

1.6 My technical knowledge and experience is usuallymy major asset.

1.7 I am prepared to be blunt and outspoken in thecause of making the right things happen.

1.8 I can usually tell whether a plan or idea will fit a particular situation.

1.9 I can offer a reasoned and unbiased case for alternative courses of action.

tompeterscompany! 2001

Section 2.IF I HAVE A POSSIBLE SHORTCOMING IN TEAMWORK, IT COULD BE THAT:

2.0 I am not at ease unless meetings are well-structured, controlled and generally well conducted.

2.1 I am inclined to be too generous toward otherswho have a valid viewpoint that has not been given a proper airing.

2.2 I am reluctant to contribute unless the subject deals with an area I know well.

2.3 I have a tendency to talk a lot once the group gets on to a new topic.

2.4 I am inclined to undervalue the importance of my own contributions.

2.5 My objective outlook makes it difficult for me tojoin in readily and enthusiastically with colleagues.

2.6 I am sometimes seen as forceful and authoritarianwhen dealing with important issues.

2.7 I find it difficult to lead from the front, perhapsbecause I am over-responsive to group atmosphere.

2.8 I am apt to get too caught up in ideas that occurto me and so lose track of what is happening.

2.9 I am reluctant to express my opinions on proposalsor plans that are incomplete or insufficiently detailed.


Section 3.WHEN INVOLVED IN A PROJECT WITH OTHERPEOPLE:

3.0 I have an aptitude for influencing people withoutpressuring them.

3.1 I am generally effective in preventing careless mistakes or omissions from spoiling the successof an operation.

3.2 I like to press for action to make sure that the meeting does not waste time or lose sight of themain objective.

3.3 I can be counted on to contribute something original.

3.4 I am always ready to back a good suggestion inthe common interest.

3.5 One can be sure I will just be my natural self.

3.6 I am quick to see the possibilities in new ideasand developments.

3.7 I try to maintain my sense of professionalism.

3.8 I believe my capacity for judgment can help to bring about the right decisions.

3.9 I can be relied on to bring an organized approachto the demands of the job.


Section 4.MY CHARACTERISTIC APPROACH TO GROUP WORKIS THAT:

4.0 I maintain a quiet interest in getting to know colleagues better.

4.1 I contribute where I know what I am talking about.

4.2 I am not reluctant to challenge the view of othersor to hold a minority view myself.

4.3 I can usually find a line of argument to refute unsound propositions.

4.4 I think I have a talent for making things work once a plan has to be put into operation.

4.5 I prefer to avoid the obvious and to open up lines that have not been explored.

4.6 I bring a touch of perfectionism to any job I undertake.

4.7 I like to be the one to make contacts outside thegroup or the firm.

4.8 I enjoy the social side of working relationships.

4.9 While I am interested in hearing all views, I haveno hesitation in making up my mind once a decision has to be made.


Section 5.I GAIN SATISFACTION IN A JOB BECAUSE:

5.0 I enjoy analyzing situations and weighing all thepossible choices.

5.1 I am interested in finding practical solutions to problems.

5.2 I like to feel I am fostering good working relationships.

5.3 I can have a strong influence on decisions.

5.4 I have a chance of meeting new people with different ideas.

5.5 I can get people to agree on priorities and objectives.

5.6 I feel in my element where I can give a task myfull attention.

5.7 I can find an opportunity to stretch my imagination.

5.8 I feel that I am using my special qualifications and training to advantage.

5.9 I usually find a job gives me the chance to express myself.


Section 6.IF I AM SUDDENLY GIVEN A DIFFICULT TASK WITHLIMITED TIME AND UNFAMILIAR PEOPLE:

6.0 I usually succeed in spite of the circumstances.

6.1 I like to read up as much as I conveniently can on the subject.

6.2 I would feel like devising a solution of my own and then try to sell it to the group.

6.3 I would be ready to work with the person who showed the most positive approach.

6.4 I would find some way of reducing the size of the task by establishing how different individualscan best contribute.

6.5 My natural sense of urgency would help to ensurethat we did not fall behind schedule.

6.6 I believe I would keep cool and maintain my capacity to think straight.

6.7 In spite of conflicting pressures I would press ahead with whatever needed to be done.

6.8 I would take the lead if the group was making no progress.

6.9 I would open discussions with a view to stimulatingnew thoughts and getting something moving.


Section 7.WITH REFERENCE TO THE PROBLEMS I EXPERIENCEWHEN WORKING IN GROUPS:

7.0 I am apt to over-react when people hold up progress.

7.1 Some people criticize me for being too analytical.

7.2 My desire to check that we get the important details right is not always welcome.

7.3 I tend to show boredom unless I am actively engaged with stimulating people.

7.4 I find it difficult to get started unless the goals are clear.

7.5 I am sometimes poor at putting across complexpoints that occur to me.

7.6 I am conscious of demanding from others the things I cannot do myself.

7.7 I find others do not give me enough opportunityto say all I want to say.

7.8 I am inclined to feel I am wasting my time and would do better on my own.

7.9 I hesitate to express my personal views in frontof difficult or powerful people.


The Belbin Self-Perception Inventory

For each section distribute a total of exactly 10 points between the sentences that youthink most accurately describe your behavior. These points may be distributed betweenseveral sentences.

Try to avoid both extremes of giving one sentence all ten points or allocating one pointto every sentence in each section. Please allocate whole numbers only – no fractions ordecimals. If you have no points to allocate to a sentence, please leave the box blank.

Instructions:

Answer Sheet

Name: Date:

Organization:

URGENT: This answer sheet must be faxed to 513.683.4708 for scoringAT LEAST ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE WORKSHOP!!


Section 1

1.0

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

1.6

1.7

1.8

1.9

Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Section 6 Section 7

2.0

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.8

2.9

3.0

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

3.8

3.9

4.0

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

4.9

5.0

5.1

5.2

5.3

5.4

5.5

5.6

5.7

5.8

5.9

6.0

6.1

6.2

6.3

6.4

6.5

6.6

6.7

6.8

6.9

7.0

7.1

7.2

7.3

7.4

7.5

7.6

7.7

7.8

7.9

10101010101010TOTAL 70

MARK MARK MARK MARK MARK MARK MARK


Participant Biography

1. Review your current projects. Select the one among themthat you feel could benefit most from some serious innovation. It could be something like a new product idea, a new reorganization of your workplace, a redesignof your customer service focus or another process, a reinvention of your hiring practices, an internal study ofcompany communications, a reexamination of training programs—ANY project that you want to exert some influence over to produce a new, more memorable outcome.

The project you select should be one that fits the followingcriteria:

1. Is less than 50% through its completion cycle2. Is one that is important to you personally3. Needs to advance to the next level or two of impact

2.Select just one and be prepared on the first evening to describe this project to two or three other participants in just THREE MINUTES. You may use visual aids, music,dance, or other props or methods to help you describe your project.

3.List the key milestones required to complete the projecton the WOW!Projects™ Planner enclosed and bring it tothe workshop.

Project SelectionWOW!P R O J E C T S


Participant BiographyWOW!Projects™ PlannerWOW!P R O J E C T S

The WOW!Projects™ Planner is a tool that you will useduring the WOW!Projects™ Workshop to help make yourproject status “concrete”.

The Planner will help you incorporate the WOW! Projectmethodology into your own project.

In preparation for using the WOW!Projects™ Planner, we askthat you identify 4 or 5 key milestones of your project andlist them below. A milestone can be defined as a significantevent or stage in your project.

Project Milestones:

Bring this completed card with you to the workshop.

Instructions

On the following two pages you will find a series of images.These images have been selected to help you gauge thedegree to which you consider your company innovative.

Your task is to select two to six images from the followingtwo pages that you feel best represent your company’scurrent practice concerning innovation. Each image mayindicate a practice, procedure, or dynamic that encouragesor discourages innovation. Once you have circled the imagesyou feel are most representative, turn to the back page andrecord your thoughts as to why you chose these images.

Because this assessment is different than most, someindividuals report that it takes a moment or two to sortthrough and begin to select images. This is a symbolic,rather than numeric assessment, so you may find that yourthinking process shifts. This shift in perspective may leadyou to some new or interesting insights.

After selecting your images and recording your impressions,record which of your thoughts indicates that innovation inyour company is being advanced or held back. You mayalso add other ideas to this summary page that are notsuggested by the insights.

The summary notes you make on the last page will becomean important part of the workshop discussion and experience.


Innovation AssessmentWOW!P R O J E C T S


Summary: The reasons I selected these images:

Use the area below to record your thoughts concerning whichforces in your organization are advancing innovation andwhich are holding back innovation. Analyze your impressionsfrom above and add any additional thoughts you may have.

Advancing Innovation Holding Back Innovation

Normally when a person attends a workshop they are askedstandard, mundane questions like:

• Who are you?• What do you do?• How long have you been in your current position?• Where do you live?

For this workshop things will be different.We want you to bring to the workshop a creative, newbiography that meets the following criteria:

• Innovative• Creative• Images as well as words• A description of what it’s like to be you• Identification of your current projects or goals• Important things about you that you would want

others to know

Examples:

• Create cartoon life histories• Assemble a mobile, a hat, a sculpture• Design a music cd cover art describing your life• Draw stick figures to identify key symbols that explain

your life• Use old family photos in a photo journal approach• Write accurate, but inventive humorous biographies• Shoot homemade video tapes, with and without interviews

from family and friends.

Bring your innovative biography with you to the workshop.You will have the opportunity to use it to introduce yourselfand explain what you think is important.


Personal BiographyWOW!P R O J E C T S


Participant Biography

What do you consider innovative?

Please identify an example of something that you thinkrepresents an innovation.

This could be a product, process, customer service transaction,event, or other innovation. You need to be prepared todiscuss why you think it is innovative. If you can, bring theproduct or some representation of the product or processwith you.

Innovation ExampleWOW!P R O J E C T S

pre-work instructions & goals - tom peterstompeters.com/pdfs/wowprework.pdf · you love!...

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