|
Program of
Events
Upcoming
Events
Calendar
Past
Events
Calendar
 |
LFH Workshops
These workshops are based on one of several historical
projects taken from the series and are designed to make the learning
experience as interesting and engaging as possible. In the words of a recent
workshop participant: "It is learning in a different way, in fact, you
forget it is a learning exercise because you get so engaged in the story."
Workshop Formats
The format
is similar for all workshops and involves setting the background to the
historical
project
and the circumstances to why it happened. It then typically follows a
timeline through the project stages that invariably look at the
requirements, design, build, test, and implementation. Time is spent in
analyzing problems faced by projects, and their resolution.
Once the context of the
historical
project is
known "what if scenarios" can be played out, that is these are used to
reflect the potential effect under different assumptions. For example, had a
principal character made a different decision, or taken an
alternative
course of
action, what could have been the potential outcomes. This becomes a very
real discussion when faced with
what if
scenarios
like those related to Captain Smith of the Titanic.
Workshops to Meet Present and Future Needs of
the Business
Through exercises
the workshop analyzes how the
historical
project solved
complex problems of the day, which provide insights into solving some of
today’s more challenging business problems. Clarity can be brought to how
issues or risks were managed.
Workshop Benefits
Entertaining and
full of intriguing historical details, the workshops help participants see
the impact of historical decisions and compare these to the ones that they
make every day. This helps explain the story and drives home some simple
lessons.
One of the most exciting
aspects of the workshop is when participants start to relate clear parallels
to their own organization and projects. Taking lessons from the historical
project can start a feisty discussion on how today's projects are tackled
within an organization. For example, in a recent workshop (Project Lessons
from the Great Escape) the discussion was sparked by how Roger Bushell had
set up the project charter, and was compared to how well projects were
initiated or not within the organization.
Workshop Exercises
Working in teams
the participants take part in a series of exercises which create a different
set of outcomes. These are then discussed collectively with all the teams
(the overall audience) and the responses are compared. Exercises are
pre-selected by workshop organizers in advance of the workshop as learning
objectives are being determined.
Examples of Workshop Exercises
With the Titanic
workshop there are two main topic areas for the exercises: Risk Management
and Issues Management. The risk management knowledge area is core to
project management and the Titanic story. Each of the exercises will have
questions related to risk, based on the phase in the project lifecycle. Each
team creates and maintains a risk log based on what were the perceived risks
in Titanic’s project phases.
-
Requirements – e.g.,
addressing functional and non-functional requirements risks.
-
Design and build – e.g.,
various risks in crossing the Atlantic and how a design could mitigate
these.
-
Test and implementation
– e.g., risks in limited sea trials.
-
Live – e.g., risks in
operational decisions How could these risks be mitigated?
Workshop Lengths
The workshops run as either a
half-day (4 hours) or
full-day (8
hours) workshop. The half-day
workshops focus on key project knowledge areas, pre-agreed up front. The
full-day workshop
takes a broader look at all the
project knowledge areas.
Workshop Setup
For the workshop
the facility needs to be large enough to accommodate an audience of at least
30 participants divided into 4 teams of 7-8 per team. Each team sits
together in the room (round tables if possible – left diagram).
Workshop Facility Requirements
The workshop is
usually located offsite, or at least away from the daily work environment of
the participants. The room typically requires a microphone, projector,
screen, and four flipcharts. The facilitator brings a laptop and provides
handout materials 2 weeks ahead of the workshop.
Workshop Schedule
The 8 hour day
breaks out into four modules, where each consists of:
-
Presentation - Topic (60
minutes)
-
Exercise preparation –
each team answers questions and prepares a response (15 minutes).
-
Exercise presentation –
each team presents the exercise results, through a team representative,
to the overall group, to promote an open and ensuing discussion, and
questions (15 minutes).
|
Timing |
Length |
Description |
|
9:00 - 10:00 |
Presentation #1 |
Intro and Requirements Phase |
|
10:00 – 10:15 |
Exercise preparation |
|
|
10:15– 10:30 |
Exercise presentation |
|
|
10:30 – 10:45 |
Break |
|
|
10:45–
11:45 |
Presentation #2 |
Design and Build Phases |
|
11:45 – 12:00 |
Exercise preparation |
|
|
12:00– 12:15 |
Exercise presentation |
|
|
12:15 – 13:00 |
Lunch |
|
|
13:00 – 14:00 |
Presentation #3 |
Test and Implement Phases |
|
14:00 – 14:15 |
Exercise preparation |
|
|
14:15 – 14:30 |
Exercise presentation |
|
|
14:30 – 14:45 |
Break |
|
|
14:45 – 15:45 |
Presentation #4 |
Live Phase and wrap up |
|
15:45 -16:00 |
Exercise preparation |
|
|
16:00 – 16:15 |
Exercise presentation |
|
|
16:15 – 16:45 |
Wrap up |
Collect feedback |
Workshop Fees
These vary based
on length of workshop, whether the organization is non-profit or not,
whether the workshop is part of an overall conference or event, and length
of travel involved.
 |
