A Game Plan helps envision how to Decide on Bold Steps in Problem-Solving

Autodesk got its start when we democratized CAD technology by making it available on personal computers that were much less expensive than special-purpose workstations so that small mom and pop architect shops could graduate from using their drafting tables. We have never forgotten that and still serve Mom and Pop shops today, but in addition to small shops, we also have large firms as customers. For them, we are often a trusted advisor instead of just another vendor. Part of the reason is that we work closely with them to help them solve their workflow-related problems.

One of the things that some of our larger customers take advantage of is our Future of Making workshops. In these workshops, a customer identifies a problem that they are having, and Autodesk works with them to apply problem-solving techniques in pursuit of solutions. Over a series of blog posts, I thought I'd share some of those techniques.

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One approach to customer-workflow problem-solving is to:

1. FRAME THE CONTEXT — What is changing in your business?
2. ANALYZE FORCES — What is the impact to your business?
3. EXPLORE OPTIONS — What might you do differently?
4. ENVISION YOUR FUTURE — What should you do differently?
5. DECIDE BOLD STEPS — What will you do differently?

A variety of problem-solving techniques can be applied during these steps. As its name suggests, one of the techniques that can be used to DECIDE BOLD STEPS is to use a Game Plan:

The Game Plan brings together the intangible elements of the participants' collective vision with the tangible elements of ownership, timeline, project milestone, success factors, and challenges. In one diagram, the Game Plan provides a satisfying view of the key aspects of a solution and a feeling of accomplishment and resolution.

The elements of a Game Plan include:

• Vision Statement - clear description of the ideal intended end-state
• Goal Statements - specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound goals to attain
• Team - snapshot of "who is at the table" with owners who are accountable and participating in the solution
• Action Steps - key milestones of the solution
• Success Factors - factors necessary for the solution to go smoothly
• Challenges - risks, obstacles, and predictable factors that could derail the solution

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The Game Plan is a Grove Consultants International technique.

Technique sharing is alive in the lab.