Dot-voting is a simple and effective method to prioritize tasks in a team workshop. It helps you to gather feedback, identify preferences, and make decisions based on the collective wisdom of your group. In this article, you will learn how to use dot-voting to prioritize tasks in a team workshop, and what benefits and challenges it can bring.
Dot-voting is a participatory technique that involves giving each participant a set of stickers or markers, and asking them to place them on the tasks or options that they consider the most important, relevant, or feasible. The tasks or options are usually written on sticky notes, cards, or a flipchart, and displayed in a visible area. The number of dots that each participant can use depends on the number and complexity of the tasks or options, and the level of consensus or diversity that you want to achieve. Typically, each participant gets three to five dots, and can distribute them as they wish, either by putting all of them on one task or option, or by spreading them across several ones.
Dot voting helps to engage and solict workshop participants perspectives. As well, it gets them up and moving around and connects the participants in a unique fashion. As a Facilitator, I find it helpful in synergizing a group.
Dot-voting is a great way to operationalize N/3, where N=a list of tasks to narrow the discussion. Another way to prioritize is 1v1...take the list, and vote the first item vs the second, then the third, and down the list. Do the same with 2 vs. 3, etc. The end tally will drive the prioritization.
Dot-voting is a collaborative task prioritization technique where team members use dots to vote on listed tasks. By tallying the votes, the team identifies and finalizes prioritized tasks, fostering collective decision-making and consensus.
To prioritize tasks using dot-voting, team members place dots next to tasks they consider most important. Tally the dots to identify the highest-priority tasks.
Dot-voting is a useful tool to prioritize tasks in a team workshop for several reasons. First, it is easy to implement and understand, and does not require any special equipment or software. Second, it is engaging and interactive, and allows everyone to have a voice and express their preferences. Third, it is transparent and visual, and shows the results and patterns of the voting process clearly and instantly. Fourth, it is flexible and adaptable, and can be used for various purposes, such as ranking, filtering, selecting, or validating tasks or options. Fifth, it is collaborative and democratic, and fosters a sense of ownership and commitment among the participants.
I have had very good experiences with dot voting. It's quick, brings movement into the meeting and is a very direct and transparent method for quick coordination, structuring and distribution of tasks. A haptic experience of one's own effectiveness is created and this promotes commitment and team spirit. Dot voting also works hybrid in mixed meetings to work together in person and virtually.
To use dot-voting to prioritize tasks in a team workshop, you need to follow some basic steps. First, you need to define the goal and scope of the voting process, and communicate them clearly to the participants. For example, you might want to vote on the most urgent, impactful, or innovative tasks or options, or on the ones that align best with your vision, values, or strategy. Second, you need to generate and display the tasks or options that you want to vote on, and make sure that they are clear, concise, and consistent. You can use brainstorming, affinity mapping, or other methods to create and organize them. Third, you need to assign and distribute the dots to the participants, and explain the rules and criteria of the voting process. For example, you might want to limit the number of dots per task or option, or allow multiple votes on the same one. Fourth, you need to conduct and monitor the voting process, and give the participants enough time and space to place their dots. You can also encourage them to discuss and justify their choices with each other, or to ask questions if they are unsure or confused. Fifth, you need to analyze and present the results of the voting process, and identify the most popular, controversial, or surprising tasks or options. You can also use the results to plan, prioritize, or execute your next steps, or to generate further feedback or input.
Dot-voting can bring many benefits to your team workshop, such as helping to prioritize tasks or options based on collective input and judgment, engaging and empowering participants, saving time and energy, and creating a visual representation of group preferences. It can also help to avoid bias, confusion, conflict, lengthy discussions, and unsatisfying outcomes. Dot-voting can be used as a reference or a guide for future actions.
Dot-voting can present some issues during team workshops, such as being influenced by group dynamics or personal agendas, and thus leading to conformity or manipulation. It can also be limited by the number and quality of tasks or options presented, potentially missing out on important ones. Furthermore, dot-voting can be ambiguous or subjective, lacking a clear rationale or criteria for the voting process and causing confusion among participants. Finally, it can be superficial or incomplete, overlooking nuances and implications of tasks or options that require further exploration or validation.
Need to be clear on the activities and tasks that you are looking to prioritize. The people involved in the DOT process also need to be knowledgeable enough to understand the differences, importance and overall goals that the team is driving for. If this is understood by the team the process will be effective. Up front works needs to be done to get the benefits.
Wenn alle im gleichen Raum stehen und Personen zuschauen, traut man sich nicht die Punkte dahin zu kleben wo man m?chte. Geht jeder einzeln rein, f?llt das weg. Allerdings sieht jeder die bereits geklebten Punkte. D.h. Selbst wenn man eine andere Meinung hat, klebt man sie eventuell eher da hin wo bereits viele sind. Einmal wegen Gruppenzwang oder dem Gefühl die eigenen Punkte bringen nichts, da sowieso nicht daran gearbeitet wird dann.
To improve dot-voting and overcome its challenges, you can use various tips and tricks. For instance, different colors, shapes, or sizes of dots can indicate different levels of importance, urgency, or feasibility. Additionally, a scale, matrix, or criteria-based framework can structure and guide the voting process. To gain more insight into the participants' choices, you can use a pre-voting or post-voting discussion. Furthermore, a combination of dot-voting and other methods such as ranking, rating, or weighting can complement and enrich the voting process.