Speaking

Risk Resistors and Opportunity Obtainers: The Power of Agile Digital Policy

Agile2019, August 5-9, 2019, Washington, D.C.

By
Kristina Podnar
,
on
May 8, 2019

This is a fun and engaging workshop that takes users on a bit of a journey around a topic that is usually hard to digest and explains how to break it down into a manageable process with realistic tasks. I use handouts with a checklist that asks users to reflect on their own organization, which quickly brings into focus their unique challenges and issues so that the rest of the workshop is personal for them. While we do discuss methodology, it is in the context of case studies and what works (and has been disastrous) in other organizations. Not only is this a learning opportunity, but an experience that inspires attendees to get back to their office and do something meaningful to enable digital operations.

This article I wrote for Brand Quarterly gives a nice breakdown of the 5-day agile process:
The breakdown of the workshop usually is as follows:

  1. Introduction: The case for agile digital policy development (10 minutes) a. Overview of traditional, extensive approach for enterprise digital policy development b. Advantages of the agile approach to policy & examples of success
  2. Individual exercise and discussion: What digital policy does your organization need? (15 minutes) a. Handout where we inventory and discuss digital policy b. Typical pitfalls (over defining policy, not enough policy, sweet spot)
  3. Group exercise: Let’s develop digital policy! (20 minutes)  a. In groups we work through roleplaying to define policy, overcome obstacles, reach consensus b. Participants are assigned perspective to represent in defining policy (marketing, UX/digital development, communications, IT, security & privacy, etc.)
  4. Discussion: Where are our gaps? (20 minutes) a. The policy written in the group needs to work in a policy ecosystem and not have overlap or haps with other policies b. Invite group leaders to share their policy and help identify gaps or where their policies intersect with another group’s policy c. Summarize gaps and where we could iterate on the policies to bring them to finalization
  5. Conclusion (10 minutes) a. With our policies developed, how do we extend them to the next level of policy? b. Review of the policy lifecycle for distributing and embedding policy into the organization (hint: it’s an agile approach!) c. Lessons to take back to the office

Please visit Agile2019 website for details.

Photo by Sharosh Rajasekher on Unsplash

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