The energy of games: Report on the practical application of Lean-Agile principles

As a trainer, I often experience how intensive and energy-sapping workshops can be. But recently I noticed something special: Despite the late afternoon, the participants still had an amazing amount of energy. The source of this energy? The games we had used throughout the day to teach Lean-Agile principles. This reminded me once again how games are not only an entertaining element in training courses, but also an extremely effective way of bringing complex concepts to life.

Experiencing lean-agile principles instead of being told about them

During a workshop, I don't just want to explain lean and agile, I want to make it tangible. This is particularly important if the participants have had little real contact with agile working methods. Lean principles such as continuous improvement and waste elimination as well as Agile principles such as iterative development and customer satisfaction are of crucial importance for companies. But how do you ensure that these concepts are not only understood, but also put into practice?

The power of games in knowledge transfer

Games are not just a pastime; they are powerful tools for making abstract concepts tangible. During a workshop, we used various games that were not only fun, but also provided deep insights into Lean and Agile principles. The decisions and actions that the participants made during the game often reflected the real challenges and opportunities that companies face.

There is plenty of material on this, and I would like to recommend three sources as examples:

• A classic is the book "Agile Games - short & sweet" by Marc Bleß and Dennis Wagner from O'Reilly Verlag.
• The Fraunhofer Institute has categorized various agile games and provides a table for download in the blog article: https://www.iese.fraunhofer.de/blog/agile-games/.
• There is also an extensive collection of games on https://tastycupcakes.org/, an open platform founded by Don McGreal and Michael McCullough.

The win-win-win of gaming

During my workshop, I realized that the importance of games is threefold. In addition to imparting the actual knowledge in a playful way, the participants also had enough energy for short theoretical units (yes, there were actually some). The games loosened up the day in such a way that there was still energy for "more" later in the afternoon.

The third element relates to team building, which took place on the day:

• Games require teamwork and improve communication between participants as they learn to work together and give constructive feedback.
• Games create a sense of bonding and team spirit as the team overcomes challenges and celebrates victories together.
• Games provide an opportunity to showcase and develop individual skills and strengths, making each participant a valuable contributor to the team.
• Games provide a welcome break from the daily work routine and allow participants to relax, de-stress and increase motivation.

Games as an effective tool for teaching Lean-Agile principles

Games not only serve to entertain participants, but are also an extremely effective means of communicating complex concepts such as Lean and Agile. Their ability to keep participants' energy high while providing deep insights makes them an indispensable part of any training or workshop.

Especially at the beginning of a consultancy, we often conduct workshops with our clients to bring the participants up to a common level of experience. The content can be varied and can of course be adapted and prepared depending on the situation.

Have I aroused your interest in a workshop such as our "Agile Foundations" training? Feel free to contact us - we will come by with our game case!

Christoph Piotrowski, Head of Enterprise Agility, catworkx GmbH

christoph.piotrowski@catworkx.com