The project management board game is a prototype I used with a team when building a PMO and training teams. Using gamification principles, the board game supports team creativity. It also fosters competition. The facilitator can adjust the exercise’s questions to fit the team’s experience level.
Instructions
The instructions for playing the project management board game are simple:
PMBOK Card Deck & Project Management Questions
The deck of cards used with the game board is essentially any PMBOK study flashcard set. Answer the text question correctly, and you get to move the # rolled on the single dice.
Many PMBOK Study apps are also available on Google Play.
Additional Option: If a PMBOK Card Deck & Dice create too much ‘randomness’ in the game, use only the dice. Remove the cards from the game. Use only the dice if the combination creates excessive randomness. This means not using the cards. This would further emphasize the challenges discussed when moving around the board.
Identifying the Project to use with the Game Board
The narrative used during play is flexible. It allows the ‘project manager to lead’ the discussion. The storyline/project business case builds out as the players move through the board.
Ideal Project Characteristics: Enterprise, Complex, Layered, and Relevant.
The Project Management Board Game can be used as a precursor to an actual project’s planning stage, with outputs from the game being used as input (strategies, etc.) to the actual project’s planning process and artifacts.
Several Groups — Option
Alternatively, for several groups, the players can help build out the narrative/storyline during their team’s play — to help test their knowledge of project complexity, barriers, opportunities, process groups, and knowledge areas;
Identify relevant and familiar project examples to incorporate into the board game. Keep the team’s play relevant to their project. Showcase experience.
Single Group — Option
Another option is to have all players work together. The facilitator asks PMBOK related questions. They probe requirements, risks, and strategies as the team moves through the board.
Project Type — Company Card Deck, Option
Another option is for each company to have its own ‘project type card deck’. These can be numbered. They can be selected with a roll of the dice. Alternatively, options are determined by pulling a card out of the deck. These cards randomly identify the type of project. They include a brief blurb of the scope and risks. The team will be ‘working on’ this project while playing the board game.
This keeps the challenge relevant. It is tailored to the team’s skill level. It allows pivoting as different project types/products/industries are taken on by the team (in their work).
Roles
Facilitator: Manages the team, has subject matter expertise, the authority to approve tools, resources, and project management approach. Knows how to achieve success with the specific project type referenced in the game. Has expertise within the project environment.
Responsibility: Manages the workflow and questions. Provides suggestions and information when needed. Identifies issues, gaps, barriers, and opportunities that might occur during the implementation of the project (board game roadmap).
Project Team – Players: Ideally this includes SME’s for all works-streams. Includes the project manager, assistant, governance roles, communications roles, integration roles, and authority to approve the project, approach, and resources. Each of the ‘roles’ or ‘hats’ should be identified for the team playing the board game. If any roles are missing this should be identified, as well as the strategies for addressing this gap.
Responsibility: Helps identify the project type that will be implemented and discussed during the board game. Identifies suggestions, opportunities, best practices, barriers, and missing information when appropriate. All members of the board game PM team need to act as leaders for their respective areas. They should also help identify and answer questions throughout the game.
Support: The group can also decide if they need a timekeeper. A board game scrum-master can help monitor participation and engagement. Note-taking might be suggested to document insights. This can help keep the team focused on each of the issues highlighted during gameplay.
Steps: 1, 2, 3………
Step 1: Select Team
Step 2: Select Roles
Step 3: Select Project(s). Note, the game may be easier to facilitate if one group and one project type is emphasized. Share printouts of the gameboard or project the gameboard on the wall (or table).
Step 4: Role Dice
Step 5: Select PMBOK Card. Test Question.
Step 6: If answer to test question is correct, move # of steps identified in the single dice roll).
Step 7: Facilitator continues to build discussion and analysis of the project’s implementation. The discussion includes opportunities and risks. It also covers process groups and knowledge areas. Additionally, missing information is considered.
Estimate play duration: 1-1.5 hours.
Additional Considerations: Governance, GAP Analysis, and RACI. Consider the Stakeholder Roadmap and Deployment Roadmap. Also include Requirements Analysis and Change Control Plan. Review the Risk Management Plan and Communications Plan. Prepare the Change Plan, consider Regulatory Requirements, and comply with Corporate Policies & Procedures. Choose between Agile or Waterfall, etc.
Standard Components Suggested for Every Game: Dice, Board, PMBOK Flashcard Deck, Roles.
Optional Components that can be Developed by Your Team: Whiteboard, PowerPoint Slides, PMBOK Templates, Company/Project Specific Flashcard Deck
Closeout: Lessons Learned. Insights. Best Practices. Wish List.
Board Game Principles
- Learning: All questions are useful. There are no dumb questions.
- Participation: Everyone is expected to participate. Silence can result in poor project implementation.
- Respect: The group is to be respectful of all ideas, suggestions, and questions.
- Problem Solving: Challenges are to be directed at the idea, not the person. See above.
- Iterative Planning: Project implementation includes many unknowns. Our understanding of the project will change & grow during its implementation.
- Player Input: Players can also help facilitate engagement of the board game. They do this by identifying issues and opportunities. These are aspects they would anticipate with this type of project and in this project environment.
- Adding Information During Play: Blank spaces on the board can be considered ‘unknowns.’ The facilitator actively adds relevant information to the ‘story’ during play.
- Success: Winning with board games often means whoever hits the last step earliest is the winner. With this board game, hitting the final destination shows that all those crossing the line are winners. It effectively means navigating the issues and barriers during all project implementations. The ultimate decision of success is by the customer (on actual projects) and the facilitator/SME (during the board game).
“The game ultimately feels a bit like playing ‘dungeons and dragons’ but with a project management context!”
Workshop Participant
Available for Download with Purchase of the Project Management Blueprint
A copy of the project management board game is available for download. You can use it privately with the purchase of the Project Management Blueprint.
Physical Board (in development) to be made available on GameCrafter with deck, dice, and player pieces.
Android App on Google Play
Publication
Android App
Travis Barker, MPA GCPM
Innovate Vancouver
Innovate Vancouver is a Technology and Business Innovation Consulting Service located in Vancouver, BC. Contact Innovate Vancouver to help on your next project!