Lightning Decision Jam For Fast Decision-Making

The Lightning Decision Jam (LDJ) is a means of making fast decisions that provide quick direction. The Lightning Decision Jam was developed by design agency AJ&Smart in response to the inefficiency of business meetings. Borrowing ideas from the core principles of design sprints, AJ&Smart created the Lightning Decision Jam.

Aspect	Explanation
Methodology Overview	Lightning Decision Jam (LDJ) is a collaborative decision-making technique and workshop format introduced by AJ&Smart, a design and innovation consultancy. LDJ is designed to streamline and accelerate the decision-making process within cross-functional teams. It is particularly effective for making quick, informed decisions, prioritizing ideas, and solving complex problems in a time-efficient manner. LDJ draws inspiration from Design Sprints and Agile methodologies to facilitate focused, outcome-driven sessions.
Key Principles	LDJ is guided by several key principles: 1. Time-Boxed: LDJ sessions are short and time-bound, often lasting no longer than 4 hours, which keeps participants focused and prevents overthinking. 2. Cross-Functional Teams: It involves a diverse group of stakeholders with different perspectives to ensure comprehensive decision-making. 3. Structured Activities: LDJ employs a series of structured exercises and techniques to guide participants through the decision-making process. 4. Visual Collaboration: Visual tools, such as whiteboards and sticky notes, are used to facilitate communication and documentation. 5. Iterative Approach: LDJ encourages iterative thinking and prototyping to refine decisions.
Process	LDJ typically follows a structured process: 1. Problem Framing: Define the problem or decision that needs to be addressed during the LDJ session. 2. Idea Generation: Participants generate a variety of ideas, solutions, or options related to the problem. 3. Silent Voting: Participants silently vote on the ideas they find most promising using stickers or dots. 4. Discussion and Ranking: Ideas with the most votes are discussed, and participants collectively rank them in order of priority. 5. Decision: The highest-ranked idea or solution is chosen as the decision. 6. Action Planning: Determine next steps and actions required to implement the decision.
Applications	LDJ is versatile and can be applied to various scenarios, including product feature prioritization, problem-solving, project planning, and strategy development. It is especially valuable when teams need to make decisions quickly or align on complex issues.
Benefits	LDJ offers several benefits: 1. Speed: LDJ accelerates decision-making and reduces the time spent in lengthy meetings or discussions. 2. Inclusivity: Involving cross-functional teams ensures diverse perspectives and buy-in. 3. Visual Clarity: The use of visual tools aids in clarifying ideas and facilitating understanding. 4. Actionable Outcomes: LDJ results in clear, actionable decisions and next steps. 5. Reduced Overthinking: Timeboxing prevents excessive analysis and encourages action.
Challenges	LDJ may face challenges related to time constraints, ensuring active participation, and adapting the methodology to suit the specific context or organization. Effective facilitation is crucial to overcoming these challenges.

Understanding the Lightning Decision Jam

Indeed, many meetings consist of unstructured conversation that does not further company goals. Many other meetings are probably better discussed in a group chat or through a series of emails. In either case, attendees are often left feeling confused and generally unmotivated.

Borrowing ideas from the core principles of design sprints, AJ&Smart created the Lightning Decision Jam. These principles include:

Working together, alone.
Tangible items being better than discussion.
A belief that being right is not as important as getting started.
Less reliance on creativity.

Indeed, the LDJ method is suited to any situation where an organization is having difficulty in defining or addressing problems. The method is also versatile. It can be used in large multinational corporations or small start-ups containing just a few people.

How to run a Lightning Decision Jam

Before beginning, an ideal team size of 4-6 people must select a moderator. A good moderator is essential in ensuring that discussions do not become unstructured or run over time.

After personnel has been decided, the LDJ can be performed by following these steps:

Start with the problems (7 minutes)

Each team member should spend 7 minutes detailing the problems or challenges encountered during the week on blue post-it notes. There must be no discussion during this process.

Present problems (4 minutes per person)

One at a time, each person should then stand up and stick the blue post-it notes to a wall or whiteboard while they give a brief description for each. To avoid running over 4 minutes, it is helpful to dedicate no more than 30 seconds to each problem.

Select problems to solve (6 minutes)

Each team member is then assigned two dots which they must then use to vote on the problems they deem the most important to solve. Again, there must be no discussion between the group.

Reframe problems (6 minutes)

Here, the moderator rewriters the top-voted problem in the form of a standardized challenge. The challenge is reframed in the “How Might We” (HMW) format to make it solvable and ensure consistency across all problems.

Consider the example of a post-it note reading “I am having difficulty keeping up with this new marketing campaign”. Rewritten in HMW format, the challenge then reads “Ensure that everyone is supported and well-informed during marketing campaigns”.

Produce solutions (7 minutes)

Without any discussion, each team member has 7 minutes to write potential solutions on green post-it notes. At this point, the focus is on quantity over quality. After the allotted time has elapsed, each member sticks their solutions on the wall.

Vote on solutions (10 minutes)

To cast votes on the most viable solutions, each team member is given six dots.

Prioritize solutions (30 seconds)

Solutions with more than two votes should be prioritized, with post-it notes containing the most dots placed near the top of the wall or whiteboard.

Decide what to execute on (10 minutes)

How much effort is required to enact each solution? A simple effort/impact matrix can be used to determine which solutions have the highest potential to be a quick fix.

To achieve this, the moderator should hold each post-it note over the matrix and ask team members to decide a final position based on its perceived effort and impact.

Turn solutions into actionable tasks (5 minutes)

Problems occupying favorable positions on the matrix are then taken off the wall or whiteboard. Then, the individual who came up with the original problem is tasked with creating an actionable plan that can be completed in 1-2 weeks.

Principles of Lightning Decision Jam

Clarity of Purpose: LDJ begins with a clear statement of the problem or decision to be addressed.
Divergent and Convergent Phases: The process alternates between divergent thinking (generating ideas) and convergent thinking (selecting and prioritizing solutions).
Visual Representation: Visual tools and techniques are used to represent ideas, options, and decisions, making complex issues more understandable.
Inclusivity: All team members are encouraged to participate, ensuring a diversity of perspectives and ideas.

Advantages of Lightning Decision Jam

Speedy Decision-Making: LDJ enables rapid decision-making, making it ideal for time-sensitive situations.
Innovation: It fosters creative thinking and innovative solutions by involving multiple team members in idea generation.
Team Collaboration: LDJ promotes collaboration and alignment among team members by including them in the decision-making process.
Clarity: The visual nature of LDJ aids in clarifying complex issues and ensuring a shared understanding among team members.

Challenges of Lightning Decision Jam

Time Constraints: The time-boxed nature of LDJ can be challenging when dealing with extremely complex or multifaceted problems.
Facilitation Skills: Effective facilitation is crucial for the success of LDJ, and not all team members may possess these skills.
Dominant Voices: In larger groups, dominant voices can overshadow others, potentially limiting the diversity of ideas.
Resistance to Change: Team members may be resistant to change or hesitant to embrace new decision-making approaches.

When to Use Lightning Decision Jam

Complex Problems: LDJ is valuable for addressing complex problems or situations that require quick resolution.
Innovation Initiatives: Organizations can use LDJ to generate innovative solutions, especially in product development or process improvement.
Team Alignment: When there is a need to align team members and ensure everyone is on the same page regarding a decision or direction.
Time Sensitivity: LDJ is particularly suitable when there are time constraints and a need for fast decision-making.

What to Expect from Using Lightning Decision Jam

Quick Decisions: Expect to reach decisions rapidly, often within a single LDJ session.
Diverse Ideas: LDJ encourages the generation of diverse ideas and solutions by involving multiple participants.
Enhanced Collaboration: Team members can expect increased collaboration and alignment through the LDJ process.
Visual Clarity: Visual representations aid in achieving clarity and understanding of complex issues.

Long-Term Impact of Lightning Decision Jam

Efficient Decision-Making Culture: Over time, organizations that incorporate LDJ into their processes tend to develop a culture of efficient decision-making.
Innovation: LDJ fosters a culture of innovation and creative problem-solving, contributing to long-term adaptability and competitiveness.
Improved Collaboration: Teams that regularly use LDJ often experience improved collaboration and communication.
Faster Problem Resolution: The long-term impact includes a faster and more effective approach to resolving problems and making decisions.

Key takeaways

The Lightning Decision Jam allows businesses to make fast, effective decisions on high-impact problems.
The Lightning Decision Jam was created in response to traditional business meetings that often result in an unstructured conversation that does not further company goals.
Running a Lightning Decision Jam means following a structured, time-limited process. With an emphasis on no discussion and group consensus through voting, the LDJ team can create a clear and actionable solution quickly.

Key Highlights

Efficient Decision Making: LDJ is a method developed by AJ&Smart to make quick and effective decisions by addressing problems or challenges in a structured and time-limited manner.
Origin and Inspiration: LDJ is inspired by the core principles of design sprints and aims to overcome the inefficiencies of traditional business meetings, which often lack direction and yield unproductive conversations.
Core Principles Borrowed from Design Sprints:
- Working Together, Alone: Team members work individually to generate ideas before coming together.
- Tangible Items Over Discussion: Focus on creating tangible solutions instead of getting stuck in discussions.
- Getting Started Over Being Right: Prioritize taking action and generating solutions over finding the perfect answer.
- Less Reliance on Creativity: Encourages practical problem-solving over seeking highly creative solutions.
Suitability and Versatility: LDJ can be applied in various organizational contexts, from large corporations to small startups, whenever there’s a need to define and address problems effectively.
Team Structure and Moderation:
- An ideal team size of 4-6 people is recommended.
- A moderator is crucial to guide the process, prevent unstructured discussions, and keep the session on track.
Step-by-Step LDJ Process:
- Start with the Problems: Each team member spends 7 minutes detailing problems or challenges on blue post-it notes, without discussion.
- Present Problems: Team members stand up one by one, briefly describing their problems while sticking the post-it notes on a wall or whiteboard (limited to 4 minutes per person).
- Select Problems to Solve: Each member votes on the problems they consider most important to solve, using two dots without any discussion.
- Reframe Problems: Moderator rewrites the top-voted problem as a solvable challenge using the “How Might We” (HMW) format for consistency.
- Produce Solutions: Each team member spends 7 minutes writing potential solutions on green post-it notes, focusing on quantity over quality.
- Vote on Solutions: Team members cast six votes on the most viable solutions.
- Prioritize Solutions: Solutions with more than two votes are prioritized based on the number of dots, placed at the top of the wall.
- Decide What to Execute On: An effort/impact matrix is used to assess the potential of each solution as a quick fix, with team consensus.
- Turn Solutions into Actionable Tasks: Favorable solutions are removed from the wall, and the person who identified the problem creates an actionable plan for execution in 1-2 weeks.
Key Takeaways:
- LDJ enables businesses to rapidly address high-impact problems with efficient decision-making.
- It was designed in response to traditional unstructured business meetings that often hinder progress.
- The LDJ process emphasizes structured steps, time limits, no discussions during certain stages, and group consensus through voting to achieve clear and actionable solutions quickly.

Alternative Frameworks

Framework	Description	Key Features
Decision Tree Analysis	A systematic approach to decision-making that involves mapping out potential decisions and their possible outcomes in a branching tree structure.	– Identifies decision options and potential outcomes. – Evaluates the likelihood and consequences of different choices.
Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA)	A structured decision-making technique that involves evaluating options against multiple criteria or factors to determine the best course of action.	– Defines decision criteria and assigns weights to each criterion based on importance. – Ranks options based on their performance against criteria.
Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)	Quantitative analysis technique used to assess the financial costs and benefits associated with different decision options, typically used for investment or policy decisions.	– Quantifies and compares the monetary costs and benefits of decision alternatives. – Calculates the net present value or return on investment for each option.
SWOT Analysis	Strategic planning tool that evaluates the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats associated with a decision or course of action.	– Identifies internal strengths and weaknesses as well as external opportunities and threats. – Helps in assessing the potential risks and benefits of different options.
Pareto Analysis	Technique for identifying and prioritizing the most significant factors contributing to a problem or decision by focusing on the “vital few” versus the “trivial many.”	– Identifies the most significant factors contributing to a decision or problem. – Prioritizes actions based on their potential impact.
Eisenhower Matrix	Decision-making framework that categorizes tasks or decisions into four quadrants based on their urgency and importance, helping prioritize actions accordingly.	– Classifies decisions into urgent-important, important-not urgent, urgent-not important, and not urgent-not important categories. – Guides prioritization of tasks or actions.
Weighted Decision Matrix	Decision-making tool that evaluates options against a set of criteria, assigning weights to each criterion to reflect its relative importance, and calculating a score for each option.	– Defines decision criteria and assigns weights based on importance. – Scores options based on their performance against criteria.