Seeking a Procedure for and Information on how to Prepare a Storyboard

[Tsurf]

Does anyone have an example of a storyboard? Or, a procedure for preparing a storyboard?
I am a team member for one TQM teams and we are in the close out phase of the team, we have been tasked to come up with a storyboard on how we achieved our objectives and met our deliverables.
Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

[D.Scott]

There are two styles I am familiar with - choice is whatever suits your needs best. I am not sure I have ever seen an official procedure or "how-to" - I think it is more a matter of individual style. Until someone posts one, maybe this will help.

I like using the front of a room as my "board". The best suited is a classroom with a long blackboard. Think of the "story" as a Powerpoint presentation without the overheads.

Using a large sheet of paper (flip-over pads work great), draw a graphic representation of where you started and hang it on the wall (stage right / audience left). Use another page to show the next stage of your project (team development etc.) and hang that one next to the first. Keep going with all the milestones, objectives and measureables etc. until you reach the last page which is realization of the project.

When complete, you have a graphic "storyboard" showing all the events from start to finish running across the front of the room.

The alternative would be to keep each sheet on the flip-over pad but I find the wall much more conducive to showmanship.

Both ways should be pre-drawn (pre-hung) and have as many stick figures, graphs, dollar signs and other colorful things to make the "story" come alive.

The presenter then starts at the beginning and tells the "story" through to the end or "experts" on each of the sections could share the presentation.

The same concept works in a confrence room setting just as well when letter size paper is used.

Hope this helps you get started.

Dave

[D.Scott]

This is an excellent example of how a storyboard should be presented to a board of directors, or a management group. It looks great for use by a consultant when making a presentation.

Call me old fashioned but for internal team motivation, I prefer not to be so formal. I like the baloons, banners and crackers of the hand drawn boards. The same information is there but presented in a much more informal, relaxed way. It probably has something to do with my theater background.

There is a time and place for each style and we certainly know there is no room in the board room for fun.

Thanks again for the excellent reference.

Dave

[SteelMaiden]

Just a quick summary of how we have used story boards...

We use "The Disney Way" for a basis of our story boarding, and pick teams that include a member from any area that has a stake in the outcome (virtually every area). After the initial report on the problem, it's symptoms etc., each team member is given a pad of post-it notes and asked to write one possible contributing factor on each. Usually, 5-10 per person. Then the notes are put up on a white board with a typ. fishbone cause and effect chart already drawn. From then on, members get a chance to discuss the pros and cons of each "cause" removing the ones that are voted down. After we select our highest priority (risk) items, the team then goes through the process of setting up actions that will allow us to eliminate the causes, prove them to be non-risk items, etc.

The entire process can be quite lengthy, depending upon the problem and its associated actions. Don't rush it or you may not find the real root of the problem, but you do need to make sure that there are time limits set throughout.

Good luck

[Sam]

Is that what they refer to as a "Mickey Mouse" process. Sorry, I just couldn't resist.
I do find it interesting how closely aligned the old TQM process is to ISO9K2K. Those were the good old days, anything to improve quality/production was good and there were no third party persons to interfere.

[SteelMaiden]

Sam said:

Is that what they refer to as a "Mickey Mouse" process. Sorry, I just couldn't resist.

U R just too funny Sam, sorry, that was my first response also when they got me into the initial program. "The Disney Way" is a book on how, who else?, Disney story boards their problem solving teams. I haven't read it, on the waiting list. But, I have to say that story boards are a pretty effective way to get Non-QA oriented personnel to understand some of the more traditional quality programs and methods.

[SteelMaiden]

That's the one, thanks for your help Jim. I never was very good at who wrote what, or sang what. Never made it big in Trivial Pursuit.