Recipe: Lightning Decision Jam (LDJ)

Recipe: Lightning Decision Jam (LDJ)

Description

A rapid decision making & problem solving workshop

Activity time

1-2 hours

The LDJ is a short workshop to solve problems & reach concrete decisions. Use this step-by-step guide to run this method with a team.

An overview of the LDJ

Replace open discussion or brainstorming with a structured process that leads to more ideas, clearer decisions and better outcomes.

Watch this video from the LDJ creators AJ&Smart to get an overview of the method.

You can also check out this 19 min video that walks you through a virtual version of the workshop using a digital whiteboard tool.

When to use the LDJ?

There are three main reasons to use a Design Sprint for your challenge:

  • To solve problems (and generate ideas)
  • To make clear decisions (rather than endless opinions and no direction)
  • To prioritize & find focus (instead of not knowing where to start)

It’s always good to frame an LDJ session with a broad topic. It can be big or small, but it should be concrete. Here are some examples:

  • Keeping up with our competition
  • Onboarding new hires
  • Planning our team offsite
  • How we communicate between teams
  • Improving sales flow

Step-by-step facilitation guide

💡
Tips before you start - Gather a diverse group who are invested in the outcome - Identify someone to take the Decider role
✏️
Materials required - Access to Mural (digital whiteboard) - Microsoft Teams (for group video calls)

The following instructions have been re-posted from a AJ&Smart’s LDJ booklet that you can download as a PDF here.

All the LDJ steps

Resources

PDF booklet download

You can download (and print) AJ&Smart’s PDF booklet outlining all the instructions for the LDJ (with pictures)

MURAL Template

Check out the Advance Concepts™ LDJ template to facilitate a virtual LDJ with a team. It has been customized for Koch employees based on the AJ&Smart LDJ template.

https://app.mural.co/template/8edd5633-736d-42a5-b01c-f5d5d739b2e9/d9841a9c-3945-4be7-9dcd-b253450be840