Blueboard

ACTIVITY TYPE

• Deciding together 
• Supporting the action 

DESCRIPTION

The Blueboard facilitates the decisive step from an initial idea to concrete further development. It encourages teams to test new ideas independently and to initiate and promote concrete initiatives.

HOW TO USE IT ONLINE  

The same steps using on line platform by   all participants

Use the Jamboard, Whiteboard or similar e-tool.

RESOURCES NEEDED

• Time to do: depends on topics, could be up to 110 min 
• Staff: at least one facilitator 
• Equipment: white board or wall, blue contribution cards

SUITABLE FOR  

• large and small groups 

HOW TO DO IT  

1. The team is invited to develop initial solution ideas for a challenge or question.
2. Several concrete ideas/initiatives are selected and are proposed on large white initiative cards.
3. Afterwards on blue contribution cards it is noted, which concrete contribution each participant would like to make in particular to which initiative.
4. Then everyone puts their contribution cards at the Blueboard to the associated idea/initiative.
5. Thus, the wall fills up in short time with blue contribution cards, therefore “Blueboard method “.

ADVANTAGES

• It is immediately visible where the energy of the team is going. 
• It is not the quantity of cards that is decisive: even a single card shows that there is interest and energy to push a niche idea forward.

CHALLENGIES

• Initiative cards do not bear names – this way “possessions” are avoided
• The person who would like to lead an initiative, notes its desire on a contribution card
• The binding nature of the contributions should have ease: don’t ponder, write
• Withdrawing an offered contribution is difficult in terms of group dynamics, but usually there is understanding and an exchange partner for the offered contribution
• The size of the Blueboard is an important determiner in the way groups of people work with it.