Story Models; Explore problem & customer experience through intuitive stories

Pitching, marketing, communicating vision, describing the customer problem, we all use stories to convey our ideas and understanding. But insightful stories can also be used for analytic and creative purposes, to examine problem situations, postulate benefits and devise product solutions.

The hands-on workshop lasts 2-3 hours, with a balance of theory and application. Participants work through examples with the facilitator, discuss principals and methods, then apply to their own endeavors. In the final part, the group reforms to discuss and compare their resulting work as well as insights and learnings.

“Story Based Analysis & Domain Modeling” or “Story Models” for short, is a methodology using stories to explore product concept and customer need/benefit. Each story describes a situation in which an actor has a problem or need, and a vision for engagement and supplying of a product or service which leads to a beneficial outcome. The stories together yield generalizable insights about the domain as a whole, as well as elements (entities, relationships and processes) that are assembled into a model for the product/service. Although semi-formal in structure, the stories are written in natural language making them accessible and inviting participation from all stakeholders.

The application of story models challenges people to thoroughly understand their vision for the interplay of customers, problem & solutions. Workshop participants come to see their work in new ways - richer, deeper and more comprehensively, as well as become aware of aspects and issues they had not previously identified. The intuitive application of stories delivers insights that shape vision and bring clarity to strategy and communication.

This will be a hands-on workshop by one of our network experts: Andrew Harrison - Former Amazon Senior Engineer turned Investor & Mentor. Teacher of modeling and design. Loves Startups and Innovation.

Note: Yes there will be theory, but expect a lot of learn by doing. So bring something to write with, or on. Laptop, iPad, or good old paper and pen.