Worst Case Scenario: A Collaborative Risk Assessment Game
The "Worst Case Scenario" game flips the script on traditional risk assessment
Have you ever stopped to imagine your project's worst nightmare?
Whilst dwelling on the negative isn't typically productive, a little playful exploration of potential disasters can be a powerful tool.
Sometimes with teams who need to manage future risks, we play a game called Worst Case Scenario.
The "Worst Case Scenario" game flips the script on traditional risk assessment. Instead of dryly listing potential problems, this collaborative exercise encourages teams to unleash their creativity and brainstorm the most striking ways their project could go [sometimes hilariously] wrong.
This lighthearted approach not only fosters team bonding and a touch of humor, but more importantly, it unearths hidden risks and vulnerabilities the team might have otherwise overlooked. By taking the time to explore these "what ifs" in a safe and playful environment, your team can proactively identify and address potential pitfalls, setting the stage for a smoother, more successful project journey.
Materials:
Whiteboard, Pens and Stickies OR Digital Whiteboard (Mural / Miro etc)
Time:
45-60 minutes
Instructions:
Set the Stage (5 minutes):
Briefly introduce the concept of the game and its purpose: to identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies.
Explain that the team will be brainstorming the worst-case scenario for the project/product.
Imagine the Disaster (15 minutes):
Ask the team to picture themselves a year into the future (or another timescale that seems like a reasonable endpoint for the current project / product push).
Ask them to imagine the work started off optimistically but that everything that could go wrong did go wrong. It was an utter fiasco from start to finish.
Then ask them, simply, “what happened?”.
Encourage them to think creatively and go wild with their ideas.
Capture their ideas on the whiteboard or flipchart, or have them write them on sticky notes and stick them to the board.
Break Down the Breakdown (15 minutes):
Once a comprehensive list of disaster elements is established, guide the team to analyze each one.
Ask questions like:
"What specific event(s) would lead to this disaster?"
"What warning signs might we see beforehand?"
Encourage discussion and exploration of the root causes behind each potential disaster element.
Turning Disaster into Defense (20 minutes):
Now that the team has a better understanding of potential risks, shift the focus to mitigation strategies.
Ask…"Knowing these potential disasters, how can we prevent them from happening?"
"If they do happen, how can we minimize the impact?"
Encourage the team to brainstorm solutions and contingency plans for each identified risk.
If the team has enough knowledge to do so, you could also start to estimate the relative likelihood of the various scenarios to help with your risk planning.
Wrap Up (5 minutes):
Briefly summarize the key takeaways from the exercise.
Highlight the most critical risks and corresponding mitigation strategies.
Encourage the team to document the results of the exercise for future reference.
Facilitation Advice:
Encourage active participation from all team members.
Don't censor any ideas during the brainstorming phase, even if they seem outlandish.
Use humor to keep the energy high, but ensure the discussion remains productive.
Variations:
Time Pressure: Set a timer for the brainstorming phase to add an element of urgency and encourage quick thinking.
Themed Disasters: If your project/product has specific industry-related risks, tailor the brainstorming to focus on those areas.
Individual Brainstorming: Before group discussion, have team members spend a few minutes individually jotting down potential disaster scenarios on sticky notes. Then share as a group. This can be particularly helpful if there isn’t a high level of trust on the team already.
By taking the time to explore potential pitfalls through this playful exercise, your team can proactively identify and address risks, leading to more successful project outcomes.
This is just one of the many exercises we use in our Team Chartering program. We’d love to chat with you if you think your team could use some love and attention.