Gamestorming sets out to change the way knowledge workers use meetings to gather ideas, come to a decision and move their project forward.

It starts by presenting a set of tools, both physical objects and techniques, that can then be combined in a number of ways to help groups of people work together to solve problems. The various combinations become the games in Gamestorming.  About 80 games in all are presented (more on their website). Each offering a format for the interaction that helps elicit certain types of results.  Think standard brainstorming with enough structure to help the group actually produce something tangible, either by staying on track or diverging from it, as needs dictate.

For me, the most important part of each game’s description was the “Strategy” section. Here you find out really what you’ll get out of the game. I always check this section first to see if the game is appropriate for what I need to accomplish.

 

 

The book has changed the way I view meetings (how they should be run, what the result should be) and I’d recommend it to anyone who ever has to “call a meeting”.  Anyone new to the process will get a set of useful tools, while veterans will certainly pick up a few new ways to combine the tools they already have to be even more effective.

I review for the O'Reilly Blogger Review Program

 

Full disclosure: I received a free PDF version of this book for free in exchange for writing this review. I’ve followed the review guidelines set by O’Reilly. Especially (and always) “First and foremost, we want nothing but complete honesty in your reviews”.

 

 

1 Comment on Review: Gamestorming by Dave Gray, Sunni Brown and James Macanufo

  1. Kathleen says:

    I want to borrow this some time!

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