While there are other success factors, the sprint team dynamic can often be the key ingredient for Sprint success.
Each sprint has different client types (enterprise, startup) with different challenges (physical, digital) for different user (b2b, b2c) needs. But the one constant is the sprint team — who need to come together into a single problem solving unit.
Here are the top Sprint Team challenges I’ve encountered and some learnings and alternate approaches that have helped.
See the GV Sprint site for more on the day to day Sprint process.
Challenge 1: we can’t commit that many people for 5 days
It’s critical that the sprint team be made up of the people who have the best chance of solving the sprint challenge. This can sometimes be people who cannot dedicate 5 whole days. The Challenge should be important enough that it warrants the time, but this is sometimes not the case.
The other side of this coin. If you’re an agency delivering Design Sprints as a service, with an experienced Ux person on the team. It can be counterproductive having the full client side team deeply involved during storyboarding and prototyping.
You can turn this challenge into a positive, with some alternate approaches:
Commit the full client sprint team to day 1 & 2. This ensures we have all the brilliant minds for setting goals, defining success, identifying risks/pitfalls, asking experts and of course user journey map on day 1. Then everyone again on day 2 for getting inspired and sketching solutions.
Bring voting & speed critique forward to day 2. There is enough time on day 2 for this. End day 2 with the client team and decider providing guidance on which solutions they’d like to see included in the storyboard. it’s a nice way to wrap things up. Another big plus is the Design team now have 2 full days for storyboarding and prototyping.
Ask the client team to be available for reviews on days 3 & 4. This works well if you are on the client site, ideally in the next room and you can grab them at the right points in the day. If that’s not possible schedule in 2 x 30 min remote review sessions on both days to make sure there are regular feedback sessions.
Invite the full client sprint team to day 5. Having as many of the original Day 1 & 2 team available for gathering insights & key learnings from user testing. Is a great way to wrap up the Sprint week.
Challenge 2: Founder(s) without a sprint team or experts
On the other end of the spectrum is the Founder(s) of a startup who may not have a sprint team and almost certainly will not have in-house experts. They generally are the experts and the team!
Here are some approaches that have gone some way to filling the people void:
Team member secondment. While the Founder(s) cover multiple internal functions, they also work with freelancers who can be brought in for the crucial first 2 days. And if you’re an agency delivering Design Sprints as a service. Then bring in product, sales, marketing, tech people from within the agency who can add value. Great ideas and solutions have come from people not directly involved in the Founder’s business.
Identify network experts. Use the same concept for the Sprint Team for finding experts for the afternoon on Day 1. For example you could be working with a fashion startup, who has a substantial network and connections in the industry. Find a few people willing to give away 20 minutes of their time for the Ask the Experts session. Again some great insights and learnings can be gathered this way.
A few others worth pointing out
Be diversity aware. As an example, if you are an agency, don’t provide an all male sprint team to work on a client’s female only fashion app.
Experienced user tester. The team work really well together on Day 1 & 2 and produce a great solution prototype. Only for it to unravel on Day 5 with an inexperienced user tester. This is especially important when using the client’s external test agency.
Look after the people. This is clear from the sprint book, but really important to keep an eye on energy levels and make sure you have frequent breaks and provide healthy snacks.
It would be great to find out any more people specific challenges you have encountered and how you have dealt with them.
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