Pattern Storming Canvas Workshop
a structured, collaborative session where the data team and stakeholders work together in real time to complete the Information Product Canvas
The Pattern Storming Canvas Workshop is a structured, collaborative session where the data team and stakeholders work together in real time to complete the Information Product Canvas.
Unlike traditional data requirements gathering sessions, where discussions are abstract and context often gets lost in documents created after the fact, the Pattern Storming workshop provides an interactive process where stakeholders see their input documented instantly.
By following a collaborative workshop pattern, guided by a facilitator, and using structured pattern templates, vague stakeholder needs and wants are refined into clear, actionable requirements.
By the end of the workshop, the completed Information Product Canvas serves as an initial shared view of the Information Product requirements, ensuring that the data team and stakeholders are aligned.
Pattern Storming is a collaborative problem-solving pattern where data teams and stakeholders work together to explore, organise, and prioritise ideas.
Four core principles drive the Pattern Storming Canvas Workshop:
Time-Boxed Workshops
Keeping the workshop focused and efficient ensures that stakeholders attend, stay engaged, and remain productive.
Interactive Collaboration
Encouraging input from all stakeholders fosters shared ownership of the data requirements.
Active Facilitation
A facilitator guides the discussion, captures ideas transparently, keeps conversations on track, and ensures that every voice is heard.
Clarity Through Structured Pattern Templates
The Information Product Canvas provides a structured pattern template to help organise ideas and align everyone around a shared language.
The workshop can be run as either an in-person or a virtual session, offering flexibility for different team designs.
In-person workshops foster dynamic collaboration, while virtual workshops enable distributed teams. Both formats are equally effective and engaging when facilitated well.
Four core patterns drive the Pattern Storming Canvas Workshop:
Engagement
Stakeholders provide immediate feedback as the canvas is completed, ensuring accuracy and alignment.
Immediate Feedback
The facilitator populates the Information Product Canvas in real time, rather than relying on a separate scribe or completing it later.
Step by Step
Each area of the canvas is completed area by area, starting with business questions before moving through the remaining areas.
Time-Boxed
Workshops typically take 30 minutes per canvas, although the first workshops may take longer as new stakeholders familiarise themselves with the Pattern Storming process and the canvas format.