Updated: 12 October 2026
Minutes 0–10: select a specific situation
Ask everyone to complete: 'When I need to…, I lose time because…'. Group responses by task. Choose a recurring process whose start and finish someone can describe. Keep other topics on a separate list to maintain focus.
Minutes 10–30: map the actual work
Put the steps in order with their inputs, people and tools. Mark waiting, re-entry and exceptions. Ask where the correct information lives and how it is checked. Describe current practice even when it differs from the written procedure.
- For each step: trigger, input, action, output, approval.
- Separate waiting time from active work.
Minutes 30–55: formulate and compare opportunities
For each obstacle, consider simplification first, then rule-based automation and AI assistance where appropriate. Assess frequency, available information, ease of checking and the consequence of an error. A promising opportunity needs a clearly identified user and output.
Minutes 55–75: organise the next check
Select one opportunity and record the assumption to test. Assign example collection, data review and baseline measurement. Set a review date and the decision question. The workshop produces a decision brief to investigate, not a deployment promise.