Prep a CoMo

Beja Nigl: How to run a CoMo?

When it comes to Collaborative Modeling (CoMo), simplicity and adaptability are often perceived as defining strengths, but this notion of "just adapting on the fly" can be misleading. Many CoMo methods are deceptively simple, creating false confidence in their effortless adaptability across various scenarios. However, the high level of collaboration and intrinsic motivation required from participants demands meticulous preparation.

We will dive into the preparation for such collaborative modeling workshops, especially when dealing with large groups and/or environments where the goal is hard to pinpoint, politics are involved, or resistance to change is expected. You will learn how to reach a shared understanding of the workshop's goal, what it means to be aware of hidden agendas and group dynamics, and how to ensure all relevant stakeholders are on the same page. We will cover how to design a fitting storyline across the different formats or methods used.

Furthermore, the session will introduce the “CoMo Prep Canvas” - a tool developed in collaboration with Michael Plöd and the DDD community - to guide both new and experienced facilitators through a structured preparation process. You will learn how to use the canvas not only to ask the right questions to important stakeholders but also to make your own assumptions tangible during the preparation.

Actors:
Beija: Having worked in many different roles from Software Engineer to Product Owner and Project Manager, Beija has held numerous formal and informal leadership roles in diverse teams with varying levels of knowledge and experience (readiness and maturity). With her technical background and experience as a Software Engineer, she can effectively support her teams in architectural decisions. Along with her technical interests, her passion for leadership topics and team dynamics has already been nurtured during her studies, as she was part of the Femtec Career Building Program and later joined the Female Leadership Academy. With this broad skill set, Beija can create environments that address both technical and interpersonal challenges and foster collaboration. This also makes her a valued mentor and coach to both junior and senior colleagues, empowering them to best guide and support their teams. Furthermore, she is an experienced facilitator of EventStorming and other collaborative modeling (CoMo) methods and offers a variety of internal soft-skills workshops, such as handling criticism and mastering nonviolent communication.