Organizational Development for Knowledge Management at Water ...

Storyboards
An approach to sequentially visualizing an event, process or series of activities before they
occur.
Supports: learning, knowledge sharing, knowledge retention
LEVEL OF EFFORT
SIZE OF UTILITY
SCOPE OF WORK
LOW
SCALABLE
NARROW
A storyboard is a series of visuals (illustrations or images) displayed sequentially for the
purpose of pre-visualizing an event, process or series of activities. Storyboarding is used
extensively by video and movie-makers, with the visuals serving as a layout of events as they
will be seen through the camera lens. But storyboarding can be an effective tool in many
circumstances. Through a detailed storyboard the whole idea is presented like visual shorthand.
You don’t always need to know the dialogue to understand the emotional (or instructional)
context of it all.
For example, a storyboard can serve as a way of understanding and communicating a new
Utility process. First, it could be used by a team to design/develop a new process, laying the
key parts of the process out, developing a common understanding, and deciding the most
effective order. Second, it can be used as a vehicle to validate the process with experts. Third,
an updated storyboard could be used with verbal directions to illustrate specific aspects of the
process to new hires. A sequential visual representation of a tricky connection can prove much
more effective than written directions alone. It provides the opportunity to capture small details
related to specific processes.
Expected Outcomes:
Clearer understanding of a process or procedure.
Improved results through the use of groups in the design process.
See:
Project Study #23 (Louisville Water Company, KY)
Case Example #6 (SHELL HP)
Case Example #9 (The Socio Economic Unit Foundation, India)
Tools: Picture Map
Storytelling
Ideas: Group Learning
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