Error Conversation helps the team identify errors, understand their nature and have a productive conversation about them. It is especially useful for a team dealing with many errors over a period of time.

Running the activity:

  1. Start by asking everyone to individually list all the errors that occurred for the given period (e.g., “write on sticky notes and keep them until the next step”).
  2. Draw and explain the board with two columns for two types of error:
    * Error of commission: errors of commission are errors that occurred because of doing something that should not have been done.
    * Error of omission: errors of omission are errors that occurred because of not doing something that should have been done.
  3. Ask someone to share one error and place it on the appropriate column.
  4. Have a brief conversation about the error. Consider doing affinity grouping by adding similar notes to it. Consider writing notes and action items on separate sticky notes (preferably of a different color) and placing next to the related error.
  5. Go to the next errors until all notes are finished or you run out of time.

 

This activity is inspired by the book Re-Creating the Corporation: A Design of Organizations for the 21st Century. In it, the author elaborates that there are two possible types of decision-making mistakes: errors of commission and errors of omission. This activity helps the group talk and address those.

 

Remote-team advice: This activity works well for remote teams. Use a remote board of your choice.

 
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