I have been working on a way to let teams experience enterprise architecture and enterprise engineering in real life. I’ve looked into using traditional building architecture, abstractions on factories and production lines, even looked into training marathon runners. The one and only way I have found to actually get to the point is working with Lego. I think the tactile feeling of the blocks ads a tremendous advantage over any other learning experience.

Basic chain of events
Idea->Sketch->Design->Engineering->Construction->Use

Idea
Start with generating the idea, there are many ways of doing this. One can try structured methods like Blue Ocean Engineering or classic unstructured methods like workshops.

Sketch
Take the idea and make a basic sketch.

Which ever way you chose to generate your idea, the important thing is to bring the idea from ideaspace down to reality. In this case reality is a visual representation in the form of symbols, pictures, drawings, film,  sound, smell, taste or text.

Design
Take the sketch and formalise it in a design language that can be communicated outside of the group.

Engineering
Use the design to break down the requirements needed to be made explicit so that a blueprint for the design can be generated.

Construction
Depending on the reality domain your idea is placed in you will select an appropriate construction method and start constructing your idea.

Use
In the most basic form of happiness the use of an idea cracked, worked and realised by your self is a wonderful experience.

If you’d like to experience this for your self or your team then send an email to me at jorgen.dahlberg@biner.se and I’ll bring my boxes of Lego to you.

In an interview Stephen Anderson Tells Todd About Implementing Visionary Ideas , “someone asked me about how to get other, less visionary stakeholders, to understand and embrace some of the ideas I was describing. My short answer was prototyping. As quickly as possible, in whatever form you choose, translate your concept into something visual that people can ‘see’ or experience”

It’s not that this has never been said before, it’s that we do need to remind our selves about it from time to time. Keeping things simple and prototype them will get you stakeholder buy in quicker than anything else.