Storyboard
Skill level: Basic
Description
A storyboard is a display created and maintained by a project or process improvement team that tells the story of a project or initiative. The storyboard should be permanently displayed from the inception to the completion of the project in a location where it’s likely to be seen by a large number of associates and stakeholders impacted by the project. Storyboards can be printed or presented online.
Benefits
- Summarizes and visually displays the progress of the initiative
- Powerful communication mechanism to the team and stakeholders
- Documents the completion of the project
- Can be used for any process improvement methodology, including lean, Six Sigma, plan-do-check-act (PDCA), and more
- May be used in the future as a guide for similar projects
How to Use
- Step 1. Decide where the storyboard will be displayed and obtain permission in advance. Determine if the storyboard will be displayed on your intranet and/or the Internet and who will be responsible for maintaining it.
- Step 2. Develop a title for the project and include a statement of the problem.
- Step 3. Describe the problem and why it’s important. Select a chart to illustrate the current state that will be updated after the solution is implemented. Gather data to populate the chart.
- Step 4. Describe the current process (current state) with a flow chart or list of process steps.
- Step 5. Identify problems (root cause analysis) in the current state. Consider using a fishbone diagram.
- Step 6. List possible solutions examined and indicate the solution(s) implemented.
- Step 7. Collect the data and update the chart chosen in step 3.
- Step 8. Indicate final conclusions, limitations of the project, and potential future steps.
Relevant Definitions
Define-measure-analyze-improve-control (DMAIC): A process improvement methodology focused on effectiveness.
Lean: A process improvement methodology focused on efficiency.
Plan-do-check-act (PDCA): A basic process improvement methodology.
Example
A generic DMAIC storyboard template outline is shown below.
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