Planning for an Innovation Games® event, works best when you plan in two phases. The first phase focuses primarily on logistics and ensuring your selecting the right game for your goals/sections. The second phase focuses on tailoring the game for your circumstances and preparing all of your materials.
Here is an overview of the first phase.
Whom are you inviting? Consider both customers and your internal project team. A good rule of thumb is between 12 and 36 customers, as research has shown that 12 customers are expected to represent 70% to 75% of market needs, while 30 customers can be expected to represent 90% of market needs.
What will you be doing? Consider both the games and related event activities.
Why are you doing these things?
Why should your customer come? Consider your customer understanding and customer relationship goals and explicitly show them “What’s In It For Them.”
When will you be holding the event?
How long is the event? A good rule of thumb is two hours per game, with no more than three games in one day. Add additional time to handle your other event goals.
Where is the event?
What happens at the end of the event? Customers will want to know what they receive as a result of participating in the event. If you’re going to send them a summary of what you learned (and you should), tell them. And then get this done within one to three weeks of the event’s end.
