Introduction: What You’ll Learn
In this simulation, you'll facilitate a technical discussion where the team needs to choose between two design options for a new feature. You’ll guide the conversation, make sure everyone gets a say, and help the team reach a decision that fits our goals and constraints.
You'll practice:
- Presenting and clarifying design options
- Discussing trade-offs and what they mean for the project
- Encouraging diverse input
- Reaching a decision that aligns with team and project objectives
Step-by-Step Simulation
Scene 1: Setting the Stage
Facilitator: "Hey everyone, thanks for joining. We're here to decide between two design options for our new feature. The goal is to weigh the pros and cons and pick the best path forward. I'll quickly lay out the options."
Facilitator (as a developer): "Option A sticks with our current setup, which is cheaper but might slow things down when traffic spikes. Option B means setting up new microservices, which could handle more users but would push our timeline back by two weeks."
Facilitator: "Any initial thoughts or questions before we jump into the details?"
Scene 2: Exploring the Trade-offs
Alex: "I like Option A because it's cheaper, but I'm worried about the slowdown. How bad is it when things get busy?"
Facilitator: "Good point, Alex. From our tests, we see about a 15% bump in load times during peak hours. Leo, can you add more on that?"
Leo: "Sure thing. The slowdown mainly hits the login process, so it might bug users if we don't fix it."
Facilitator: "Thanks, Leo. Sara, what's your take on how this might affect user experience?"
Sara: "I agree with Leo; if it gets slow, users might get frustrated. But if we can tweak the login speed, Option A could still work."
Scene 3: Weighing the Options
Facilitator: "Now, let's think about Option B. It needs more resources and delays us. Priya, how would this affect our current team setup?"
Priya: "We'd have to pull two more engineers for setup and testing. We can do it, but it means pushing back our launch."
Facilitator: "Got it. So, let's talk about what's more important: sticking to the timeline or making sure the system runs smoothly. Alex, how do you see this affecting our plan?"
Alex: "A delay isn't great, but we can't afford to lose users because of slow performance."
Facilitator: "Agreed. Let's go around — should we focus on getting it out fast or ensuring it’s ready for heavy use?"
Scene 4: Reaching Consensus
Facilitator: "To sum up, Option A is quicker but risks slowing down, while Option B gives us better performance but delays us. It looks like performance is the priority. Anyone disagree?"
Sara: "I'm for Option B, as long as we're smart about resources."
Priya: "Same here — I'll adjust the plan to fit the new timeline."
Facilitator: "Great. We'll go with Option B and focus on managing resources and the timeline. I'll sort out the next steps and make sure we're all on the same page."
Mini Roleplay Challenges
Challenge 1: A team member isn't buying the latency data.
- Best Response: “Let's check out the data together after this — it's important everyone’s confident in the numbers.”
Challenge 2: Someone is all for Option A because they're used to it.
- Best Response: “Thanks for sharing — let's make sure we're choosing based on what's best for the project, not just what we're familiar with.”
Challenge 3: The conversation gets heated and off-track.
- Best Response: “Let's take a breather and refocus on what we need to decide today.”
Optional Curveball Mode
- New info suddenly makes one option less viable.
- A crucial team member is missing.
- Unexpected constraints change the decision criteria.
Reflection Checklist
Discussion Flow
- Did I keep the discussion balanced and inclusive?
- Did everyone get a chance to share their thoughts?
Decision-Making
- Did we make the decision based on solid data and alignment with our goals?
- Did I help the team come to a consensus smoothly?
Facilitation Skills
- Was I able to keep the conversation on track and productive?
- Did I help the team navigate the pros and cons fairly?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring different opinions
- Rushing to a decision without full input
- Getting lost in minor details instead of focusing on the big picture
- Not summarizing and confirming the next steps at the end