How Would You Sabotage a Project? A Lean Management Workshop

During the “Group Work & Co-Creation” workshop held as part of the Studio Alliance Conference, we had the opportunity to explore Lean Management from a different perspective.

As participants, we were divided into 4 mixed groups and started the session in an unconventional way:

1. How to Sabotage a Project

We kicked things off with an unconventional question: ‘How would we deliberately mismanage a project?’ Working with participants from different countries;

• Lack of communication
• Unclear leadership
• Insufficient resource planning
• Poor prioritization
• Non-transparent processes
  we quickly identified challenges we’re all familiar with.

This phase was particularly valuable as it allowed us to express problems openly and without filtering.

2. Turning Problems into Solutions

Next, we paired each “sabotage method” with corresponding solutions.
In doing so, we didn’t just identify problems, we transformed them directly into actionable steps:

• Clear communication and regular meeting structures
• Effective resource and process planning
• Transparency and information sharing
• Strong coordination and leadership
• Continuous learning (lessons learned)

3. Systematic Solutions Through Lean Management

In the final phase of the workshop, we discussed how to make these solutions sustainable through a Lean Management approach:

• Simplifying processes
• Using visual management tools
• Regular feedback and progress meetings
• Risk management and transparent workflows
• Involving all stakeholders in the process

4. Sharing and Collective Learning

A representative from each group presented their ideas to all participants. These short presentations enabled us to quickly and effectively gain insights from different perspectives.

Why Was This Format So Effective?

One of the most valuable takeaways from this workshop was realizing that professionals from different countries face remarkably similar challenges.

The short sessions (15–20 minutes):

• Encouraged quick thinking
• Created an open communication environment
• Fostered strong connections among participants

At the same time, such group work formats not only generate ideas but also strengthen trust and communication within teams.

Conclusion

Lean Management is not only about optimizing processes; it is also about asking the right questions, openly addressing problems, and developing solutions collaboratively.

This workshop, by “thinking in reverse,” helped us clearly understand what truly creates value.