Session Brief: Lotus Blossom

Goal

Artifact: Lotus Diagram

Working Question

Which eight thematic fields open up the solution space of the central challenge, and what concrete ideas emerge in each field?

Context

Challenge in one sentence; context for target group or market; known constraints (budget, time, technology); examples of previous solution attempts so theme generation does not loop.

Setup

• Format: Method session
• Duration: 45-90 min
• Mode: Workshop
• Participants: A facilitator who leads the grid and enforces timeboxes; three to ten participants with different perspectives on the challenge; one scribe who transfers the shortlist into document at end.
• Owner: A facilitator who leads the grid and enforces timeboxes
• Participation mode: Team round, shared work and alignment
• Outcome logic: Finish artifact

Participation Logic

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome Logic

The session works directly toward Lotus Diagram. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

Input

Large whiteboard or Miro board with prepared 9x9 grid (central field plus eight themes, each with its own 3x3 block); pens; sticky notes in two colors (themes, ideas); timer.

Preparation

Draw grid in advance and add central challenge in center field. Leave eight surrounding fields empty. State the rule: fill all eight themes first, then generate ideas per theme. Phones away; close parallel Slack threads.

Agenda

1. Phase 1: Sharpen the central challenge (10 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Read the challenge out loud, resolve misunderstandings, fix it into one sentence in the center field. Formulate a success picture in one to two sentences so future ideas can be assessed. Hint: If the group understands the challenge differently, invest five more minutes here. Later correction costs the entire session. Output: Lotus Diagram

2. Phase 2: Derive eight main themes (15-20 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: As a group, name possible thematic fields around the challenge (for example target groups, channels, timing, materials, technologies, occasions, obstacles, partners). Narrow to exactly eight and write them in the surrounding fields. Hint: Themes should overlap as little as possible. If two themes duplicate each other, remove one and fill the gap, otherwise ideas will repeat later. Output: Idea Themes

3. Phase 3: Ideas per theme (solo, timebox) (20-30 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Per theme, 3 minutes of solo sketching: each person writes at least three ideas on sticky notes. Rotate clockwise through the eight themes. Include a one-minute stick pause at the grid after each theme. Hint: Solo work is mandatory. As soon as discussion starts, the loudest voice dominates and diagram becomes skewed. Facilitator should interrupt conversations during solo phases. Output: Shortlist

4. Phase 4: Cluster and shortlist (15-20 min) Owner: Owner Action: Read ideas per theme, merge duplicates, note cross-theme patterns. Use dot voting (3 dots per person) to choose a shortlist of 5-8 ideas for follow-up. Hint: Cross-theme patterns are often more valuable than single ideas. Anyone noting ideas should surface cross-theme links and set them at the side of shortlist. Output: Lotus Diagram

5. Publish artifact (10 min) Owner: Owner Action: Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients. Output: Lotus Diagram

Closeout

• Update result artifact: Lotus Diagram
• Define location, version, and review recipients.
• Define owner, next step, and review date.

Lotus Diagram: Lotus Blossom

Working Question

Which eight thematic fields open up the solution space of the central challenge, and what concrete ideas emerge in each field?

Context

Challenge in one sentence; context for target group or market; known constraints (budget, time, technology); examples of previous solution attempts so theme generation does not loop.

Participants

• Owner: A facilitator who leads the grid and enforces timeboxes
• Participants: A facilitator who leads the grid and enforces timeboxes; three to ten participants with different perspectives on the challenge; one scribe who transfers the shortlist into document at end.

Input

Large whiteboard or Miro board with prepared 9x9 grid (central field plus eight themes, each with its own 3x3 block); pens; sticky notes in two colors (themes, ideas); timer.

Template

Lotus Blossom Working Template

Goal

Expand a central challenge into related idea clusters and promising directions.

Context

What problem or opportunity should the group expand from the center?

Input

• Central challenge:
• Constraints:
• Reference ideas:
• Research notes:

Working area

• Center idea:
• Petal set 1:
• Petal set 2:
• Petal set 3:
• Expansion themes:

Output artifacts

• Idea matrix:
• Expanded themes:
• Promising directions:

Open questions

• ...

Decision / next step

Owner, date, and success signal.

Completion Check

• Lotus Diagram is complete enough for review:
• Location:
• Version / status:
• Review by:
• Next step:

Next Step

• Review result
• Mark open questions
• Schedule review or decision