In this article:

1. What is Obeya?
2. The 'Strategy wall'
3. The 'Deliver value wall
4. The 'Drive performance wall
5. The 'Improvement wall
6. The Obeya principles
7. Obeya in vPlan
8. Extra: An effective Obeya in 7 steps

What is Obeya?

Obeya, a term that originated in Japan, is much more than just a space or a method. It is a holistic approach to project management aimed at creating an environment where strategy and execution come together seamlessly.

In essence, Obeya is a physical or virtual space in which teams collaborate, share information, make decisions and monitor progress, all with the aim of achieving organisational goals. It is a powerful tool that promotes clarity, alignment and collaboration, making organisations more agile and successful in achieving their goals.

An Obeya visually displays information according to some core principles:

• It provides employees with clear insight into the organisation's vision and goals;
• It shows the workflow and helps identify bottlenecks;
• It provides at-a-glance insight into the organisation's performance;
• It provides an overview of ongoing improvements to stay on track;
• It clarifies the expectations set for each employee.

The 'Strategy wall': clarity and alignment

Imagine a space where the essence of your organisation can be seen at a glance. This is the essence of Obeya. With the 'Strategy Wall', strategy is visually represented, with leaders and teams consistently moving in the same direction and working together towards a shared vision.

But Obeya is more than just projecting goals on walls; it is a culture of clarity and alignment that permeates the capillaries of the organisation. This is where vPlan comes in, where you not only integrate strategic goals into your planning, but also monitor progress and adapt to the dynamics of your organisation.

The 'Deliver value wall': Seamless coordination

The 'Deliver value wall' is an essential part of the Obeya methodology, providing insight into all the different activities and tasks that teams work on. This wall provides an overall view of all aspects that contribute to value creation within the organisation, including their interdependencies.

Tip: In a planning board in vPlan, you will find all kinds of useful tools to set up your (virtual) Obeya. For instance, each task is a ticket in vPlan. To each ticket you can link employees, chat, upload checklists, add important information, add due dates, add forms and much more. This makes it clear to everyone what needs to be done and everyone has all the information in one place.

The 'Drive performance wall': performance monitoring

In a world that is constantly changing, it is crucial to keep your finger on the pulse. The 'Drive Performance Wall' provides real-time insight into performance, allowing managers to make data-based decisions and take quick corrective action.

But Obeya goes deeper than just monitoring performance; it is continuously improving and adapting to changing conditions. With vPlan, you have the tools to not only measure performance, but also to proactively respond to change and keep your projects on track.

The 'Improvement wall': customer-centric optimisations

In a world revolving around the customer, it is essential to put customer needs first. The 'Improvement Wall' focuses the spotlight on the customer journey, encouraging teams to continuously strive for improvement and innovation.

Obeya is a commitment to delivering value to every stakeholder, from customers to employees and partners. With vPlan, you can not only map the customer journey, but also take the necessary actions to improve and optimise it, helping your organisation embrace a truly customer-driven culture.

The Obeya principles

To spread the Obeya method worldwide, 11 principles have been created by the Obeya Association. These can be divided into four sections:

1. Mindset
2. Alignment
3. Workspace
4. Content

We discuss the sections with corresponding principles below.

Mindset

• People come together in the Obeya to respectfully learn and act on important information;
• People are enthusiastic and motivated to continuously improve and willing to remove obstacles they encounter.

Alignment

• In the Obeya, we clearly communicate our raison d'être;
• The raison d'être is clearly linked to the strategy through meaningful goals;
• The Obeya connects our strategy with execution and emphasises customer value and experience;
• Meetings in the Obeya are aligned with the rhythm of the organisation.

Workspace

• Visualisations in the Obeya guide the logical and practical flow of information and conversations;
• The Obeya reflects the workflow from start to finish;
• The Obeya is a practical and attractive space close to the shop floor (or a virtual space that can be accessed by all stakeholders anytime, anywhere, such as vPlan).

Content

• In the Obeya, we use analysis-based evidence to make decisions;
• Data owners ensure that data is easy to understand, readily available, current and visually appealing. In vPlan, this is already done for you in the 'Analysis' planning board.

Obeya in vPlan

vPlan offers an excellent solution that fits seamlessly with Obeya's principles. With planning boards, vPlan creates a digital version of the physical walls that characterise Obeya spaces. These plan boards serve as central hubs where teams collaborate, share information and monitor the progress of tasks and projects.

Like the walls in Obeya rooms,Plan's plan boards provide an overview of all ongoing activities, milestones and dependencies across the organisation. Teams can easily see who is working on which tasks, the status of each project and how these projects contribute to the overarching strategic objectives.

Through the visual representation of tasks and projects, vPlan helps create clarity and alignment, enabling teams to collaborate more effectively and respond better to change. Moreover, vPlan provides features for real-time updates and statuses, ensuring that teams always have up-to-date information for informed decision-making.

In short, vPlan meets the need for a digital Obeya environment through its intuitive planning boards, allowing organisations to benefit from improved collaboration, transparency and efficiency in their project management processes.

Intrigued by the Obeya method in vPlan? Create a free trial environment and start managing your projects in vPlan today!