Checklist For Getting a JAD Started

1. Define the Project

The JAD Project Leader meets with the Project Sponsor to complete a JAD Project Charter.

2. Form the JAD Group

 The Project Leader and Project Sponsor form the JAD Group making sure you have all affected areas represented. You will need a Project Sponsor, Project Leader, Business Users and Systems Analysts. A JAD Group should have 8 or fewer total members. It is hard to be effective with more than 15 members.

3. First JAD Meeting - Kick off Meeting

Your first JAD meeting may have the following agenda items:

○    Share problem definition and overall goal. Get consensus on these two items.

○    Train each member of the new group on what a JAD Group is so they will understand the purpose, the roles and how a JAD works.

○    Establish JAD Group expectations/responsibilities.

○    Determine meeting frequency, time and place.

○    Determine roles - Project Sponsor, Project Leader, Record Keeper, Timekeeper, Clients.

○    Continue holding JAD meetings approximately every week or every other week until you have reached consensus on a design.

4. JAD Meetings - Planning, Analysis, Design Phase

○    Review the current process - map it out

○    Identify Problems/Challenges in the current process

○    Brainstorm solutions for those problems and challenges

○    Benchmark other organizations for possible solutions

○    Consider Buy vs. Build

○    Survey your customers for problems and ideas

○    Evaluate list of generated ideas

○    Determine your course of action - tasks to be accomplished

○    Develop your timebox - list of tasks, who is assigned and when each task is due.

○    Present the Project Design to the Project Sponsor and Representative Customers and Get the Thumbs Up

○    Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

5. JAD Meetings - Development, Execute, Finish Phase

Meet every 2 weeks to make sure the development stays on track
Agenda - how did we do on our goals?

○    Discuss problems and challenges

○    Make decisions jointly

○    Set goals for next meeting

○    Assign tasks

Assign as many of the project duties as possible to members of the JAD this helps build buy in and a feeling of ownership towards the project.