Participatory Methods

Daily Standup Meeting

The Daily Standup Meeting is a short group session designed to update the status of progress on a project or activity. Each participant shares what they have accomplished, what they are currently working on, and what they need to move forward, following a structured format that promotes clarity, collaboration, and efficiency.

Preparation

  1. Define the purpose:
    • Determine the objective of the Daily Standup Meeting: Reviewing progress, identifying blockers, or planning next steps.
  2. Establish a clear format:

Use a structured approach like the three-question format:

  • What did I accomplish since the last meeting?
  • What am I working on now?
  • What do I need, or what obstacles am I facing?
  1. Manage time effectively:
    • Limit each participant’s update to 1-2 minutes to keep the Daily Standup Meeting short.
  2. Set the frequency:
    • Decide whether the Daily Standup Meeting will be held daily, weekly, or at the start/end of a specific activity.
  3. Prepare tools:
    • Use physical or digital boards to visualize progress.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Introduce the purpose
    • Explain the objective of the Daily Standup Meeting and the importance of keeping it brief and focused.
  2. Set basic rules
    • Establish time limits for each update.
    • Encourage active listening and avoid interruptions.
    • Ask participants to be concise and direct.
  3. Start the standup
    • Each participant answers the three key questions:
      • Recent accomplishments: What have I completed since the last Daily Standup Meeting?
      • Current tasks: What am I working on now?
      • Needs or challenges: What do I need to move forward, or what obstacles am I facing?
  4. Document key points
    • Record progress, blockers, and needs on a whiteboard or a collaborative tool.
    • Group common challenges to address them collectively after the Daily Standup Meeting.
  5. Close the meeting
    • Summarize general progress, next steps, and any group action items to resolve blockers.
    • Reinforce the group’s commitment to the set objectives.
  6. Follow-up (optional)
    • Assign responsibility for resolving identified blockers or specific needs.
Recommendations
  • Keep it brief: Set a strict time limit per participant.
  • Focus on solutions: Allocate time after the check-in to address blockers.
  • Track progress: Document key responses to facilitate follow-ups.
  • Encourage participation: Ensure everyone has a chance to speak.
  • Adjust frequency: Adapt the meeting schedule based on the group’s needs.
Inspiration

Daily Standup Meetings enable structured and efficient updates on the group’s progress, facilitating the resolution of blockers and collaborative planning.

Materials
  • Flip charts, whiteboards, or digital boards to track progress.
  • Timer to manage the time for each update.
Online platforms
Purpose
The purpose of Daily Standup Meetings is to improve communication, efficiently track progress, and resolve blockers in an agile and collaborative manner.
Type of activity
Participatory InteractionParticipatory MonitoringParticipatory Planning
Level of participation
Collaboration, Empowerment, Shared decision-making, Knowledge generation
Target audience
Community leaders, NGOs and social collectives, Business teams, Government, Creative designers
Fields of application
Estimated duration
From 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the group size.
Ideal number of participants
From 5 to 15 people, though it can be scaled by dividing into smaller subgroups.
Topics related to this activity
Active CollaborationActive ListeningAgile MethodologiesCollective AnalysisGroup StrengtheningKnowledge GenerationParticipatory AnalysisParticipatory MonitoringPerspective ExchangeProblem SolvingProgress MonitoringStrategic PlanningTeamworkTime Management
Other activities that might interest you
Share this activity