What is an Obeya space?

In an Obeya room, teams come together to discuss strategic goals, track progress and take immediate action. Similar to a cockpit in an aircraft, the Obeya room provides a complete overview of all crucial information needed to make quick and well-informed decisions. This central space acts as a visual and operational command centre, where all relevant data is presented in a clear and structured manner.

The room is equipped with visual management boards that clearly display the progress of projects and achievements. This ensures that any problems or deviations are quickly visible so that they can be addressed immediately. This transparency allows teams to react faster and resolve problems before they escalate. Moreover, the boards ensure that all stakeholders are continuously informed of the current status of ongoing issues.

The structure of the Obeya space aims to promote direct communication and collaboration. The set-up encourages open dialogue, allowing team members to tune in quickly and effectively. This helps keep everyone on the same page, which is crucial for working efficiently towards common goals. Thus, the Obeya space becomes not only a place of consultation, but also a powerful tool for achieving strategic goals.

From strategy to execution in just 5 steps

A well-appointed Obeya space is divided into different sections, each with a specific focus This layout helps teams take a structured approach to their work and visualise their progress clearly

1. Strategic direction: this section of the room is dedicated to the organisation’s long-term goals and strategies Here you can see the vision and mission translated into concrete goals
2. Performance This is where key performance indicators (KPIs) are tracked. This helps the team to constantly keep its finger on the pulse and monitor progress towards the strategic goals
3. Tough problems This section is reserved for identifying and solving bottlenecks and problems By collecting problems here, the team can respond quickly and come up with effective solutions
4. Plan to value: This section works on turning strategic goals into tactical plans Action points are formulated and assigned here, so that everyone knows what needs to be done to achieve the goals
5. Act & Respond: This last section is for daily monitoring and adjustment of plans. Here, progress is assessed daily and adjustments are made immediately if necessary

Determine your canvas size

The layout of your Obeya is displayed on a board made up of rows and columns. Each column consists of nine rows the size of an A5 page. For each section, such as Strategic Direction, you decide the number of columns needed. All columns together form the canvas of your Obeya. If you run out of space, you can easily expand the number of columns. This flexible approach ensures that your Obeya space always grows with the needs of your team.

Mobile or fixed

When choosing a suitable space for your Obeya, you need to decide whether you want a fixed or mobile setup. A fixed space, such as a meeting room, offers the advantages of continuity and availability. Here, you can mount boards on the wall or use mobile boards like the Mobile Pro. However, if you are dealing with a shared space used by different teams, a mobile set-up may be more convenient. After use, you can slide them together and store them, keeping the space flexible for others to use.

Go for transparency

The power of an Obeya space lies in the transparency it provides. In organisations where the Obeya is deployed at the management level, it has been found that employees from all levels walk into the space to witness decision-making, processes and deadlines. This openness has led to greater shared responsibility within the organisation. By giving everyone insight into progress and challenges, you create a culture of openness and collaboration, which benefits the performance of the entire team.

Just start, learn and grow

The most important thing when setting up an Obeya space is to just start. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or set-up, because in practice things always turn out differently than planned. By starting, teams learn what works for them and what doesn’t, allowing the methodology to grow organically within the organisation. Therefore, make sure your Obeya space is flexible enough to grow with those developments. A system like the Mobile Pro provides the necessary flexibility and scalability to continuously adapt your Obeya space to your team’s needs.