Gamestorming

Dot Voting

Dot voting is a fast, democratic way to prioritize. Participants get a limited number of votes to allocate. This forces tough choices and quickly reveals group preferences.

Duration
10 mins
Group Size
4-20
Category
Gamestorming
Difficulty
Easy
Participants will democratically prioritize options. Participants will make trade-offs with limited votes. The exercise will surface group consensus and create ranked priorities.

  • Prioritized list of options

  • Clear understanding of group preferences

Define voting criteria (impact, effort, desirability) before voting. Limit the number of dots to force real prioritization. Decide if "dot stacking" is allowed. Silent voting prevents groupthink. Watch for vote-splitting among similar items; consider combining them. Dot voting works for features, ideas, problems, or designs. A quick re-vote can break ties. It's not ideal for nuanced decisions needing deep discussion. Sometimes, even with clear instructions, someone will try to 'game' the system. Gently remind them of the rules.

  1. Setup (2 minutes): Display all items to be voted on. Give each participant an equal number of voting dots (3-5 dots per person, roughly 20-30% of the total options). Explain the rules: Dots can be placed on items, silent voting (no talking). Decide if participants can put multiple dots on a single item.

  2. Voting (5 minutes): Participants silently review the options. They place dots on their preferred items based on the criteria. Everyone votes at the same time. No discussion or campaigning.

  3. Tallying & Discussion (3 minutes): Count the dots for each item. Rank items by the number of votes. Discuss surprising results or close ties. Identify clear winners for the next steps. Note any outliers or controversial items.

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For Facilitators

  • Review participant profiles and expectations
  • Prepare all materials and supplies
  • Test technology and room setup

For Participants

  • Complete pre-session survey
  • Review background materials
  • Prepare examples or case studies

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  • Dot stickers (bright colors)

  • Items to vote on (post-its, whiteboard)

  • Markers

  • Score sheet

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