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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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
  1. 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.