Workshop Title
"Scoring Change Initiatives with DICE"
What Is It?
- This workshop is a 70 to 90-minute session where your team scores live change initiatives with DICE, calibrates results, and places each item in Win, Worry, or Woe.
- You pick one lever for the top risks, secure a sponsor action this week, assign owners and dates, and set a fixed review within four weeks.
Why Is It Useful?
- It provides your team with a shared, objective view of delivery risk.
- It replaces opinion with evidence so you can prioritise the portfolio and stop low-value work.
- It raises accountability through clear owners and dates, which lifts follow-through.
- It surfaces issues early and keeps delivery on track.
The DICE Framework was developed by consultants at The Boston Consulting Group (Harold L. Sirkin, Perry Keenan, and Alan Jackson) and published in the Harvard Business Review in 2005 as a tool for assessing change management success.
Objectives
- Understand the DICE framework and the scoring rules
- Score your change initiatives with evidence and assign a zone
- Validate scores with a peer and agree on a shared risk rank
- Choose one lever to lower risk and define one action with an owner and a date
- Set the next review date, confirm sponsor actions, and decide how you will track updates
What Is DICE?
DICE Factors
- Duration – Time to the next review point
- Integrity – Strength of the delivery lead and team
- Commitment 1 – Visible support from senior sponsor
- Commitment 2 – Support from local leaders and people affected
- Effort – Extra workload on top of day jobs
Scoring
- Use 1 to 4 for each factor. Lower is better.
- Formula: D + 2I + 2C1 + C2 + E to get the total
- Scoring zones:
- 7 to 14 = Win
- 14 to 17 = Worry
- Over 17 = Woe
Resources Required
- 70 to 90 minutes
- 4 to 10 people who lead or deliver the work
- Include the senior sponsor if possible
- Room with wall space or a shared board
- Sticky notes or digital cards
- One scorecard per initiative
- Timer
Process
1. Frame And Aim (5 minutes)
Goal
- Align on purpose, scope and outputs
- Set the tone for honest scoring
Setup
- Stand near the board with three zones labelled Win, Worry, Woe
- Show today’s agenda and timeboxes
What You Say
- “Today we will score our initiatives with DICE.”
- “We will rank risk, pick one lever per priority item, and leave with clear actions.”
- “We will focus on delivery risk, not personal judgment.”
What You Do
- Read the list of initiatives you will cover
- Ask for any missing items that must be in scope
- Park unrelated debates on a visible Parking Lot
What To Capture
- Final list of initiatives for today
- Parking Lot items for later
Done When
- Everyone agrees on scope and outcomes
2. Teach The Tool (10 minutes)
Goal
- Build a shared understanding of DICE and the scoring rules
Setup
- Display the DICE primer and the five scales on one slide or board
- Keep the formula visible
What You Say
- “We score five factors from one to four. Lower is better.”
- “Formula is D plus two times I plus two times C1 plus C2 plus E.”
- “Integrity and senior commitment carry extra weight.”
What You Do
- Walk through each factor with one quick example
- Clarify that Duration means time to the next formal review
- Confirm that Effort means extra workload beyond day jobs
What To Capture
- Photograph or save the slide for the notes
Done When
- People can explain each factor in one line
3. Silent Scoring (10 minutes)
Goal
- Get a first pass score for each initiative from the initiative lead
Setup
- Hand out one scorecard per initiative
What You Say
- “Leads, score your initiative across D, I, C1, C2, E.”
- “Use evidence where you can. Favour the conservative score.”
- “If a factor is unknown, mark it with a question mark and give your best estimate.”
What You Do
- Circulate and answer quick questions
- Keep the room quiet and focused
- Call a two-minute warning at the halfway point
What To Capture
- A complete scorecard for each initiative
Done When
- Every initiative has five numbers and a total
4. Calibrate In Pairs (10 minutes)
Goal
- Pressure test scores quickly and correct obvious bias
Setup
- Pair each lead with a peer from a different initiative
What You Say
- “Swap cards. Challenge one factor that feels off. Use concrete examples.”
- “Adjust only if evidence is clear. Keep pace.”
What You Do
- Listen for unhelpful debate. Step in and move pairs on
- Note any items with big uncertainty for group review
What To Capture
- Any changed scores with a brief note on why
- A list of initiatives that need a short plenary check
Done When
- Cards are back with leads and updated where needed
5. Converge As A Group (15 minutes)
Goal
- Share scores, place initiatives in zones, and establish a risk-ranked view
Setup
- Prepare a board with three areas labelled Win, Worry, Woe
What You Say
- “We will take one minute per initiative.”
- “Lead reads out D, I, C1, C2, E and total. Place your card in a zone.”
- “We only debate if someone has new evidence or a major concern.”
What You Do
- Run a rapid round through all initiatives
- Use a timer to keep one minute per item
- Mark any disputed factor with a small question mark on the card
What To Capture
- Photo of the board with all cards in zones
- A simple table with Initiative, Total Score, Zone, Owner
Done When
- All initiatives are placed and you have a clear high to low risk list
6. Choose The Levers (10 minutes)
Goal
- Select one high-impact move for the top three risk items
Setup
- Bring the three highest risk cards to the centre
- Open a fresh action sheet for each
What You Say
- “We will pick one lever per initiative that will lower the score the most this month.”
- “We focus on Duration, Integrity, Commitment one, Commitment two, or Effort.”
- “We want specific actions, not general intent.”
Guiding Prompts
- “What is the earliest credible review date we can set?”
- “What would raise delivery team quality within two weeks?”
- “What public action will the sponsor take this week?”
- “What can we stop so extra effort stays under ten percent?”
What You Do
- Facilitate fast option generation
- Test each option against impact on the score and ease of execution
- Push for one clear move, not three weak ones
What To Capture
- One lever chosen per initiative
- One specific action statement
Done When
- You have three lever choices and three draft actions
7. Commit To Action (10 minutes)
Goal
- Turn choices into owned tasks with dates and a review point
Setup
- Use the Action Tracker template on a shared screen or flip chart
What You Say
- “Name the owner, the date and the next review point.”
- “If it needs funding or escalation, state who will do that and when.”
What You Do
- Write each action in verb first form
- Confirm the next DICE review date for each initiative
- Ask the sponsor to confirm any visible commitments
What To Capture
- Action, Linked Initiative, Lever, Owner, Due Date, Next Review Date, Status
Done When
- Every action has an owner and a date
- The next review date is on the calendar
8. Close (5 minutes)
Goal
- Reinforce decisions, set expectations, and confirm follow-up
What You Say
- “Here are the top three risks and the actions we have agreed.”
- “We will re-score on the review date and track the trend.”
- “Expect a summary note today.”
What You Do
- Summarise decisions in one minute
- Confirm how updates will be shared and by whom
- Thank the group and the sponsor
What To Capture
- Final photo of the board
- Any dependencies or escalations
Done When
- Everyone is clear on who does what by when
Secret Sauce
Frame And Aim
- Keep it about risk to delivery, not personal judgement
- Limit scope to initiatives in play now
Teach The Tool
- Draw the formula where all can see
- Emphasise that Integrity and Commitment 1 count double in the total
Silent Scoring
- Ask leads to be honest and conservative
- Remind them that lower numbers are better
Calibrate In Pairs
- Tell pairs to challenge with examples
- Allow small adjustments but stop debate from running long
Converge As A Group
- Use three areas on the wall for Win, Worry and Woe
- Mark any score you do not fully trust with a question mark and a follow up
Choose The Levers
- Push for one lever per initiative
- Ask what would lower the score this month, not in six months
Commit To Action
- Every action must have an owner and a date
- Book the next review in the room
Close
- Summarise the top three risks and chosen moves
- Confirm how updates will be shared