Min Specs
Min Specs is a structured group exercise that strips away everything nonessential to reveal only the absolute "must dos" and "must not dos" needed to achieve a purpose. What survives is a short, powerful set of enabling constraints, typically just two to five rules, that give everyone the freedom to innovate while keeping efforts purposeful and responsible.
✓ Created by former KPMG & McKinsey consultants
What You'll Achieve with the Min Specs Workshop
Real outcomes that transform your team
Participants create a concise set of actionable rules that enable focused innovation.
Increased team alignment and clarity around objectives and non-negotiable constraints.
When to Use the Min Specs Workshop
Perfect for these situations and team challenges
When a team is overwhelmed by excessive rules and needs to find what truly matters for their project.
During the launch of a new initiative to define essential boundaries without micromanaging team processes.
How the Min Specs Workshop Works
A step-by-step breakdown of the workshop process
1Setup
In this initial phase, participants clarify the purpose statement and arrange themselves into small groups, preparing to generate a list of rules.
2Step 1: Generate the Max Specs List
Participants brainstorm all possible rules, requirements, and behaviours needed to achieve the purpose, compiling a comprehensive list without filtering.
3Step 2: Filter Against the Purpose
Groups critically analyze each item on their list against the purpose statement, ruthlessly crossing off anything deemed non-essential to focus on the core specifications.
4Step 3: Second Filtering Round (Optional)
This optional step involves a more stringent test of the remaining specifications, ensuring that only the most critical rules are retained.
Key Topics Covered in the Min Specs Workshop
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