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The origins
THE LEGO®
SERIOUS PLAY®
METHODODOLOGY
The Origins of
The Methodology
The LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methodology continues to remain relevant – more than 20 years since it originated.
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Here is a short history of the process and why you should consider adding it to your bundle of tools and techniques to drive team engagement, build inclusion in ideation sessions, step towards involving all team members in strategic planning AND so much more!​
When and Why Was the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Methodology Developed?
The methodology has its roots in substantial academic research and theoretical foundations. We trace its origins back to psychology and behavioral science in theories of knowledge and learning.
Constructivism – a theory of knowledge developed by Jean Piaget, his colleagues and his institute in Geneva, Switzerland.
Constructionism – a theory of learning developed by Seymour Papert and his colleagues at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA).
Let Adults
Play Well
Although both Piaget and Papert developed their theories by observing children's behaviour and learning activities, Papert believed that these findings are equally applicable to adults.
History
- The name LEGO® itself is a contraction of the Danish phrase “Leg Godt,” which means “Play Well.”
Corporate Innovation
Executive discovery llc. was the corporate entity – associated with the LEGO® Company – that developed and managed the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® brand in the early years between 1995 - 2004.
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Strategic Evolution
The concept was developed over several years by Executive Discovery as they searched for more effective ways to meet the increasingly complex and challenging demands of the business world.
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Brand Alignment
The LEGO® Group became involved with the SERIOUS PLAY® methodology very early in its development, both as a user of the process and as an organisation whose basic values are in complete alignment with the core thinking behind the process. In fact, the name LEGO® itself is a contraction of the Danish phrase “Leg Godt,” which means “Play Well.”
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Playful Commitment
In spearheading the development of this unique and powerful methodology, the LEGO® Group demonstrated commitment to supporting the child in each and every one of us to “Play Well.”
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What Was The Next Step in the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Journey?
Organizations saw how 3-D metaphorical models could be used to visualize strategies that were formerly opaque and closed off to team members and leaders.
The LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methodology continues to help people to see their business enterprise in a more holistic sense. They can manipulate it, play with it, and ask all sorts of “what if” questions by physically manipulating their business models.
The methodology is now used in top organizations around the world when they want to bring teams together in a unique way.
Microsoft utilized its diversity and inclusion program to empower women in the organization, seeking ways to make the workplace more inclusive and facilitate women's entry into technology careers.
Coca-Cola employed the methodology to investigate the dynamics of change processes, probing teams about their sentiments regarding change and its potential impact on their work methods.
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
Storytelling is a fundamental concept for LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®. It’s at the foundation of each session in that the LEGO models are the trigger to enable the story.
LEGO, the LEGO logo, SERIOUS PLAY, the Minifigure, the Brick and the Knob configuration are trademarks of the LEGO Group.
©2021 The LEGO Group.