Summary
A Big Picture is a visual representation of a project that makes its context, challenges, and key elements immediately graspable. It is especially valuable when developed in a workshop with a small, interdisciplinary team—without striving for perfection, but with a playful mindset. The Big Picture serves as a communication tool, promotes shared understanding, and helps reduce complexity. It can be refined as the project progresses and provides a foundation for stakeholder communication.
Why create a Big Picture?
Projects are often complex and full of uncertainties. A Big Picture helps make the essential aspects tangible:
- Deliverables and scope: What belongs to the project? What is deliberately excluded?
- Stakeholders: Who is involved, who is affected?
- Milestones and phases: Which steps are planned, which dates are critical?
- Risks and constraints: Which external factors influence the project?
By visualizing these elements, misunderstandings are avoided and everyone works from the start with a shared baseline.
Practical application
Identifying deliverables
In a fictional project to build a wind turbine, it quickly becomes clear that not only the main asset (e.g., a construction site) but also additional components such as permits, safety measures, and possibly even preliminary work (e.g., ordnance clearance) are relevant.
The key question is: What is in scope and what is not? For example, an access road might be left out due to time constraints — but this must be communicated early to those affected to avoid later conflicts.
Involving stakeholders
Projects do not exist in a vacuum. Authorities, residents, external service providers, and internal teams all have different expectations. A Big Picture makes visible:
- Who is the client?
- Who assumes which responsibility?
- Which permits are required?
Early involvement of all relevant parties helps reduce later delays.
Phase planning and milestones
Not every project is suitable for agile methods. In this example, a classic waterfall model was chosen because clear approval processes and fixed deadlines set the framework. A rough phase plan might include:
- Planning phase (outline concept with costs, schedule, organization)
- Implementation phase (detailed concepts, execution, procurement)
- Approval and acceptance phase
- Project closure
Clear milestones are crucial — such as the release for implementation or the final handover date.
Challenges and risks
External factors such as legal requirements (e.g., reforestation obligations) or historical legacies (e.g., unexploded ordnance) can influence the project’s course. These should be noted early in the Big Picture to prevent unpleasant surprises later on.
