The Collaborative Engagement Canvas

The Collaborative Engagement Canvas

The Collaborative Engagement Canvas can guide early discussions with clients. By using the canvas, you can capture strategic and operational aspects of the budding engagement in a way that:

• Is as comprehensive as is practical
• Is shared, understood, and agreed upon by all participants
• References different stages of the process to enable holistic planning

According to Bryce Colenbrander, higher-level strategic considerations are on the left of the canvas, and the more practical aspects are towards the right. Stakeholders are, of course, at the centre. Typically, one would progress on the canvas from the left to the right, but it’s not required. If something occurs to someone, capture it.

Embracing the Collaborative Engagement Canvas early in an engagement establishes collaboration as a foundational value of a planning process. The canvas also becomes an enduring artifact, which can be used to test ideas and proposed approaches.