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Engineering, Product management

Big Visible Information Radiator (BVIR)

A visual display of project information that is easily accessible and visible to all stakeholders.

Also called: Big Visible Chart, Information Radiator, Big Visible Wall Chart, Big Visible Display, Big Visible Dashboard, Big Visible Graph, and Big Visible Scoreboard

See also: Agile Product Development, Agile Program Management Office, Product Delivery

Relevant metrics: Number of successful deployments, Number of customer issues resolved, Number of customer complaints, Number of customer feature requests, and Number of customer feedback surveys completed

In this article

What is a Big Visible Information Radiator (BVIR)?

Big Visible Information Radiator (BVIR) is a term used in Product Management to refer to a physical or digital display that is used to share information with a team or organization. It is typically used to provide a visual representation of the progress of a project or initiative, and can be used to track the status of tasks, goals, and objectives.

BVIRs are often used to provide a quick and easy way to communicate progress to stakeholders, and can be used to motivate teams to stay on track and reach their goals. BVIRs can be used to display a variety of information, including project timelines, task lists, and performance metrics.

Where did the term Information Radiator come from?

Big Visible Information Radiator (BVIR) is a term that was first coined by Alistair Cockburn in his book, Agile Software Development. The term was used to describe a physical display of project information that is visible to everyone in the team.

The idea behind the BVIR was to provide a way for teams to quickly and easily access project information, such as progress, tasks, and goals, without having to search through multiple documents or systems. The BVIR was designed to be a central hub of information that could be easily accessed and updated by the team. The BVIR was also intended to be a visual representation of the project, allowing teams to quickly identify areas of progress and areas that need improvement.

Enhance Team Collaboration

The Information Radiator is a powerful tool for enhancing team collaboration and communication. It is a physical display of information that is visible to all members of a team, allowing them to quickly and easily access the data they need to make informed decisions. The BVIR is particularly useful in situations where teams are geographically dispersed, as it allows for real-time updates and communication.

The BVIR is an effective way to keep teams informed and up-to-date on the progress of projects. By displaying key metrics and data in a visible and easily accessible format, teams can quickly identify areas of improvement and take corrective action. This helps to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. Additionally, the BVIR can be used to track the performance of individual team members, allowing for more effective performance management.

The goal is to foster collaboration and communication between team members. By displaying information in a visible format, team members can quickly identify areas of overlap and potential conflicts. This helps to ensure that teams are working together efficiently and effectively. Additionally, the BVIR can be used to share ideas and feedback, allowing for more effective problem solving and decision making.

What kind of information is ideal to include in an Information Radiator?

By creating a central, easily accessible source of information, teams can stay on the same page and make decisions with confidence, knowing they have the latest data at their fingertips.

Let’s explore what a big visible information radiator should include and why each of these elements is critical to your team’s success.

Real-Time Data

A big visible information radiator should always display real-time data. This means that as soon as a change is made, the information radiator should reflect that change, ensuring everyone on the team is working with the latest information.

Key Metrics

Key metrics are critical indicators of your team’s success and should be front and center on your information radiator. This might include metrics such as the number of new users, churn rate, or conversion rate. By keeping these metrics visible, teams can quickly identify trends and take action when necessary.

Project Status

An information radiator should also provide a clear overview of your team’s project status. This might include information on what projects are underway, what stage each project is in, and who is responsible for each project. By having this information in one central location, teams can quickly see what needs to be done and who is responsible for getting it done.

Team Performance

Information about how your team is performing might include data on how many bugs they’ve fixed, or how many customer support tickets they’ve handled. By having this information readily available, teams can assess their own performance and identify areas for improvement.

Resource Allocation

Resource allocation might include which team members are working on which projects, how much time each team member has available, and what their workload looks like. By having this information in one central location, teams can make informed decisions about how to allocate resources to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Benefits of Implementing an Information Radiator

  • Increased Visibility. An information radiator provides a central location for teams to view project progress, allowing for greater visibility into the status of tasks and projects.
  • Improved Communication. By providing a central location for teams to view project progress, a BVIR can help to improve communication between team members and stakeholders.
  • Increased Accountability. A BVIR can help to increase accountability by providing a visual representation of progress and tasks that need to be completed.
  • Improved Efficiency. By providing a central location for teams to view project progress, a BVIR can help to improve efficiency by reducing the need for multiple meetings and emails.
  • Increased Collaboration. A BVIR can help to increase collaboration by providing a platform for teams to discuss progress and tasks.

Challenges of Implementing an Information Radiator

  • Ensuring the BVIR is visible to all stakeholders. A BVIR should be placed in a visible location that is accessible to all stakeholders. This can be a challenge if the stakeholders are spread out across multiple locations.
  • Keeping the BVIR up to date. The BVIR should be updated regularly to ensure that it is an accurate reflection of the project’s progress. This can be a challenge if the team is not diligent about updating the BVIR.
  • Ensuring the BVIR is accurate. The BVIR should be an accurate representation of the project’s progress. This can be a challenge if the team is not careful about ensuring that the data is accurate.
  • Making sure the BVIR is meaningful. The BVIR should be meaningful to all stakeholders. This can be a challenge if the team does not take the time to ensure that the data is presented in a way that is meaningful to all stakeholders
Relevant questions to ask
  • What type of information will be displayed on the BVIR?
    Hint The BVIR will display information such as business objectives, key performance indicators, and other metrics related to the business value of projects and initiatives.
  • How will the BVIR be used to communicate information?
    Hint The BVIR will be used to communicate information to stakeholders, such as product managers, executives, and other decision-makers.
  • How will the BVIR be updated and maintained?
    Hint The BVIR will be updated and maintained by regularly collecting and analyzing data from various sources, such as customer feedback, financial reports, and market research.
  • What are the benefits of using a BVIR?
    Hint The benefits of using a BVIR include improved decision-making, increased transparency, and better alignment between business objectives and initiatives.
  • What are the potential risks associated with using a BVIR?
    Hint Potential risks associated with using a BVIR include data security and privacy concerns, as well as the potential for inaccurate or incomplete data.

You might also be interested in reading up on:

People who talk about the topic of Big Visible Information Radiator (BVIR) on Twitter
Relevant books on the topic of Big Visible Information Radiator (BVIR)
  • Information Dashboard Design: The Effective Visual Communication of Data by Stephen Few (2006)
  • The Art of Project Management by Scott Berkun (2005)
  • Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products by Jim Highsmith (2009)
  • Succeeding with Agile: Software Development Using Scrum by Mike Cohn (2010)
  • Agile Product Management with Scrum: Creating Products that Customers Love by Roman Pichler (2015)

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