Understanding the Parking Lot in Meetings
The Parking Lot is a tool for keeping track of topics or concerns that may not fit the current agenda. These items are "parked" for later discussion.
Types of Parking Lots and Their Maintenance
There are many types of parking lots. Surface lots are common in retail settings and need regular sweeping and power washing. Underground lots require specialized cleaning equipment and drainage system maintenance. Parking structures can generate revenue. Consider customer needs like shade and drainage when designing a lot.
Implementing the Parking Lot Method
You can track parking lot items on a whiteboard, with sticky notes, or in a file. Choose a method that fits your meeting style. Later, group related topics and prioritize them. Parking lot items reassure meeting participants their contributions are captured for later discussion, without interrupting the current focus. The parking lot keeps meetings productive.
Other related terms:
- An action item assigns someone a task from the meeting.
- A parking garage is fully enclosed.
- Parking spaces can provide small investment profits if chosen well.
The Concept and Use in Agile Meetings
‘Parking lot’ is a project management technique used to keep a team meeting on track. If a group conversation is in danger of veering off-topic, you could put that particular topic in the hypothetical parking lot. That way, you are ‘parking’ it for later so your team can focus on the more pressing issues. As subjects come up that don’t relate directly to the topic under discussion, they are added to the group’s parking lot. The parking lot should be reviewed as part of closing the meeting. For each item on the parking lot, the leader checks whether the topic still needs to be discussed. If not, the item is removed.
An interesting take on the concept is to phrase parking lot items as "Great Idea. Different Meeting," which acknowledges the value of the item and naturally leads to a discussion about "at which future meeting will we discuss this?"
The follow-up can be at a meeting specifically to cover the parking lot, at other regular meetings, or incorporated into related meetings (such as a meeting on risks). It’s often useful to gather more information or invite other participants to the follow-up. Since the topic wasn’t considered in the selection of attendees for the earlier meeting, you may not have the right expertise or decision makers in the meeting where the parking lot topic arose.
Scrum and the Parking Lot
The parking lot technique keeps Agile meetings efficient. Daily meetings are short, so participants must get to the point quickly. Agile parking lots help teams avoid scope creep by prioritizing vital project elements in conversations to ensure major targets are met. It’s important to let team members know their discussions are valid, even if off-topic.
What is the role of a scrum master on the parking lot? Follows up on parking lot and action items after meetings; works to improve facilitation for next time. Establishes common goals for meetings and encourages participatory decision making and team consensus.
A "Parking Lot" is the place for any discussions that stop the Team from answering the 3 main questions. Only interested people stay for the "Parking Lot" to discuss issues after the Daily Scrum.
This is a time set aside, allocated for the deferred discussions from the Daily Scrum. Once the Scrum ends, some team members would stay back for their discussions. This is the After Party! All members do not need to stay, only the required ones.
Effective Issue Resolution
Parking lot, also known as issue bin, effectively deals with important non-agenda items that arise during a workshop. By adding a topic to the parking lot, the new, unrelated item will not be forgotten. This reassures the person who raised the issue that it will be dealt with, even if now is not the time.
Lack of consensus around next steps is a pitfall. Parking lots should offer outlines for future discussion, research, or meetings. If they do not inform action, then they only become a way to kindly dismiss someone’s contribution.