Usecase Archive - 3kubik GmbH

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®:

Jessieca Yeboah — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 19:26:13 +0000

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®: Why I let people play with LEGO at work

If someone had told me a few years ago that I would one day be working with LEGO, I would have looked at my resume with great surprise. Sure, I grew up with LEGO, building castles and fantasy worlds, visiting LEGOLAND in Billund as a child, and somehow never really stopping. My key ring? A LEGO figure (first Gandalf, now Darth Vader). My office? Full of little LEGO setups. But it wasn’t clear to me for a long time that the colorful bricks would one day find their way into my work as a serious method for strategy development and teamwork.
Then came my first contact with LEGO in a design thinking workshop. There, it was used for prototyping. Exciting, but not yet what I pursue today with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®. Because that’s something completely different: a well-thought-out, scientifically based method for taking creativity and communication to a new level.

Why LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® works so well

The biggest difference to “normal” LEGO building? There are no instructions. No ‘right’ or “wrong.” Instead, it’s about making thoughts visible, shaping ideas, and developing a common language. This happens through metaphors—I build something and explain what it means.
With just six standard bricks, there are over 900 million possible combinations. That’s exactly what makes LSP so powerful: it brings diversity to thought patterns, breaks down mental blocks, and enables a change of perspective. Why does it work?
1. Hand-eye coordination & cognition When building with your hands, new connections are created in the brain. This promotes deeper insights and helps to better understand complex relationships. Studies show that we understand better when we physically design things instead of just talking about them or writing them down.
2. Metaphorical thinking & storytelling Instead of explaining abstract concepts in words, participants build models that make their thoughts and ideas visible. This creates a common understanding, even if there were previously different perspectives.
3. Equal communication Everyone builds and presents their model, which also helps introverts to express themselves. All ideas are valued, not just the loudest voices in the room.
4. Reduction of mental blocks The playful approach promotes open, creative thinking. While traditional meetings are often linear and restrictive, LSP enables a freer, more intuitive, and exploratory approach to problems.
5. Systemic thinking In addition to individual models, group models are also created in the workshops, bringing together different perspectives. This helps to understand complex challenges and develop strategies.

How a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshop works

A typical workshop follows a clear sequence:
1. Skill building: Everyone gets used to working with the bricks.
2. Individual models: Everyone builds something related to a specific question.
3. Group models: The individual ideas are brought together.
4. System models: External and internal factors are integrated.
The effect? Communication on an equal footing, greater openness, and a more in-depth examination of complex topics. It is particularly exciting that introverted people benefit from this method—they get to “have their say.”

Where LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® brings the greatest added value
From small teams to corporate strategy workshops, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is an amazingly flexible tool. It is particularly valuable:
• For teams that want to improve their collaboration
• For management teams developing visions and strategies
• For creative processes and innovation workshops
• For retrospectives in agile teams
The playful approach makes it easy to break down barriers and allow new ideas to emerge. And yes, it’s simply more fun than “traditional” meetings.

My personal “aha” moment with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®

One of the biggest “aha” moments came during a workshop on team values. Everyone built their model, explained it, and suddenly it became clear: we thought we were talking about the same thing – but we meant completely different things.
That’s exactly the point: LEGO Serious Play reveals such misunderstandings and helps to resolve them. It’s about making thoughts tangible, discovering new paths, and creating shared images that everyone can truly understand.

Why companies should play more
Many companies think that work has to be deadly serious and take place at a desk – and that’s often the problem. Creativity, innovation, and genuine communication arise when we have a clear head.

My tips for companies that want to try LSP:
1. Maintain structure – LSP is not just throwing LEGO around wildly, but a clearly defined method.
2. Rely on experienced moderators – Facilitators make a huge difference.
3. Just do it! Don’t be afraid to use play as a method.

Conclusion: Gaming is not an end in itself, but a tool

For me, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is more than just a method—it’s a new approach to problem solving, teamwork, and creativity. And let’s be honest: who wouldn’t rather have a meeting with LEGO than watch the 19th PowerPoint presentation of the day?
So, the next time you find yourself stuck in a meeting, maybe a box of LEGO will help. It’s amazing what can come out of it.

Der Beitrag LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®: erschien zuerst auf 3kubik GmbH.

Loop – Adoption & Enablement for new Microsoft 365 Features

Jessieca Yeboah — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:49:31 +0000

Microsoft Loop:

Our first steps and quick wins for everyday work

Since last year, Microsoft Loop has been an integral part of 3kubik—and not just as an exciting topic for our internal team Fridays. We have tested Loop extensively ourselves and used it in various scenarios. We now know that with just a little individual effort, it is possible to achieve initial, tangible successes in collaboration. In this article, you will learn how we use Loop in our team and in customer projects, what quick wins everyone can achieve, and what we believe is not yet running optimally.

What is Microsoft Loop and why have we been testing it since last year?

Microsoft Loop is a platform in Microsoft 365 that is divided into three levels:

1. Loop components: Small, dynamic content (lists, tables, notes, etc.) that can be inserted and synchronized in Teams, Outlook, OneNote, or Word (Web).

2. Loop pages: Extensive workspaces – a kind of digital whiteboard – where you can collaborate on content.

3. Loop workspaces: Collections of Loop pages that can be structured by project, topic, or team.

We have been using Loop ourselves since last year to make our internal processes leaner and more interactive. On our team Fridays, we use Loop pages to collect and discuss everything that has been left undone during the week. In doing so, we have gained initial experience of how Loop works across components and where there are still issues in everyday use.

Our experiences:
Three specific application scenarios

1. Internal team Fridays
Since November 2024, we have been creating one page per week for our weekly team Fridays in a dedicated Loop workspace, where we:

Collect and prioritize agenda items
Tag colleagues (the email notification feature still leaves something to be desired)
Can access ongoing topics across all pages without having to manually move unfinished topics from one week to the next
Expand notes live during the meeting – without having to jump back and forth between PowerPoint or OneNote
Have a finished transcript ready for anyone who is currently on vacation 😊🏝️

Advantage: Everyone can collaborate in real time, we get to the heart of the matter faster, and all relevant information stays in one place.

2. Loop as a project tool in customer projects
In some customer projects, we use Loop pages specifically to make the most important content available interactively for each meeting. It looks like this:

For each project meeting, whether training or workshop, we create a Loop page that contains the current agenda, links to presentation documents or concept boards, or the project planner.
During the meeting, all participants work together on the checklists, comment directly in Loop components, and can provide live feedback.
After the meeting, this Loop page remains in place, tasks (embedded from Planner) are checked off, and the current status is transparent for everyone.

Advantage: Fewer different media that project participants have to click through, less version chaos—everyone works on the same page. And everyone knows what to do next. In particular, the combination of “instructions” for a task, the task itself, and the context (project, workshop, work package) helps people who are not involved with the project on a daily basis to quickly get back on track.

3. Loop task lists with Lightweight Planner as a workaround for Shared Channels
Planner boards are still not available in Teams shared channels. We tested how Loop task lists with the integrated Lightweight Planners (i.e., task lists with assignments and due dates) can help:

In Loop, we create one task list per project, which we embed in the shared channel as a Loop component.
Everyone can access the task list directly in Teams, move tasks, change priorities, and view due dates.
The Loop Tasks Lightweight Planner synchronizes between the Loop app and Teams.

Advantage: We can work with shared channels without having to forego collaborative editing of Planner tasks.

Quick wins:
How even beginners can quickly achieve their first successes

You don’t need to be a power user or have developer skills to use Loop effectively. The following tips will help you achieve your first small successes in less than an hour:

1. Start with a Loop component in Outlook

Create a new calendar entry in Outlook.
Add a Loop component (e.g., a checklist or a short table).
Invite one or two colleagues to edit the component with you.
It’s very simple: everyone involved can participate directly in the calendar entry itself and contribute to the agenda or to-do list – without any tedious appointment updates.

2. Loop page as a brainstorming board in Teams chat

In Teams, click on the Loop icon in the desired chat or channel.
Select a template (e.g., brainstorming or mind map) or start a blank Loop page.
Invite your team to add keywords or discuss points live.
Within minutes, you’ll have an interactive collage of ideas without anyone having to send screenshots back and forth.

3. Loop task list as a mini planner

Create a Loop task list in the Loop app (or in Teams).
Assign yourself a few tasks, set due dates and priorities.
This allows you to immediately see how Loop components work in your personal workflow without a lot of overhead.

Conclusion: Loop is intuitive and deeply integrated into Microsoft 365. With a little trial and error, you’ll have concrete results in just half an hour that will support you in your everyday work.

What’s next:
Where we’re still waiting for Microsoft goodies

Sure, not everything is perfect yet, and we’re hoping Microsoft will fix a few things soon:

Fragmented storage in different locations
Loop components are stored in different Microsoft 365 storage locations depending on where they come from (OneDrive, SharePoint, or the Loop app). This means that when searching for older pages or components, it is sometimes difficult to know where they are stored. A more centralized storage model would be extremely helpful so that we don’t have to search OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams in parallel.

Microsoft Groups model still missing
Currently, Loop uses Microsoft 365 permissions, but seamless integration into the Microsoft Groups model does not yet exist. This means that when I share a Loop workspace in a Team channel, permissions are unfortunately cumbersome to set individually. We would like to see groups in Loop automatically recognized in the future, so that sharing workspaces for project teams is just as easy as in the rest of the app catalog. Microsoft currently has this on its roadmap for release in a few months.

Once these issues are improved, we believe Loop will become a true universal platform for collaborative work in Microsoft 365 and even compensate for some weaknesses in other apps (e.g., enabling workarounds such as our Lightweight Planner lists).

Der Beitrag Loop – Adoption & Enablement for new Microsoft 365 Features erschien zuerst auf 3kubik GmbH.

Working with AI – but doing it right!

Jessieca Yeboah — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 11:54:28 +0000

What companies should consider before integrating AI into their work processes

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere: in meetings, on LinkedIn, in marketing, in office applications, and especially in the imagination of many companies that want to work more efficiently, smarter, and more sustainably. But there is a fine line between hype and real added value.
As a consulting firm for modern ways of working, we at 3kubik see every day how great the potential of AI is and how easy it is to get lost in gimmicks or overlook important prerequisites.
That’s why we want to share our perspective: What does it take to use AI in a truly meaningful and sustainable way in a company?

Targeted instead of blind: What do I actually want to achieve with AI?

AI is not an end in itself. Just because many companies are doing it does not mean that your company should do it too. Instead, it is worth asking the question:

• What specific goal am I pursuing with AI? For example, do I want to:
o Save time on recurring tasks?
o Scale my marketing even with limited resources?
o Automate knowledge management or simplify processes?

At 3kubik, we use AI specifically for the structured elaboration of workshop results, for example to create guidelines, overviews of measures, or campaigns. In doing so, we consistently ensure that no personal or company-sensitive data is used, but instead work exclusively with abstracted, anonymized, or generic content. We also use AI in technical areas, such as JSON formatting in Power Automate or M formulas in Power BI, based on neutral sample data. Our use of AI is therefore compliant with the requirements of the EU AI Act and supports our work where it makes sense, safely, efficiently, and responsibly.

Practical example:

✔ Goal: Save time on workshop documentation

✉ Prompt:“Organize the results of this workshop into an action plan. Break it down into short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals. Target audience: management.”

Understanding what AI can and cannot do

AI is not a magic stick. It does not deliver truths, but rather suggestions based on data and probabilities. And it works best when used within a meaningful framework.

What AI (for exampl. ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot) can do:
• Summarize, structure, and formulate content
• Generate ideas and optimize texts
• Analyze and visualize data
• Provide technical assistance (e.g., M formulas, JSON code, Power Automate logic)
• Speed up repetitive tasks

What AI cannot do:
• Making decisions for you
• Developing corporate strategy
• Making correct statements without context
• Improvising with common sense
• Taking into account the nuances and “human” aspects of a workshop

Our tip: AI is a tool, not a replacement for humans. But it is a damn good tool if you know how to use it.

Example of use:

✔ Prompt:Summarize this article in three bullet points for a LinkedIn post. Tone: professional but casual.
❌ Not suitable: “What is the best strategy for my company?” (too open, without context)

Prompt-Power:

Why inputs determine the outcome

“Garbage in, garbage out” also applies (and especially so) to AI.
A good prompt (the input or question to the AI) is often crucial for a useful result. A few rules of thumb:
• Be precise: What exactly do you want?
• Provide context: Who is the target audience? What is the goal?
• Think in terms of roles: “Act like a project manager creating a roadmap for a change project.”
• Test different variations: Trial and error is part of the process.

What we do at 3kubik:
We always develop our initial ideas for marketing content, concepts, or blog posts ourselves. Structured, targeted, and tailored to the respective message. In the next step, we use AI to refine wording, make texts more fluid, or adapt them to the tone of the respective channel. In this way, we combine technical substance with linguistic quality, efficiently but always with a human touch.

A strong prompt could look like this:
“You are a copywriter at a management consultancy for digitalization.

Goal: Write an email invitation for a webinar on the topic of ‘AI in Power Automate’.

Tone: competent, inviting.”

AI models compared:
Free vs. paid

What companies should bear in mind

Quellen: 1 ChatGPT (OpenAI); 2 Microsoft Copilot; 3 Google Gemini; 4 Claude (Anthropic); 5 Perplexity AI; 6 DeepL Write

Data protection & responsibility:

What companies should bear in mind

Artificial intelligence works with data, which may well include sensitive or personal information. That is why addressing data protection and ethical use is not a “nice-to-have” but a mandatory requirement.

In a business context in particular, the following questions arise time and again:

Where does the data I enter into an AI tool end up?
Is it stored or reused for training purposes?
Is the tool GDPR-compliant, or are there legal risks involved?

The EU AI Act and the GDPR clearly stipulate that the highest standards apply when using AI. Even the mere text content of customer feedback or an email can be considered sensitive if it allows conclusions to be drawn about a person.

Our recommendation based on practical experience:
At 3kubik, we do not enter sensitive customer data or internal content into publicly accessible AI tools. Instead:

we work with abstracted or anonymized content,
use closed systems with clear data management,
or develop prompt templates that function completely independently of confidential context.

For businesses, we recommend:
Rely on AI solutions that have been specifically developed for professional use, such as Microsoft Copilot in combination with Microsoft 365. These systems offer high security standards, clear data management, and remain within your IT environment.

Those who work with particularly sensitive data or require maximum control should also consider Self-Hosting- or Private-Cloud-Model. This ensures that full control over data access, storage locations, and rights assignment remains with the company and not with the AI provider.

Typical pitfall:
❌ Prompt:“Analyze the sales figures of our top customers from the last quarter.”

✔ Instead: “Analyze anonymized sales data from a sample customer group (industry: IT services, 10–50 employees) for seasonal patterns.”

Practice at 3kubik:

Where AI brings real added value

At 3kubik, we use AI today precisely where it provides us with concrete support, as an intelligent tool, not as a substitute. AI helps us work more efficiently and leverage our quality even more effectively, especially when it comes to developing workshop content, technical configurations, and marketing.

Before AI, we put a ton of effort into a lot of these tasks, doing them in a structured way, with a lot of attention to detail, often going beyond what we originally planned. We often spent more time than we had planned because coming up with a well-thought-out, good solution was more important to us than the stopwatch.

Since we started integrating AI into our processes in a meaningful way, we have been able to prepare many of these tasks more quickly and structure them better. This means more focus on the essentials and less time spent on the peripherals.

However, it is important not to underestimate the fact that using AI also requires preparation. A well-formulated prompt, i.e., the “question” posed to the AI, has a decisive influence on the quality of the result. And even after that, adjustments are usually still necessary, whether in terms of content, style, or structure. The creative thinking remains with us; only the path to the goal has become shorter.

Here are a few specific examples of how we use it in our everyday work:

Workshop follow-up: We use AI to structure results and ideas, e.g., in the form of catalogs of measures or guidelines, based exclusively on non-personal and abstract content.
Technical support: In Power Automate and Power BI, we use AI to efficiently develop formulas, JSON logic, or formatting, using generic sample data, never real user data.
Marketing & communication: Initial concepts and drafts continue to come from our team. AI helps to refine them linguistically and play them out fluently and in a target group-oriented manner, depending on the channel (LinkedIn, website, newsletter).

Prompt examples:

Workshop follow-up: “You are an organizational developer in a consulting firm. Structure the following workshop results in a clear catalog of measures with the following categories: field of action, responsible persons, effort (high/medium/low), implementation period (short/medium/long term). Make recommendations for prioritization for the next team meeting.”
Power Automate: “Generate JSON formatting for a SharePoint list in which the status column is automatically color-coded: green for ‘Completed’, yellow for ‘In progress’, red for ‘Overdue’. Output the complete JSON code and explain the most important logic sections in one sentence.”
Communication: “You are a content editor at a digital transformation company. Goal: Turn the blog article below into three social media posts. Version 1: informative for LinkedIn. Version 2: inspiring for Instagram with a suitable hook. Version 3: dialogue-oriented with a closing question for X (formerly Twitter). Give each post an appropriate length, hashtags, and emoji support if necessary.”

Conclusion:

AI as a sparring partner – conscious, human, effective

Artificial intelligence is not an end in itself. It is a powerful lever for modern, efficient collaboration when used in a targeted, strategic, and responsible manner. As a sparring partner, it can help save time, structure content more quickly, or get to the heart of ideas. But it does not replace the human perspective; it complements it.

Now that AI-generated texts and images can be recognized on many channels, it is clear that technology is no substitute for care. Content appears interchangeable if it is not edited, which is a shame. Even though AI takes a lot of work off our hands, it is still worth putting in the effort yourself at the end. This ensures that a text not only sounds correct, but also human, personal, relevant, and with rough edges.

At 3kubik, we show our customers where AI can be used effectively to work more efficiently and create space for what really matters, whether in marketing, workshop follow-up, or technical support. Not automated, but well thought out. Not as a replacement, but as a tool with potential.

Curious? 😉
If you want to know how AI can also support your work processes in a meaningful way, get in touch with us. We’ll show you how to use AI correctly: in a structured, secure way that delivers real added value.

Artificial intelligence was used to assist in the creation of this article. The content was editorially reviewed, revised, and adapted to our quality standards.

Der Beitrag Working with AI – but doing it right! erschien zuerst auf 3kubik GmbH.

Knowledgemanagement Days 2024

Jessieca Yeboah — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 10:11:16 +0000

Event review:

Our impressions of the Knowledge Management Days 2024

From November 19 to 20, 2024, we attended the Knowledge Management Days in Stuttgart. With a new venue and exciting discussions, it was a great opportunity to exchange ideas with professionals from the industry – even if the event sometimes made us think.

A new home for the Knowledge Management Days

The congress took place in a modern, inviting location (the GATE22 – Hybrid Studio), which brought a breath of fresh air to the event. It was our fourth time taking part, even though one edition was canceled due to the corona break. Nevertheless, it felt like a home game, as we now feel part of the community and are always happy to see many familiar faces.

AI everywhere – but how much does it really help?

The central theme this year was “Knowledge meets AI”. The topic was addressed in almost every presentation – sometimes so much so that it seemed almost overwhelming. Although we appreciate the potential of AI, the question arose for us: do AI tools really make us better knowledge managers or should we not focus on finally making full use of human intelligence?
A little anecdote lightened the mood: the moderator made a tongue-in-cheek appeal not to mob AI – or affectionately known as “Kai”. This shows our ambivalent relationship with artificial intelligence: we humanize it instead of focusing on the exchange with actual human intelligence around us and using AI as a tool that can be meaningfully integrated into everyday working life if we train and use it correctly. Despite impressive technical possibilities: Humans and their ability to share knowledge and enrich it through interaction, experience and learning cannot be replaced.

Our contribution:
Interactive walls for “Aha!” moments

As sponsors, we brought along our own format:

Interactive themed posters to encourage participants to record and share their

aha moments from the sessions and share them.

We set up four central categories:
1. human/cultural
2. organizational
3. technical
4. strategic

Equipped with post-its and pens, we had prepared everything – even the moderator repeatedly praised our format. Nevertheless, it was surprising how difficult many people found it to record their thoughts.

Why sharing knowledge is so difficult

Our impression: Knowledge managers – the experts for sharing knowledge – also have reservations. The challenge often lay in the fact that many considered their own insights to be too banal or were unsure whether they were really relevant. One participant even told us that he had only just learned about terms such as “culture of sharing” or “knowledge staircase” at the conference – and thought that such “basics” were not worth sharing.
We recognize a familiar pattern here: what some people take for granted can open up a completely new perspective for others. This shows how important it is to create spaces and structures that reduce these uncertainties.

Our insights

The Knowledge Management Days not only offered us the opportunity to learn new things, but also to reflect on our own approaches. In particular, we were confirmed in our assumption that “culture follows structure”. If you want to delve deeper into this, you should take a look at Larman’s Laws. There is more on this here.
If we want people to start sharing their knowledge, we need to create structures that encourage this. Our interactive walls were a small step in this direction. We provided the necessary resources (post-its, pens), explained the purpose of the format and made the walls visible. However, just like in day-to-day business, it takes time and practice to make sharing knowledge a routine.

Summary: An

exciting look into the future

Our experience at the Knowledge Management Days 2024 shows us that, despite all the technological advances, people are at the heart of knowledge management. AI can provide support, but the foundation remains a strong, active knowledge culture. Without this, even AI has nothing to interpret.
As sponsors, we are proud to make a small contribution with our format – and take away a lot of inspiration to make our own work and that of our customers even better. We are already looking forward to next year!
The elaboration of the Aha-Moments will follow next week.

Der Beitrag Knowledgemanagement Days 2024 erschien zuerst auf 3kubik GmbH.

Usecase Archive - 3kubik GmbH

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®:

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®: Why I let people play with LEGO at work

Why LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® works so well

How a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshop works

My personal “aha” moment with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®

Conclusion: Gaming is not an end in itself, but a tool

Loop – Adoption & Enablement for new Microsoft 365 Features

Microsoft Loop:

Our first steps and quick wins for everyday work

What is Microsoft Loop and why have we been testing it since last year?

Our experiences: Three specific application scenarios

Quick wins: How even beginners can quickly achieve their first successes

What’s next: Where we’re still waiting for Microsoft goodies

Working with AI – but doing it right!

What companies should consider before integrating AI into their work processes

Targeted instead of blind: What do I actually want to achieve with AI?

Understanding what AI can and cannot do

Prompt-Power:

Why inputs determine the outcome

AI models compared: Free vs. paid

What companies should bear in mind

Data protection & responsibility:

What companies should bear in mind

Practice at 3kubik:

Where AI brings real added value

Conclusion:

AI as a sparring partner – conscious, human, effective

Knowledgemanagement Days 2024

Event review:

Our impressions of the Knowledge Management Days 2024

A new home for the Knowledge Management Days

AI everywhere – but how much does it really help?

Our contribution: Interactive walls for “Aha!” moments

Why sharing knowledge is so difficult

Our insights

Summary: An

exciting look into the future

Our experiences:
Three specific application scenarios

Quick wins:
How even beginners can quickly achieve their first successes

What’s next:
Where we’re still waiting for Microsoft goodies

AI models compared:
Free vs. paid

Our contribution:
Interactive walls for “Aha!” moments