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Ritual Basics

Welcome to the “Ritual Basics” section of this reference guide. Understanding the foundational elements and key terms of the Ritual app is essential for maximizing its features and benefits. Whether you’re a first-time user or need a refresher, this section provides succinct definitions and explanations for various concepts and terminologies within the app. Dive in to get a solid grasp of the building blocks that make Ritual a unique and powerful tool for your needs.

Exploration

An exploration is any idea, problem or opportunity you’d like to better understand in collaboration with others. It is the start to finish workflow for the decision making process here at Ritual. You are determining what is important before moving to prototypes, recommendations, or decisions.

An exploration is comprised of three stages:

  • Source: Build an exploratino for an idea or problem based on the right question list
  • Explore: Run an exploration to develop high quality answers to draw the right conclusions
  • Solve: Tap into meeting ready content to power recommendations and alignment

Problem Statement

A problem statement is a concise formulation of a question or issue that needs resolving. Unlike a straightforward query, it is often a strategic question laden with more unknowns than knowns. The statement acts as a guiding light for decision-making processes, whether in business, research, or any other domain where problem-solving is essential. It identifies an upcoming decision point or ‘fork in the road’ that requires in-depth exploration, analysis, and understanding. Crafting a well-defined problem statement is the first step toward finding a solution or making an informed choice among various possible directions.

Problem Area

A problem area refers to a broader domain or context within which specific challenges or obstacles exist. Unlike a problem statement, which is a focused, strategic question pinpointing a particular issue, a problem area encompasses a range of related issues or complexities. Within a problem area, you are likely to encounter multiple problem statements, each demanding its own exploration, analysis, and solution. Identifying a problem area serves as an initial step in problem-solving processes, providing a framework for generating specific problem statements that guide subsequent research, decision-making, or development efforts.

Sourcing Period

The Sourcing Period is a designated timeframe during which collaborators are encouraged to submit questions or suggestions relevant to an exploration or project. This window of opportunity is critical for shaping the direction and focus of the initiative at hand. Typically lasting from 1 day to a few days, the Sourcing Period allows team members to bring forth their inquiries, concerns, or ideas, ensuring a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to problem-solving and decision-making. By contributing during the Sourcing Period, collaborators enrich the project’s context and depth, helping to create a well-rounded foundation for subsequent actions.

Matter

In our context, a “matter” refers to specific considerations that play a crucial role in informing a choice or decision. Matters serve as focal points that need to be scrutinized, and they are often accompanied by clarifying questions aimed at illuminating facts or adding texture to the subject at hand.

Breadth vs Depth

  • Breadth: This refers to the compilation of multiple matters that should be examined as part of a comprehensive decision-making process.
  • Depth: This involves generating a list of clarifying questions for each matter, diving deeper to uncover nuances, challenges, and opportunities.

The Importance of Clarifying Questions
Too often, teams find themselves in meetings where the understanding of important considerations is superficial, leading to less-than-optimal outcomes. This pitfall can be avoided by surfacing clarifying questions early in the process, thereby giving the team ample time to investigate and gain a more profound understanding of each matter.

General workspace

When you join Ritual, you are automatically added to your own General Workspace—a dedicated space designed to offer flexibility and ease in exploring ideas or initiatives. Unlike project-specific workspaces that are tailored for more structured endeavors, a General Workspace provides a less formal environment to kickstart your explorations.

Each Ritual user is granted this default workspace upon joining, enabling them to hit the ground running without the need to set up a separate project workspace. You can easily add what we refer to as an ‘exploration’ within this General Workspace, streamlining the process to move from idea to action without the overhead of project setup.

Project workspace

A Project Workspace within Ritual is your centralized hub for all things related to a specific project or formalized initiative. Unlike the General Workspace, which is designed for individual exploration and initial idea generation, a Project Workspace is tailored for collaborative efforts involving a project manager, team members, and sponsors.

Within this dedicated space, you can access all of the project’s explorations, ensuring that each member has the context needed to contribute effectively. From key decisions to crucial recommendations, the Project Workspace serves as the collaborative backbone of your project, providing all the essential information and tools you need to drive your initiative to success.