Jigsaw Technique
In an agile context, the Jigsaw technique is useful for onboarding new members, transferring knowledge between specialists, and collectively exploring complex topics that no single member fully masters.
When to use it
- To onboard new members to the team by distributing existing knowledge efficiently.
- When the team needs to learn about a new area (a technology, a methodology, a business context) and no member is an expert in everything.
- In retrospectives where the aim is to analyze several aspects of the sprint in depth and in parallel before bringing the findings together.
- To reduce knowledge silos in teams where each person masters one part of the system but nobody has the full picture.
How to apply it
Step 1: Selecting and assigning subtopics
As many subtopics are chosen as there will be groups. Each person is assigned a subtopic to research individually. The necessary resources are made available to them.
Step 2: Expert groups
Once each person has worked on their subtopic, groups of "experts" on the same subtopic are formed to pool their research and add perspectives. The size depends on the team: pairs in small teams, groups of five or six in large teams.
Step 3: Jigsaw groups
The expert groups are dissolved and new mixed groups are formed, in which each person is an expert on a different subtopic. Each expert teaches the rest of their new group what they have learned.
Step 4: Collective document
Each Jigsaw group produces a collective document that integrates the knowledge from all the subtopics.
Step 5: Sharing with the whole team
Each group presents its collective document to the whole team. A discussion is then opened to resolve questions and consolidate the knowledge.
Things to keep in mind
- Choosing the topic: it is advisable to start from a general topic and divide it into coherent subtopics. If the topic is SEO, the subtopics could be: on-page, off-page, technical, measurement, and tools.
- Time and resources: the benefits are long-term. The technique requires several sessions and time for individual research. It is necessary to assess whether it fits into the project schedule.
- Clear rules: it is important to agree on how questions will be resolved during the research phase, so that those who already master the topic are not constantly interrupted.
- The facilitator role: especially important in the sharing phase, to manage discussions and ensure that the knowledge is properly shared.
Jigsaw and AI tools
Generative AI tools can be used as support in the individual research phase:
- They can help prepare reference materials, synthesize documentation, or generate self-assessment questions on the assigned subtopic.
- However, the expert group phase and peer teaching should not be delegated to AI: it is precisely in that interaction that the deep learning and trust-building that make the technique valuable take place.
Common mistake
Skipping the expert group phase. If each person researches their subtopic and goes straight to the Jigsaw group without first discussing it with other experts on the same subtopic, the knowledge they pass on is more superficial and integrates fewer perspectives. The expert phase is what ensures that each person arrives at the Jigsaw group with solid knowledge, not just a summary of what they read.
Resources
📄 Técnica Jigsaw y su potencial como práctica ágil [The Jigsaw technique and its potential as an agile practice; in Spanish]Scrum Manager Blog · Apr 2023
References
- Aronson, Elliot et al. (1978). The Jigsaw Classroom. Sage Publications.
See also
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