Did You Know?
The new BarnOwl Workshop module brings a more flexible and accessible approach to workshop participation.
Participants can now vote directly using their mobile phones, eliminating the need for handheld keypads. The module also supports fully remote and hybrid workshops, enabling participants to take part whether they are physically in the room, joining remotely, or a combination of both.
A simpler, more flexible way to run interactive workshops, wherever your participants are.
Step by Step guide to conducting a Workshop:
- Step 1: Configure workshop (workshop facilitator)
- Step 2: Import current BarnOwl risk register/s into the workshop module (workshop facilitator)
- Step 3: Take the workshop offline (workshop facilitator. Note offline is only available for in-person workshops)
- Step 4: Conduct the workshop (workshop facilitator with participants):
- Option A: In-Person Workshop
In-person workshop: All participants attend the workshop physically and connect to the local Wi-Fi network. They can then vote using their mobile phone, tablet or laptop.
- Option B: Hybrid Workshop
Some participants attend the workshop in person, while others participate remotely. To enable voting, all participants must connect to the organisation’s VPN using a device such as a mobile phone, tablet or laptop. The facilitator should be connected directly to the corporate network rather than via VPN, as the VPN may block the listening port required for participants to connect to the host.
- Option C: Remote Workshop
All participants participate remotely and must connect to the organisation’s VPN using a device such as a mobile phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer to enable voting. The facilitator should be connected directly to the corporate network rather than via VPN, as the VPN may block the listening port required for participants to connect to the host.
- Option A: In-Person Workshop
- Step 5: View workshop results (in the workshop)
- Step 6: Close the workshop, Accept / Reject workshop results and Save to the BarnOwl risk register
- Step 7: Synchronise the offline database back to the live database
- Step 8: View updated live risk register
What is the difference between Workshops and Risk & Control Self-Assessments (RCSAs)
| Workshop module | RCSAs |
| BarnOwl’s new Voting Module extends workshops beyond traditional in-person workshops, now supporting remote and hybrid workshop modes where participants can join and participate from their own locations. | Designed for remote (online) voting (in your own time) |
| Enables new risks and controls to be identified and captured during the workshop. Enables new as well as existing risks and controls to be voted on in the workshop using mobile phones, laptops or tablets. | Does not allow a user to capture new risks or controls The user can only vote on risk and controls which already exist in the live risk register |
| Operates online or offline (i.e. eliminates the need for network connectivity) Note: offline is only possible where all participants are physically in the workshop on the same Wi-Fi. | Operates online only. i.e. The user needs to be connected to the organisation’s network. |
| Risk and control registers are updated in ‘moderation mode’, which means that the live registers are not updated directly The live registers are only updated once the administrator (facilitator) closes the workshop and accepts the results. | Risk and control registers are updated in ‘moderation mode’, which means that the live registers are not updated directly The live registers are only updated once the administrator closes the vote and updates the results to the BarnOwl database |
| A BarnOwl desktop (rich) license is required for the facilitator / administrator to create and conduct a workshop | A BarnOwl desktop (rich) license is required for an administrator to create and send out votes to the relevant users (risk and control owners) RCSAs can be sent out to an unlimited number of users (risk and control owners) within your organisation without the users requiring a paid-for BarnOwl license. BarnOwl’s open license is free to unlimited users within your organisation, enabling users to complete RCSAs, update their action plans, complete surveys & questionnaires and capture key indicator values |
| IMPORTANT: For mobile voting to work, all participants must be connected to the same network: For in-person workshops, all participants must connect to the same Wi-Fi network to enable voting from their mobile phones, laptops or tablets.For remote and hybrid workshops, where participants may be joining both remotely and in person, each participant must have a device (mobile phone, laptop or tablet) which can connect to the corporate network via VPN.NB: In most cases, the host should be connected directly to the corporate network rather than via VPN, as the VPN may block the listening port required for participants to connect to the host. |
Conclusion
The BarnOwl Workshop module provides a highly effective platform for facilitating interactive risk management workshops. It enables participants to identify new risks and controls, as well as rate both new and existing risks and controls using mobile phones, tablets or computers.
A key enhancement is the module’s flexible voting capability, supporting in-person, fully remote and hybrid workshops where participants can vote using their mobile phones, tablets or computers.
This provides organisations with a more flexible and accessible way to engage participants and achieve consensus during risk management workshops, regardless of where participants are located.
Please Note: Turning Point keypads have been discontinued in BarnOwl
Useful links
Please find the presentation here.
About BarnOwl:
| BarnOwl is a fully integrated governance, risk management, compliance and audit software solution used by over 150 blue chip organisations. BarnOwl is a locally developed software solution and is the preferred risk management solution for the South African public sector supporting the National Treasury risk framework. Please see www.barnowl.co.za for more information. |