I’ve finally had a chance to put the Pip Decks Ultimate Bundle to the test. After owning it for around 18 months, I’ve used several of the decks in my day-to-day work as a business analyst. I thought it was about time I shared my experience and, more importantly, whether I think it’s worth the investment.
When I first bought the bundle, I was interested in having a collection of tools and techniques that I could use in my work. However, I wasn’t entirely sure how much I would actually use them or whether buying the whole bundle was the right decision.
Now that I’ve had a decent amount of time to try them out, I have a much better idea of where they add value, which decks I’ve found most useful and whether I’d recommend them to other professionals.
This isn’t a review of every single card. Instead, I want to share my experience of using them in the real world, including what I like, what I don’t and who I think would benefit from having them.
What is the Pip Decks Ultimate Bundle?
For anyone who hasn’t come across Pip Decks before, they’re essentially a collection of practical tools, techniques and activities designed to help you tackle different business challenges.
The tools are presented as decks of cards, with each card explaining a particular technique, how it works and how you can put it into practice.
The Ultimate Bundle I purchased included several decks covering different areas of business, including:
- Workshop Tactics: Tools and activities for planning and running effective workshops.
- Team Tactics: Techniques for improving teamwork, communication and collaboration.
- Productivity Tactics: Methods for managing your time and getting things done.
- Innovation Tactics: Tools to help generate ideas and approach problems differently.
- Strategy Tactics: Techniques for developing and communicating business strategies.
- Brand Tactics: Tools for building and developing a brand.
There are other resources included in the bundle, but these are the main decks I’ve spent time exploring.
One of the things I particularly liked when I first received the bundle was the physical cards. Each deck is colour-coded, making it relatively easy to find the techniques you’re looking for.
The cards also follow a consistent format. They explain what the technique is, why you might want to use it and, most importantly, how to do it.
It’s a simple concept, but one that works particularly well when you’re looking for something practical rather than spending hours reading about theory.
There are also digital versions available, which is useful if you prefer working on a computer.
Which Pip Decks have I actually used?
Although I bought the Ultimate Bundle to explore all the different techniques, the reality is that I’ve used some decks considerably more than others.
As a business analyst, my work involves plenty of meetings, stakeholder engagement, requirements gathering and workshops. Naturally, I’ve found the Workshop Tactics and Team Tactics decks the most useful.
I’ve also used some of the Productivity and Innovation Tactics.
On the other hand, I haven’t really had much opportunity to use the Strategy and Brand Tactics in my day-to-day work.
That’s not necessarily a criticism of those decks. They’re simply less relevant to the projects I’ve been working on.
However, it’s worth considering if you’re thinking about buying the entire bundle. Just because you have access to all the decks doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily use them all.
Workshop Tactics: My most-used deck
Of all the decks I’ve used, Workshop Tactics is probably the one that has provided the most value.
Anyone who’s responsible for organising workshops will know that there’s quite a bit of preparation involved.
You need to understand what you’re trying to achieve, identify the right people to involve and decide how you’re going to structure the session.
Then there’s the question of which activities to use.
You can spend hours researching different workshop techniques, trying to work out which ones are suitable for your particular situation.
And that’s assuming you have plenty of time to prepare.
In reality, that’s not always the case.
I’ve been in situations where I’ve been asked to organise a workshop with relatively little notice. You might only have a few days to pull everything together, and suddenly you’re trying to work out how you’re going to make the session productive.
This is where I’ve found Pip Decks particularly useful.
Rather than starting from scratch, I can pick up the Workshop Tactics deck and look through the different activities.
I can start by thinking about what I want to achieve from the workshop and then select the techniques that might help me get there.
Each card provides an explanation of the activity, how to run it and how long it might take.
That saves me a considerable amount of time when planning a session.
It also takes away some of the uncertainty that comes with organising workshops, particularly when you’re working to tight deadlines.
Instead of spending hours researching different approaches, I have a collection of techniques sitting on my desk that I can refer to whenever I need them.
It’s a relatively simple benefit, but one that I’ve come to appreciate.
Using Pip Decks in meetings
Another thing I’ve enjoyed is being able to use some of the techniques during meetings themselves.
It’s easy for meetings to become repetitive. You end up having the same conversations, discussing the same problems and sometimes struggling to get people to engage.
Having a few different techniques available can help change things up.
I’ve used some of the cards to introduce different approaches to discussions and meetings. They’ve been well received by the people I’ve worked with.
I particularly like having something physical that I can pick up and refer to rather than having to search through documents or navigate between different applications.
It’s also useful when you’re working with people who might not be familiar with particular workshop techniques.
You can introduce an activity, explain how it works and get everyone involved without having to spend too much time explaining the theory behind it.
Of course, not every technique will be suitable for every meeting. You still need to use your judgement and consider the people you’re working with.
But having a selection of activities readily available makes it easier to try different approaches.
The benefits of having the physical cards
One of the things I particularly like about Pip Decks is the physical format.
You can get digital versions of the decks, and there’s nothing wrong with using those. However, I personally prefer having the physical cards in front of me.
There’s something convenient about being able to pick up a deck, flick through the cards and quickly find an activity that might work.
I keep mine on my desk, so they’re always within reach.
When I’m planning a workshop or thinking about how to approach a particular problem, I can simply grab a deck and see what’s available.
It’s much easier than having to remember the name of a particular technique, search for it online and then work out how to apply it.
The cards also make it easier to explore techniques that you might not have considered otherwise.
Sometimes, just flicking through a deck can give you an idea for an activity that you hadn’t thought about using.
It’s a small thing, but it’s one of the reasons I find the physical versions so useful.
Of course, this is largely down to personal preference. If you’re comfortable working digitally, you might not get quite the same benefit from having the physical cards.
Is the Pip Decks Ultimate Bundle worth the money?
This is probably the most important question, particularly given the price.
The Ultimate Bundle isn’t a particularly cheap purchase. When I bought mine, I spent quite a bit of time deciding whether to buy the entire bundle or just purchase a few individual decks.
Ultimately, I decided to go for the Ultimate Bundle because it offered better value for money compared with buying the decks individually.
I also wanted to explore the different techniques and see which ones I could use in my work.
Looking back, I think I’ve got good value out of it.
I’ve certainly used some decks more than others, but the ones I regularly use have saved me time and given me a useful collection of techniques to draw upon.
There’s also value in having the other decks available, even if I haven’t used them yet.
For example, if I find myself working on a project that requires more strategic thinking or brand development, I already have a collection of tools that I can explore.
I don’t need to go out and buy another set of resources.
It’s also helped me feel more confident when approaching unfamiliar tasks. Having a selection of techniques available gives me somewhere to start, rather than having to work everything out from scratch.
That said, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend buying the entire bundle to everyone.
If you’re only interested in running workshops, for example, you might find that purchasing Workshop Tactics on its own is sufficient.
It’s worth thinking about which areas are most relevant to your work before committing to the full bundle.
Are the techniques anything particularly new?
One thing I think is important to mention is that the techniques themselves aren’t necessarily revolutionary.
Many of the activities and methods included in the decks are already available online.
If you’ve been working in business analysis, project management or consultancy for a while, there’s a good chance you’ll already be familiar with some of them.
I’ve certainly come across several of the techniques before.
You could probably spend some time researching these methods and put together your own collection of activities without buying the decks.
However, I don’t think that’s really where the main value of Pip Decks lies.
For me, the real benefit is having everything organised in one place, with clear instructions on how to use each technique.
You don’t have to spend time searching for activities or working out how to apply them.
You can simply pick up a card and get started.
It’s the convenience and accessibility that make the product worthwhile for me, rather than necessarily discovering lots of techniques I’ve never encountered before.
Has the Pip Decks Ultimate Bundle changed?
It’s worth mentioning that Pip Decks has updated its offering since I originally purchased the Ultimate Bundle.
The version I bought isn’t necessarily identical to what’s available today.
If you’re considering purchasing it, I’d recommend checking the current contents of the bundle to make sure you’re comparing like for like.
I also understand that the price has increased since I bought mine, so it’s worth checking the current price before making a decision.
My experience is based on the bundle I purchased and the time I’ve spent using it over the last 18 months.
Who would benefit from Pip Decks?
Based on my experience, I think the decks could be useful for a range of professionals.
Business analysts
As a business analyst, I’ve found the Workshop Tactics and Team Tactics particularly useful. If your role involves stakeholder engagement, requirements gathering or facilitating workshops, having a collection of practical activities can save you a lot of preparation time.
Project managers
Project managers often need to bring different people together, facilitate discussions and find ways to solve problems. Having a collection of techniques to help structure those conversations could be useful.
Consultants
Consultants frequently work across different organisations and projects, sometimes with very little preparation time. Having a collection of ready-to-use techniques could help when you’re faced with an unfamiliar challenge.
Team leaders and managers
If you’re responsible for managing people, running meetings or improving collaboration, some of the techniques could help you introduce different ways of working.
Of course, how useful the decks are will depend on your role and the types of challenges you face.
My final thoughts: Would I buy them again?
After around 18 months of owning and using the Pip Decks Ultimate Bundle, I’m pleased with my purchase.
I’ve found the Workshop Tactics and Team Tactics particularly useful in my work as a business analyst. They’ve helped me plan workshops, introduce different activities into meetings and save time when preparing for sessions.
I also like having the other decks available, even if I haven’t had the opportunity to use them as much.
However, I don’t think the product is necessarily about discovering groundbreaking new techniques. Most of the information is probably available online if you’re prepared to spend the time researching it.
For me, the real benefit is having everything organised into an accessible collection of cards, with clear instructions on how to use each technique.
It’s also worth considering the physical format. I enjoy being able to pick up a deck and flick through the cards rather than having to search through digital resources.
Would I buy them again? Yes, based on my experience, I would.
However, I’d encourage anyone considering the Ultimate Bundle to think carefully about which decks they’ll actually use. If you only need one or two, buying them individually might make more sense.
If you regularly run workshops, facilitate meetings or work with teams, I think there’s a good chance you’ll find some value in them.
Ultimately, it’s about whether the convenience and time saved justify the price for you.
One final note: I do have an affiliate link for Pip Decks. If you decide to purchase through it, I may receive a commission, and you may be eligible for a discount. This doesn’t change my experience of the product, and I’ve tried to give an honest account of what I’ve found useful and what I haven’t.
If you’ve used Pip Decks yourself or have any questions about my experience, feel free to leave a comment. I’m happy to share more about how I’ve used them in my work.
