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On this page:
Brainstorming • Chat or Talk Shows • Fishbowls • Group Facilitation • Meetings • Open Space • River of Life • Teleconference Clock • World Café •
Brainstorming
Brainstorming is a process used by a group to generate a large number of ideas on a specific issue. Initially ideas are collected by a facilitator without any evaluation by the group. In the final stage, the suggested ideas will be evaluated. The fast- paced and non-judgemental nature of brainstorming can bring to light new, innovative and creative ideas.
See also:
- Daretoshare (includes the procedure)
- InnoSupport (comprehensive information on brainstorming; includes schema, procedure, tools and case studies)
Chat or Talk Shows
Chat shows are informal alternatives to panel discussions or keynote addresses. They encourage "participants to share experiences in an informal, fun environment."
(Source: ict-km)
Fishbowls
"Fishbowls involve a small group of people (usually 5-8) seated in circle, having a conversation in full view of a larger group of listeners. Fishbowl processes provide a creative way to include the “public” in a small group discussion. They can be used in a wide variety of settings, including workshops, conferences, organizational meetings and public assemblies. Fishbowls are useful for ventilating “hot topics” or sharing ideas or information from a variety of perspectives. When the people in the middle are public officials or other decision-makers, this technique can help bring transparency to the decision-making process and increase trust and understanding about complex issues. Sometimes the discussion is a “closed conversation” among a specific group. More often, one or more chairs are open to “visitors” (i.e., members of the audience) who want to ask questions or make comments. Although largely self-organizing once the discussion gets underway, the fishbowl process usually has a facilitator or moderator. The fishbowl is almost always part of a larger process of dialogue and deliberation."
(Source: ict-km)
See also:
- ict-km (includes advice on when and how to use them)
Group Facilitation
Group facilitation aims to enable groups and organizations to work more effectively; to collaborate and achieve synergy. Facilitation aims at the well-being of all involved participants giving room to all voices in a group, establishing an atmosphere of listening to each other, and ensuring that decisions are backed and owned by all. The facilitator is a neutral party, who, by not taking sides, can advocate for fair, open and inclusive procedures to accomplish the group’s work. Further dimensions of facilitation include determining a realistic operating rhythm for the meetings.
The Facilitator’s guide to participatory decision-making is a useful training manual and sourcebook for beginners, facilitators and managers.
(Source: ict-km)
See also:
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Kaner, L.; Lind, L.; Toldi, C.; Fisk, S.; Berger, D. 1996. Facilitator's guide to participatory decision-making (Gabriola Island, Canada: New Society Publishers).
Call Number: 100A1545
- ict-km (includes examples)
Meetings
Meetings are used for the purpose of discussing a predetermined subject or issue. These can be held face-to-face or virtually using Information and Communication Technologies (e.g. Conference Call, Skype, Plone, Blogs…). While common in organizations already, meetings can be used to cultivate personal contact, communication and knowledge sharing.
See also:
Open Space
Open Space (also known as Open Space Technology or OST) is a method for convening groups around a specific question or task of importance and giving them responsibility for creating both their own agenda and experience. It is best used when at least a half to two full days are available. The facilitator explains the theme and focus of the group's work, encourages the participants to think about the topics they want to discuss, offers a few guidelines for the discussion groups and then stands back and lets the participants do the work.
(Source: ict-km)
See also:
- ict-km (includes advice on when and how to use it)
- Openspaceworld (includes documentation, examples, etc.)
River of Life
The River of Life method can be used for reviewing projects and programmes and planning for the future. It focuses on drawing a river indicating key moments in a project’s/programme’s past and present as well as envisioning future goals. After completing the drawing, the group members can discuss important achievements, factors that have aided or hindered the realization of goals as well as identifying future directions and development opportunities.
(Source: River of Program Life Group Exercise, (pdf 231 KB))
See also:
Teleconference Clock
The teleconference clock is used to encourage participation on conference calls with more than four people. People are given a place on the clock, which is then used as a mechanism to ensure that everyone has a chance to speak.
(Based on: ict-km)
See also:
- ict-km (includes advice on when and how to use it)
World Café
The World café is a system of exchange based on social café conversation whereby a group of people is able to explore a chosen topic. The aim is to tap directly into the social nature of much of our learning. The session can have any number of participants, anything from ten to a thousand, who split into small discussion groups, ideally around café-style tables. The participants are encouraged to both listen and talk, and not edit their thinking or to worry about saying the ‘correct’ thing. Participants swap tables, taking ideas to a new group, while a permanent host remains at each table. As the ideas move about the room, they bear fruit in unexpected ways and networks are both bolstered or established and knowledge is shared.
(Source: International Labour Office. 2006. I went to a knowledge sharing workshop and all I got was this guidebook (ILO, Geneva), p. 28)
See also:
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