Use Role Mindmap when a group needs to quickly get a grasp of its own role and there are many perspectives on that role. While not generating a conclusion, it scopes out many dimensions that might normally be overlooked. This visual tool can be used with any size group, as long as they can see the mind map develop. Takes 5 min to 20 min.
For more information on each tool check:
The Framework of Support allows a small group to scope out all the stakeholders who will be needed for a project, program or for any initiative, and at what level each stakeholder needs to be engaged. This also surfaces hidden expectations of the small group so that each person has a better grasp of the final projects. Takes from 15-45 minutes and can be used for 1 – a dozen people.
Imaginal Education theory is at the core of understanding a key way that individuals change their behaviour. It shows the link between self image, the messages that can reinforce or contradict those self-images, and the behaviour that changes when a new self-image is purposefully adopted. It gives a way for individuals to be guided in personal change.
This is used explicitly with an individual, but can also be used implicitly in the background for entire groups. It is not used once only, but is part of a continuing intervention over time.
Participatory Issues Plotting is a large group tool that safely outlines the major issues that any group is facing, but does it with full participation and without the possibility of any one individual taking control or subverting the group’s agenda. This is extremely valuable for Community Forums or Town Meetings and has many other applications.
This is a self-documenting tool that takes 1-3 hours, and in which more and more people in attendance leads to better and better results.
Different models of how to approach or solve a problem are merged with this tool by looking at the underlying criteria and values that are assumed by the models. The result is one model that all participants can see will work, and commitment to implement the model.
Spiral Strategic Thinking provides leaders with a way to engage an entire group in a thought process that leads to commitment and action. Strategic thinking can be done in a single sitting, or spread out over time, and can be done through face-to-face, online, through surveys and focus groups, as long as each stage of thinking builds upon the previous one.
This is a very powerful mental model and thinking process that has broad application. Further information is available in Winnining Through Participation by Laura Spencer or in Transformational Strategy: Facilitation of ToP Participatory Planning by Bill Staples.
ToP Secrets of Implementation takes advantage of the many shifts and changes in circumstances that occur during implementation to allow self and group learning to take place, all of which accelerates implementation. This is a key not only to implementation, but also to continuous improvement.
This tool when used regularly shifts organizational culture as well.