1. Introducing …
Thought
Generator
Facilitation
for
THINKPLAN
Meetings
&
Workshops

2. The Thought Generator means…
Teams and champions in companies who work with strategy implementation
use the Thought Generator to learn to facilitate and participate during their own
workshops/meetings, using the Thought Generator toolkit with templates
Think
Plan
it
it
Share
Do
it
it
Monitor
it
Learn from
it

3. The purpose of the one - two day workshop is to
stimulate learning …and skills development in …





Asking the right questions
Gathering the information
Mapping ( displaying) the information
Presenting the information
Recording the information
… all leading to better decisions and
actions
Ask
Gather
Map
Present
Record

4. Why use the Thought Generator for meetings and workshops …
Use people’s time more productively
Focus on action
Stationary is flexible
Involves the entire team

6. The Thought Generator includes …
Confidence through skills
Encourage teams to engage,
participate and co-create solutions
Menu of templates
Discussion guidelines
The Thought Generator kit
Visually display and mapping the thinking
process
Workshop facilitation
Delivered by experienced facilitators

7. The Thought Generator templates
Purpose driven templates







Solution Generator
Gap Analysis Generator
Options Generator
Process Generator
Action Generator
Customer needs analysis Generator
Business Case Generator
Think
Plan
it
it
Share
Do
it
it
Monitor
it
Learn from
it

8. Example of a template
What is the issue?
Solution generator
Who are the best 2 – 3 people
to solve this problem ?
What end result do we want ?
Date….time…
Location to present this
solution?
Create and agenda … what do
we need to know about issue?
Translate agenda into questions …what
do we need to ask about this issue?
Next steps?
Select template …
• Gap analysis generator
• Process generator

9. Example of a Template :
Partnerships: Stakeholder Map
Step 1 : Identify the actors and assign to group (stakeholders)
Step 2 : Assign actors to one of the three sectors
Step 3 : Insert the actors, using the circles and use V for veto player
Position individual actors against the background
Position actors whom have a relationship close to each other
Step 4: Show the relationships between the actors, using the graphic
symbols below.

10. Using the Thought Generator for meetings and workshops ….
Learn
Involves the entire team
Builds facilitation capacity
Encourages buy-in to decisions
Stimulates action
Think
Plan
it
it
Share
Do
it
it
Monitor

11. The process creates a
safe environment for
everyone to learn and
practice facilitation
skills

12. Thought Generator stationary
Easy to
transport
Thought
Generator,
which folds
up to the
size of a
flipchart

13. Action learning –
 Teams learning to facilitate their own meetings
 Practical experience with different templates
 Practice in presenting their case, solutions and
recommendations
 Learning, using real examples and action learning
 Applying the Thought Generator learning in their working
environment

14. The Thought Generator role in Strategy Process
process
Strategic Planning
Participlan Workshop with
Executive Leaders
process
Thought
Generator
content
Strategic Plan
Feedback
content
business units feedback into
the strategic planning
process
process
Thought
Generator
Capacity Building
cascade plans to business
unit through small group
facilitation and training
Detailed plan including
key objectives and action
plan
Customized
workshops
process
customer focus groups /
stakeholder mapping / key
clients
content
Thought
Generator
Thought
Generator
Monitoring
Dashboard:
develop roll-out
schedule and
monitoring system
Implementation
implementation and planning
workshops with champions and
teams
Thought
Generator

15. Transforming strategic thinking
into results …..
Thinkplan in partnership with Participlan –
View the U-tube videos demonstrating the Thought Generator
– Participlan – Peter Thomas
Contact us:
Estelle Gautier
+27 833769887 | egautier@thinkplan.co.za
egautier@mweb.co.za |
www.thinkplan.co.za