1. Unleashing Results:
Enabling Shared Understanding And
Commitment In Groups Tackling Wicked
Problems
Michael Randel
Randel Consulting Associates
Kensington, MD, USA
@mrandel
#IAFNA2013
2. Michael Randel, CPF is an organization development consultant, professional
facilitator and trainer with more than twenty years experience advising
organizations around the world. He was awarded the Facilitation Impact Award
by the International Association of Facilitators in recognition of the impact of his
work on his clients.
Randel Consulting Associates is a management consulting company that leads
organizations through change and growth. With more than 20 years international
experience, our global outlook enables us to see different ways to do things and
to bring diverse people together to move forward. As a result, our clients are
stronger, more successful and positioned for future growth.
michael@RandelConsultingAssociates.com +1-202-656-3796
Twitter: @mrandel
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3. Overview
• Two Kinds of Meetings
• Meetings that Unleash Results
• Tools to Unleash Results
• Summary & Key Resources
• Two Kinds of Meetings
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4. Two Kinds of Meetings
Technical
• Tame Problems
• Homogenous Groups
• Project Management
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5. Adapted from Robert Horn http://www.stanford.edu/~rhorn/
The Nature of Meetings Today?
No unique “correct” view of the problem
Different views of the problem and contradictory solutions
Most problems are connected to other problems
Data are often uncertain or missing
Multiple value conflicts
Ideological and cultural constraints
Political constraints Economic constraints
Numerous possible intervention points
Consequences difficult to imagine
Considerable uncertainty, ambiguity
Great resistance to change
Financial constraints
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6. Two Kinds of Meetings
Complex
• Wicked Problems
• Diverse Groups
• Adaptive Management
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7. Two Kinds of Meetings
Technical vs. Complex
Tame vs. Wicked
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8. Wicked Problems
“A problem that is difficult or impossible to
solve because of incomplete, contradictory,
and changing requirements that are often
difficult to recognize.
Moreover, because of complex
interdependencies, the effort to solve one
aspect of a wicked problem may reveal or
create other problems.”
Wikipedia
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9. Definition of Wicked Problems
1. Each potential solution illuminates new aspects of
the wicked problem.
2. Wicked problems have no stopping rule.
3. Solutions to wicked problems are not right or
wrong.
4. Every wicked problem is essentially unique and
novel.
5. Every solution to a wicked problem is a "one-shot
operation".
6. Wicked problems have no given alternative
solutions.
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10. “Because wicked problems are often imperfectly
understood it is important that they are widely
discussed by all relevant stakeholders in order to
ensure a full understanding of their complexity. If a
resolution of a wicked issue requires changes in the
way people behave, these changes cannot readily be
imposed on people. Behaviours are more conducive
to change if issues are widely understood, discussed
and owned by the people whose behaviour is being
targeted for change.”
Australia (2007) Tackling Wicked Problems
change
owned
understanding
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31. Core ‘Grammar’ of Dialogue Mapping
3 A Arguments:
Pro (arguments
supporting)
3 B Arguments:
Con (arguments
against)
1. Issues or
Questions
2. Positions
or Ideas
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33. Powernoodle is a cloud-based platform that helps organizations
make more informed decisions and solve problems faster.
... Powernoodle brings remote
groups together to facilitate
collaboration & brainstorming,
gather feedback, evaluate ideas,
allocate resources and
determine next steps
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5. Powernoodle
