This is a selective listing of tools and techniques relating to, or of use in, groupwork. They are generally ones that I use and recommend based on my own experience. I provide a description of the tool or techniques, and often include suggestions for how and when they might be used.
Appreciative Inquiry
Developed by David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva at Case Western Reserve
University. The techniques involves placing the focus on positive aspects
of a situation - looking for proven capacities, skills and resources and
affirming, appreciating and building on existing strengths. Uses include:
problem solving, idea generation, planning, value and interest clarification
and community sustainability.
Hammond (below) writes: “The major assumption of Appreciative Inquiry
is that in every organization something works and change can be managed
through the identification of what works, and the analysis of how to do
more of what works.”
For more information check out the Appreciative
Inquiry Commons or the Taos
Institute, or read: The Thin Book of Appreciative Inquiry, Sue Annis
Hammond, kodiak Publishing, 1996.
Open Space Technology
Harrison Owen developed this technique in 1985. It is a whole-system process
that places emphasis on inclusion, emergence and dialogue. A few years
ago I took a workshop in Open Space Technology with Birgitt
Williams of Dalar Associates, and I recommend her training.
If you would like to learn more, I recommend reading Open Space Technology:
A User's Guide, second edition, written by Harrison Owen (Berrett-Koehler,
1997). Harrison Owen describes Open Space -- “Open Space Technology
is effective in situations where a diverse group of people must deal with
complex and potentially conflicting material in innovative and productive
ways. It is particularly powerful when nobody knows the answer and the
ongoing participation of a number of people is required to deal with the
questions.”
Another useful reference -- Open
Space and the Practice of Peace provides a comprehensive international
listing of open space peacemaking practitioners.
Study Circle
Provides an effective format for exploring a critical public issue in
a democratic manner. Places emphasis on the voices and active participation
of citizens. Generally a group of 8 - 12 people who develops their own
rules and protocols, and decide on what issues will be researched and
discussed. This can be used both face-to-face and online.
More information is available through the Study
Circle Resource Centre (http://www.studycircles.org).
World Café
Created by Juanita Brown and David Isaacs, World Café is a method
for enhancing capacity for creative thinking by linking small group and
large group conversations. The end result is a dynamic network of conversations.
Outcomes in text and via graphic facilitation. I first encountered World
Café at a training workshop sponsored by the Shambhala
Institute in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Margaret
Wheatley was part of the team that delivered the workshop. I have
used World Café a number of times, with groups as large as 150
and as small as 20. I have found it to be very effective, and exceptionally
comfortable for participants. The
World Café Website (http://www.theworldcafé.com) is
an excellent source of information.