Suggested Methods For Stimulating New Thinking and Getting People
to Use Available Tools and Resources to Support That
By Marie J. Kane
1. Frame an open ended question ( one that requires reflection and cannot be answered with a simple yes or no ) on a topic, problem, challenge, or opportunity that is important to the success of the business and that you would like to begin addressing now. Select or ask for volunteers of 3 to 5 people who would have an interest in this and would be willing to do some individual study and thinking on it. Agree on a deadline for them to give you a written report ( 1 to 3 pages ) with ideas and recommendations.
2. Same as #1, but also assign each of them a specific item to read or other tool to use in the process.
3. Same as #1 and #2 together, but then circulate all reports to the 3 to 5 people preparatory to them having one or two meetings to "cross fertilize" and come up with a collective best recommendation. These do not have to be lengthy meetings or spread over a long period of time.
4. Select a topic that you would like to research the current best thinking on and identify the resources ( books, articles, people, etc. ) that you want to have studied in the process. Provide easy access to those items. Select or get volunteers to take one of those items to review and report back on in a brief, written summary, with the emphasis on what is most useful for your organization and why. Unlike #1, the emphasis here is in getting the research done. If a lot of information is available, you may involve up to 8 to 12 people.
5. Same as #4, but do a group follow-up.
6. One person can synthesize all of the output from any of the assignments and then present it or they can dialogue individually with the people with the assignment.
Note: Focus on a clear topic and the reason and desired outcomes from the assignment is very important. Open this up broadly, do not just restrict it to managers or supervisors.
One application of these kinds of approaches is in involving not only top management, but others in the organization in the formal strategic thinking process.
For more information on Kane & Associates
strategic thinking, please click here
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