BUSINESS STRATEGY
aims to generate a wide range of ideas from a broad range of stakeholders .
For this step to deliver results , diverse stakeholders must be invited in . Leaders must be open about the problem at hand , as well as what ’ s at stake if things go swimmingly or if they tank . Frank context setting , followed by fervent idea making , sets the stage for divergent thinking .
Individuals could gather around the conference table for a good old fashioned brainstorming session . Or contributors could share written reflections to a small number of open-ended survey questions designed to elicit ideas . Alternatively , an external facilitator wellversed in qualitative research could conduct confidential , inclusive one-on-one interviews . psychological safety is not already present . And an external facilitator who is unable to establish quick rapport will learn little .
Whatever process is used to gather ideas , it is critical that findings be shared back publicly so that those who participated can be confident that their ideas were heard and will be considered ; skipping this step tanks later buy-in .
Step 2 : Identify viable pathways by asking , ‘ What should we do ?’
Step one will generate more good ideas than any one organisation could possibly implement . The goal of step one , then , is to converge on a decision . Different organisations have different norms around how decisions are made ; step one needs to honour those norms .
FRANK CONTEXT SETTING , FOLLOWED BY FERVENT IDEA MAKING , SETS THE STAGE FOR DIVERGENT THINKING .
Each of these idea collection models has weaknesses . Preexisting relationship dynamics and power dynamics will play out in any group approach . People won ’ t share their true thoughts if
One strategy is to first present the ultimate decision-makers with the full range of ideas generated in step one . Ask : “ Is there anything on this list that is so far beyond the realm of possible that we should remove it from consideration ?”
Then , with theoretically possible ideas in hand , invite anyone who contributed to step one to a workshopping summit designed to surface stakeholder interests , reservations and valued
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