The Workshop Method

This is the description of the Workshop Method as it appeared in the Methods Manual, a handy compendium of ICA methods published sometime around 1978, I believe. By this time, the method had been used in the early LENS programs and in village consults around the world, and the five steps are essentially those we still use today. Its description here, however, is a marvel of linguistic economy: about 130 words total. Of course, whoever put this Manual together assumed a good deal of common memory on the part of those using it. But still . . . !

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PROCEDURES FOR A WORKSHOP

1. Give a context:

• Why do this workshop?
• What is its arena?
• What is its aim?

2. Ask questions to which the answers will be brainstorms in which everyone participates. Put the brainstorm lists on the board. Honor all contributions. Responses are to be short - no long speeches or arguments.

3. Gestalt the lists - that is, arrange data into groups of related items. This gestalt may reveal areas where more data is needed. Often it will reveal new relationships.

4. Name the gestalt. This clarifies the consensus up to this point, allowing the group to move forward to create a model, such as a timeline, a graphic design or a chart.

5. Reflect on what you have done. What breakthroughs, what insights have come clear. Hold the group over against the major issue of the workshop.

-- GordonHarper - 16 Jun 2006