Difference between revisions of "Ritual Dissent Method"

Difference between revisions of "Ritual Dissent Method"

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{{Tool|Teleconference Clock Method|
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{{Tool|Conducting a Ritual Dissent|
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=='''Preparing a Teleconference Clock'''==
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#Have an agenda that includes conference goals and participant expectations. Don’t forget to consider their time zones when scheduling.
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#Consider the impact of comments volume (based on the number of participants) with the available time.
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#Send all participants the dial-in number and pass-codes if needed. With international groups, be clear if the number is cost-free.
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#Distribute supporting documents or files before the beginning of the conference call.
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#Take care in advance of the call controls. If the leader controls the start/stop of the call and may have to leave early, have a second person with leader privileges in order to avoid call interruptions.
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#Greet and know who is online (use the “clock" method for the introduction of each participant).
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#Ask participants to review the agenda prior to the call.
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=='''Step by Step'''==
 
=='''Step by Step'''==
  
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#Ask every participant to get a piece of paper to draw a circle on it and mark the hours like a clock.
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#Ask each group to seat at round tables or circle of chairs. The tables or chairs should be put in place to enable groups to move to the next table in a clockwise or anti-clockwise mode.
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#Assign each person a spot on the “clock” when joining the conference call. The first person on the call put his name on 1 o’clock hour, the second 2, etc. If there are more than twelve people, start adding 1:30, 2:30 etc.
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#Ask the groups to work in parallel on selected issues. A complex problem should be handled by small safe-fail experiments, and a complicated one by detailed analysis and expertise.
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#Use the “clock order” to create a speaking sequence and to ensure everyone speaks. Participants can make notations and use the piece of paper as a visual tool to match names, voices and inputs.
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#Invite each group to appoint a spokesperson. The prerequisite to be a spokesperson is to have “a resilient and robust personality and not bear a grudge”. A time deadline is set to prepare the presentation (minimum 5 minutes).
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#Vary the position of the participants on the clock if you are planning a multiple rounds of speaking.
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#Stop the work three minutes before the deadline and inform the spokesperson that he will have three minutes to present his idea. At this stage, resist any temptation to make the process a surprise which would be a serious breach of ethics.
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#Use some form of feedback or evaluation for improving possible later calls. An "after action review" can be done at the conclusion of the call or by post-call emails.  
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#Request the spokesperson from each group to stand up at the end of the deadline. Don’t allow them to move until one person of each group stood up.
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#Ask each participant to describe with three adjectives their “clock” experience.
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#Tell each spokesperson to move to the next table in a clockwise direction and take the vacant seat without saying or doing anything before further instructions.
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#Let start the presentation of the spokesperson who will be presenting for about three minutes. He must present his ideas to the panel which receives the proposal in total silence (listening silently without eye contact should increase the attention). At the end of the presentation, the spokesperson turns his chair around so that his back is to the panel, and listens without saying anything.
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=='''General Call Etiquette'''==
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#Invite the group to replay and attack the ideas with full and complete verve (dissent) or come up with better ideas or improvements (assent). The review panel is instructed to play the part of the disenchanted and cynical user who will harshly criticize a good idea without being necessarily fair or reasonable. Ideas emerging from this process are often more resilient than other consensus based techniques.
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#Call from a quiet location.  
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#Ask the spokesperson, once the panel finished to replicate, to leave to a central area away from the group. This is an important recent addition to the method: if the spokesperson talks with the group the learning would risk to be compromised. Once all the groups finished their replays, send the spokesperson back to his group to talk about what they have learnt.
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#Avoid cell phones and speakerphones. If you use them, remember to put the mute button when not talking.  
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#Repeat the cycle as many times you want (new spokesperson with different group). Eventual new iterations could lead to multiple perspectives and refine the final outcomes.
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#Use quality headsets to avoid metallic sounds.
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#Avoid paper rustling.
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#Caution with multitasking; some is unavoidable, but remind people about attention and occasionally call for a moment of silence to keep their attention.
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#Consider a kind treatment of bodies: on long calls, offer short breaks.
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#Speak clearly and slow down if you are a "fast talker".  
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#Be enthusiastic and use a tone appropriate to the group. Once you start talking, the first impression is important.  
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#Vary voice tone (avoid monotone presentation).
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=='''Job Aid'''==
 
=='''Job Aid'''==
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[[Image:pdf.png]][[Media: Teleconference Clock.pdf|Using Teleconference Clock]]}}
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[[Image:pdf.png]][[Media: Ritual Dissent.pdf|Conducting a Ritual Dissent]]}}
  
  

Revision as of 12:42, 30 November 2009

Term2.png RITUAL DISSENT METHOD
Workshop method designed to test and enhance proposals, plans, stories and ideas by subjecting them to a “ritualized” dissent (challenge) or assent (positive proposals). It allows assessing ideas and challenging the participants to think for significant improvement opportunities. The Ritual Dissent is a forced listening technique with no dialogue or discourse with the purpose of encouraging participants to find and improve ideas and proposals through a disagreement and discord based technique. It can be used on its own or linked to Story Construction, Social Construction of the Cynefin Framework, and a broad range of methods.

The technique is generally used in a workshop with a minimum of three groups and at least three participants in each to obtain more iterations and diversity (ideally the number of participants should not be higher than a dozen).

The basic approach involves a spokesperson for each group presenting his idea or plan to one group who listen to him in silence. After the presentation, the spokesperson turns his chair facing the back to the audience in order to avoid any eye contact and listen in silence while the group critically attacks (dissent) or provide alternatives (assent). The approach of not facing the audience de-personalizes any dissent to the proposal so that the meaning of the attack is not a personal one to the presenter, but is critically to refine the proposal. [1]


Toolkit.png Conducting a Ritual Dissent

Step by Step

  1. Ask each group to seat at round tables or circle of chairs. The tables or chairs should be put in place to enable groups to move to the next table in a clockwise or anti-clockwise mode.
  2. Ask the groups to work in parallel on selected issues. A complex problem should be handled by small safe-fail experiments, and a complicated one by detailed analysis and expertise.
  3. Invite each group to appoint a spokesperson. The prerequisite to be a spokesperson is to have “a resilient and robust personality and not bear a grudge”. A time deadline is set to prepare the presentation (minimum 5 minutes).
  4. Stop the work three minutes before the deadline and inform the spokesperson that he will have three minutes to present his idea. At this stage, resist any temptation to make the process a surprise which would be a serious breach of ethics.
  5. Request the spokesperson from each group to stand up at the end of the deadline. Don’t allow them to move until one person of each group stood up.
  6. Tell each spokesperson to move to the next table in a clockwise direction and take the vacant seat without saying or doing anything before further instructions.
  7. Let start the presentation of the spokesperson who will be presenting for about three minutes. He must present his ideas to the panel which receives the proposal in total silence (listening silently without eye contact should increase the attention). At the end of the presentation, the spokesperson turns his chair around so that his back is to the panel, and listens without saying anything.
  8. Invite the group to replay and attack the ideas with full and complete verve (dissent) or come up with better ideas or improvements (assent). The review panel is instructed to play the part of the disenchanted and cynical user who will harshly criticize a good idea without being necessarily fair or reasonable. Ideas emerging from this process are often more resilient than other consensus based techniques.
  9. Ask the spokesperson, once the panel finished to replicate, to leave to a central area away from the group. This is an important recent addition to the method: if the spokesperson talks with the group the learning would risk to be compromised. Once all the groups finished their replays, send the spokesperson back to his group to talk about what they have learnt.
  10. Repeat the cycle as many times you want (new spokesperson with different group). Eventual new iterations could lead to multiple perspectives and refine the final outcomes.


Job Aid

Pdf.pngConducting a Ritual Dissent



References

  1. ↑ [1] (30 November 2009),[2] (30 November 2009), [3] (30 November 2009)
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