Difference between revisions of "Peer Assist"

Revision as of 09:15, 29 August 2008

PEER ASSIST

Knowledge management technique that is based on the assumption that for any given activity, someone else has done something that is at least broadly similar. According to this premise, a team or group needs to identify the right group of people, and then uses a systematic method to benefit from their insights/experience. If conducted effectively, peer assists can promote learning, and be used to strengthen mutual learning between people and groups within an organization. ^[1]

Organizing a Peer Assist

Steps

Before

Choose participants from a common background, or an experienced team
Participants should be given briefing materials in advance, so they have

time to prepare the meeting

Give enough time for the meeting
Appoint a facilitator
Run the peer assist

During

Define the context and explain the purpose of the peer assist
Discuss issues, needs, and expected outcomes of the problem
Encourage participants to ask questions and bring out details of the situation
Participants examine options to solve the peer assist
Receive the participants feedback
The facilitator records the solutions
Write an action list of key lessons

After

Explore the feedback of the team
Explore options to solve the problem
Develop a set of lessons learned for future actions
Update participants with lessons learn

Facilitator's Role

The facilitator plays three main roles which are the follows:

Leadership role

To focus on providing a direction to the group when the leader fails to fulfill their role
To stimulate and encourage constructive debate between group members
To support members of the group, helping them to bring information, and to build new ideas
To participate when the group is interacting poorly or in the wrong direction, by promoting new discussion
To promote team building in a cohesive, interactive, and productive way

Referee role

To regulate and maintain order of the group discussion, discouraging participants from talking at the same time
To protect members, and ensure that all contributions to the discussion are treated equally
To deal with problems, and to control people within the group, allowing everyone to participate freely
To manage the time, and adhere to the meeting timetable ensuring completion of the agenda

Neutral role

The facilitator is neutral, and pragmatic, because he takes a detached look at the discussion
He encourages feedback, promoting discussion of each point of the meeting. ^[2]

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References

↑ www.epistemics.co.uk (19 April 2008), www.odi.org.uk (19 April 2008)
↑ www.daretoshare.ch (29 August 2008), www.odi.org.uk (29 August 2008), www.w3j.com (29 August 2008), www.foodsec.org (29 August 2008), wikis.bellanet.org (29 August 2008)

[1] www.epistemics.co.uk (19 April 2008), www.odi.org.uk (19 April 2008)

[2] www.daretoshare.ch (29 August 2008), www.odi.org.uk (29 August 2008), www.w3j.com (29 August 2008), www.foodsec.org (29 August 2008), wikis.bellanet.org (29 August 2008)

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 *Give enough time for the meeting
 *Appoint a facilitator
-*Run the peer assist meeting
+*Run the peer assist
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 *Discuss issues, needs, and expected outcomes of the problem
 *Encourage participants to ask questions and bring out details of the situation
-*Participants examine options to solve the problem
+*Participants examine options to solve the peer assist
 *Receive the participants feedback
 *The facilitator records the solutions

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