 |
 |
Problem Solving Techniques
The Mitchell Group has over fifteen years experience facilitating
large and small problem solving sessions for both government
and civilian organizations and corporations. The Mitchell Group's
experience, in both manual and automated collaborative systems,
has been utilized in a variety of environments. These include,
but are not limited to, training facilities, conference rooms,
work areas, and decision support centers that are especially
designed to optimize the use of automated facilitation tools.
Traditional problem-solving and group dynamic techniques, such
as brainstorming, affinity diagramming, visioning, problem diagnosis,
process analysis, team building, consensus building, and coaching
are used in both manually-facilitated sessions as well as in
automated collaborative software-assisted sessions. By providing
an open and non-threatening environment for all employees as
well as management personnel, disputes can be discussed readily
and alternative solutions investigated quickly.
Resolving Disputes
The Mitchell Group approaches dispute resolution
as a consensus-building exercise. Within the automated collaborative
environment, a number of software tools are employed to assist
groups in reaching consensus. These automated tools allow ideas
to be ranked, ordered, and rated on various scales such as numerical,
agree/disagree, yes/no, and true/false. An individual rating is
collected by the automated system and results are statistically
displayed by spreadsheets, graphs, or other analyses results (i.e.,
mean and standard deviation). During the gathering and discussion
of ideas (list building), individuals may anonymously edit, merge,
or enter comments on any idea(s) during group discussions led by
a Facilitator. These same techniques may be applied during manual
sessions with the Facilitator leading the group through idea discussions,
list building, and voting. Differences in opinion are often resolved
by asking questions such as, "What part of this thought do
you disagree with?" "What would we have to change to
make this acceptable?" "Could you live with this change?" Additional
techniques such as team building and coaching are also employed
to assist in early problem identification and resolution.
Defining and Refining the Agenda
The Mitchell Group's Facilitator discusses meeting objectives with
Meeting Sponsors and prepares a draft agenda designed to meet the
objectives of the meeting and present the best possible scenarios.
Several alternatives are presented. The pros and cons of each alternative
are discussed with the Meeting Sponsors. While working with Meeting
Sponsors, The Mitchell Group's Facilitator will refine the proposed
agendas to ensure that meeting objectives are accomplished.
By preparing agenda alternatives and discussing each of these
prior to conferencing with Meeting Sponsors, The Mitchell Group's
Facilitator can assure the Sponsor that the best possible agenda
alternatives for running any meeting are in place. Additionally,
alternatives will be investigated and discussed. The Facilitator
and the Meeting Sponsors will be able to adjust the agenda as necessary
to support any possible changes in meeting direction or objectives.
Convening and Leading Large and Small Group Briefings
Each Mitchell
Group Facilitator has experience in preparing and presenting briefings,
ranging from detailed technical presentations to broad management
overviews using a variety of techniques, including overhead slides, "on-the-fly" whiteboard
presentations, and detailed PowerPoint presentations. The Mitchell
Group Facilitator can prepare and present briefings, present briefings
prepared by others, or assist with computer operations while others
present. Additionally, our Facilitator will recommend equipment
and facilities best suited for the size of the audience and the
type of presentation. When more than one briefing is scheduled,
our Facilitator will recommend the best approach for organizing
and ordering briefings/presentations material.
The Mitchell Group's
Facilitator will meet with Meeting Sponsors in advance to plan
meetings, assist in defining objectives, determining optimal meeting
size and attendees, and making appropriate arrangements for the
meeting. These include recommending a means of notifying attendees,
locating and recommending facilities, and determining supporting
equipment requirements. Using the techniques described above, The
Mitchell Group's Facilitator will ensure that meetings are run
in an orderly, timely, and non-contentious fashion. This will allow
Meeting Sponsors to concentrate on the materials being presented.
Preparing Draft And Final Reports For Dissemination
The Mitchell Group welcomes the opportunity to address the evaluation
and assessment needs of missions, host countries and other operating
units. Highlights of our capabilities are:
- Assessments of programs at strategic, comparative and "state-of
-the art" levels
- Collaborative evaluations of the operational
effectiveness and efficiency of programs and projects
- Performance
management, monitoring and evaluation systems linked to timelines,
indicators, results packages and strategic objectives
- Evaluation
approaches, methods, training, dissemination and use
How The Mitchell Group's Facilitation Supports MOBIS
The Mitchell Group has the ability to support the government with
excellent facilitation services, which provide and define the requirements
at hand, cover all business processes and procedures, and resolve
any problems that may arise. By applying the problem solving techniques
described in the preceding paragraph, management will be in a favorable
position to investigate alternative organizational structures and
compare proposed changes. Business improvements and/or business
reengineering initiatives can be proposed, discussed, and evaluated
prior to implementation in an open forum.
The Mitchell Group will provide facilitation and related decision
support services to agencies engaging in collaboration efforts,
working groups, or integrated product, process, and self-directed
teams. Agencies bringing together diverse teams and/or groups with
common and divergent interests may require a neutral party to assist
them in the use of problem solving techniques; defining and refining
the agenda; convening and leading group briefings and discussions;
resolving disputes, disagreements, and divergent views; recording
discussion content and focusing decision-making; providing a draft
for the permanent record; debriefing; and in overall planning.
|
