Purpose
To help a group quickly and simply prioritize.
Rationale
Apply the Pareto Principle (aka 80-20 Rule) to help a group deselect and to eliminate as many options as possible so the group can stay focused on the most important or attractive options.
CAUTION
Be aware that the optimal approach suggests that you prioritize the criteria, not the options directly.
Method
The following steps should be read with an understanding that some of the material and examples used to support prioritization and other approaches discussed elsewhere on this blog site and in the FAST curriculum.
- Establish the purpose of what the team is doing (ie, Purpose of _______ is to . . . So that . . .)
- Build a list of options (eg, Brainstorming). Set the list of options aside.
- Build a list of criteria (be prepared to define each “criterion”).
- Look at the criteria to see if any options are in violation. For example, if Sally is allergic to flowers, then “buying her flowers” is probably an option that should be eliminated.
- Consider asking the participants if they can live with the remaining options. If someone objects, then eliminate that particular option.
- Once they can live with the remaining options, you have consensus.
- To improve the quality of the decision, unveil the visual support for PowerBalls and the accompanying definitions, and prioritize the criteria.
- Find the option(s) that best align with the most important or mandatory criteria.
The definitions shown here work in almost all situations, namely:
- 5 or a solid ball means high “Pay any price.
- 1 or an empty circle means low or “Want it free, not willing to pay extra for it.”
- 3 or a half-filled ball means moderate or all the other stuff between high and low, meaning we are “willing to pay a reasonable price” without being forced to define “reasonable.”
Separate the most/ least important criteria. Code the remaining as moderate by default, without discussion. Attempt to force fit one-third of the candidates as each high, low, and moderate—but be flexible. Appeal to the high criteria and isolate the option(s) that best satisfy the prioritized criteria. To further optimize or guide discussion (if required), appeal to some of the fuzzy factors that may be difficult to measure objectively.
When you need help creating a robust definition of something that may be argumentative, turn to the Definition Tool for support
Become Part of the Solution, Improve Your Facilitation Skills
The FAST curriculum on Professional Facilitation Skills details the responsibilities and dynamics mentioned above. Remember friends, nobody is smarter than everybody, so consult your FAST Facilitator Reference Manual or attend a FAST professional facilitative leadership training workshop offered around the world (see MG Rush for a current schedule — an excellent way to earn 40 PDUs from PMI, CDUs from IIBA, or CEUs).
Daring you to embrace the will, wisdom, and activities that amplify the skills of a facilitative leader.
Related articles
- How To Plan Appropriate Group Processes (facilitativeleadership.wordpress.com)
- How To Create and Sustain a Participatory Environment (facilitativeleadership.wordpress.com)
- Five Problems with Meetings and What To Do About Them (facilitativeleadership.wordpress.com)
- How to Facilitate Alignment (facilitativeleadership.wordpress.com)
- How to Facilitate Brainstorming (facilitativeleadership.wordpress.com)
- How to Facilitate the Ideation Activity with the Brainstorming Tool (facilitativeleadership.wordpress.com)
Filed under: Methodology, Technique Tagged: Brainstorm, Brainstorming, Definition, Deliverable, Facilitative Leadership, Facilitator, FAST Facilitator Training, Group dynamics, Holarchy, International Institute of Business Analysis, Leadership, Management, Options, Pareto Principle, PMI
