Priority games

Demarcating the problem This game can be used to ensure that the participants conduct a dialogue about what they consider most important. It can be used in the first diamond to discuss which problem or parts of a problem is/are to be given top priority. It can also be used in the second diamond to prioritize solution ideas.

The game is based on a ‘target’. A prioritization is expressed by the post-its placed in the centre or close to the centre being the most important, while those placed in the periphery are less important.

This game can be seen as an alternative to voting. Here, instead of voting, the participants use dialogue to reach an agreement on how to prioritize a given subject.

Steps 1. Print out the template with the ‘target’ on a large piece of paper or draw the target on a whiteboard. 2. Base the activity on post-it notes that the participants have already prepared about, for example, the problem or start by asking the participants to fill in post-it notes with different problems or solution ideas. 3. The game is played as a round of the participants. The first participant takes a post-it and places it somewhere on the target and explains why it is placed there. The next participant then places a post-it and explains why. When all post-its have been placed on the target, the round continues, where participants can then move a post-it and explain why. The dialogue continues until agreement has been reached on the location of the various post-it notes.

Complexity

98

12 • Tools 4 : fIndIng Problem focus

12 • Tools 4 : fIndIng Problem focus

99