Replying to LO28976 --
Jim,
I cannot understate the power of affinity diagramming as a means of
providing buy-in, consensus, and stepping stones to action.
An acquaintance of mine, some years ago, was chosen as the annual chair of
a local social services provider board of directors. The directors were
bank presidents, college administrators, doctors, real estate brokers --
concentrated egos, strong personalities each one, usually on the
order-giving end, not the taking end, of activities.
My friend -- let's call him Chris -- and I at the same time and place had
been introduced to affinity diagramming as part of total quality tools.
this occurred about a dozen years ago. As new board chair, he told me that
he was faced with the task of developing a strategic plan for this
extensive, regional social services agency. He wondered with me if
affinity diagramming might harness genteel chaos.
So at the first planning session, Chris came equipped with Post-It notes
in abundance, medium felt tip pens in black and red, felt markers in blue,
black, green and red, and very large sheets of paper. Without actually
explaining the tool, he got his group started by asking them to write down
one thought per Post-It on what image came to mind of an agency in five
years which ably served its constituency.
He followed the various steps in the process (there are about 18 or so in
its most structured form, to "LPM" which stands for Language Processing
Method), and out the other end came a degree of clarity which the board
had never experienced before.
At the end of his year's stint as chair, at the annual social event
honoring the work of community members, the board called Chris before
those assembled and as a parting gift, hung around his neck a one meter by
one meter "Post-It" note on which quips and congratulations had been
scribbled by every board member.
To learn more about this method, check out the www. Also, go to
www.cqm.org and look for information about the LP method.
I think this is one small tool which can assist in your monumental task.
Best regards,
Barry
--Barry Mallis The Organizational Trainer 110 Arch St., #27 Keene, NH 03431-2167 USA voice: 603 352-5289 FAX: 603 357-2157 cell: 603 313-3636 email: theorgtrainer@earthlink.net
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