7. www.martingilbraith.com
Case Study
established 1998 by
NRC with UN
General Assembly
mandate
evolved into conflict
& natural disaster,
monitoring &
advocacy
35 staff in Geneva,
Director & many new
www.internal-displacement.org
7
8. www.martingilbraith.com
Preparation & design
Consultation visit,
early September
Contracting:
– context & challenge
– proposed approach
– aims & design
Regular skype calls
with design team
Venue & catering,
equipment &
supplies 8
9. www.martingilbraith.com
The challenge
IDMC annual staff
‘Planning week’, 14-
18 October in
Geneva
to embed 2011
change &
restructuring
to respond to
changing
environment
to capitalise on fresh 9
10. www.martingilbraith.com
The proposed approach
ToP approach &
Participatory
Strategic Planning
method
Not comprehensive
but sufficient
Inclusive &
appreciative
Forward-looking &
intentional
Transparent & 10
11. www.martingilbraith.com
Rational & Experiential Aims
1. Clear and shared understanding of strategic
environment & journey of change and implications
2. Clear and agreed institutional strategic
framework - Mission, Values, Vision, Strategies,
SMART Objectives and Operating Principles
3. Contribute to resolving ‘vital questions’ of IDMC
strategy & policy
4. Departmental and inter-departmental operational
plans for the first quarter, plus regular review
5. To build shared commitment, confidence and
trust for a new way forward together.
11
12. www.martingilbraith.com
Design for the week
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Overview
Warm up –
World Café
Planning cycle
Practical Vision
– ToP PSP
workshop
Underlying
Contradictions –
ToP PSP
workshop
Strategic
Directions – ToP
PSP workshop
Implications:
natural disaster
integration –
ToP Focused
Conversation
IDMC’s journey
of change – ToP
Historical Scan
Continued… Continued… Continued… SMART
Objectives – ToP
PSP workshop
Current
strategic
context – ToP
Wave exercise
Social outing
– Bowling
Continued… Continued… Continued…
Mission &
Values and PSP
Focus Question –
ToP Focused
Conversation
Continued… Strengths and
resources –
carousel
brainstorm
Implications:
donor
commitments –
ToP Focused
Conversation
Operational
plans – ToP PSP
workshop
Close
12
13. www.martingilbraith.com
Design for the week
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Overview
Warm up –
World Café
Planning cycle
Practical Vision
– ToP PSP
workshop
Underlying
Contradictions –
ToP PSP
workshop
Strategic
Directions – ToP
PSP workshop
Implications:
natural disaster
integration –
ToP Focused
Conversation
IDMC’s journey
of change – ToP
Historical Scan
Continued… Continued… Continued… SMART
Objectives – ToP
PSP workshop
Current
strategic
context – ToP
Wave exercise
Social outing –
Bowling
Continued… Continued… Continued…
Mission &
Values – ToP
Focused
Conversation
Continued… Strengths and
resources –
carousel
brainstorm
Implications:
donor
commitments –
ToP Focused
Conversation
Operational
plans – ToP PSP
workshop
Close
13
16. www.martingilbraith.com
PSP Focus Question
“How can IDMC
strengthen it‟s unique
role as a global
monitor and evidence-
based advocate,
to best contribute to
prevention, protection
during, and durable
solutions
for people affected by
internal displacement?”
ToP Focused
Conversation
16
24. www.martingilbraith.com
Feedback
Alfredo Zamudio,
Director
“From beginning to end
Martin had a very clear
methodology.
The planning week was a
learning experience, very
inclusive of all
participants.
The extensive
documentation has been
Clare Spurrell,
Head of
Communications
“Our planning week has
always been faced with
some trepidation, but this
year IDMC was able to
really 'unlock‟.
We were amazed with
what we managed to
achieve by the end of the
week”
24
25. www.martingilbraith.com
And, if you don’t have 5 days…
• 15 participants – three
part-time staff,
volunteer Board, local
stakeholders
• Experienced ToP PSP
facilitator on staff
• Lower stakes, less
complex, less
contentious
• 3 workshops in 1 long
day - vision,
contradictions, strategic
directions
• Brief review of context,
mission & values first
• Implementation
planning by staff team
later 25
27. www.martingilbraith.com
Discussion & questions
At tables:
• What words or images do you recall?
• What surprised you? What confused you?
• How do this approach and case compare to
your own work and experience?
• What’s one question you would like to ask
from your table?
27
Welcome!ToP Participatory Strategic Planning a case study from an international humanitarian agency in Geneva
OverviewICA’s Technology of Participation and Participatory Strategic Planning methodCase study of the method in actionLinks to resources and support
First, about meICA:UK Associate, former Chief ExecutiveICAI PresidentIAF Certified Professional Facilitator, former Chair
ToP Facilitation approachValuesInclusive participationTeamwork & collaborationIndividual & group creativityAction & ownershipReflection & learningMethods & toolsRational & Experiential aims Focused ConversationConsensus WorkshopAction PlanningParticipatory Strategic Planning==
ToP Participatory Strategic PlanningPreparation & DesignPractical VisionUnderlying ContradictionsStrategic DirectionsFocused Implementation
Case study – IDMCestablished 1998 by NRC with UN General Assembly mandateevolved into conflict & natural disaster, monitoring & advocacy35 staff in Geneva, Director & many new
Preparation & designConsultation visit, early SeptemberContracting: context & challengeproposed approach aims & designRegular skype calls with design teamVenue & catering, equipment & supplies
The challenge:IDMC annual staff ‘Planning week’, 14-18 October in Genevato embed 2011 change & restructuringto respond to changing environmentto capitalise on fresh opportunity for new start - ‘IDMC v.2’
The proposed approachToP approach & Participatory Strategic Planning methodNot comprehensive but sufficientInclusive & appreciativeForward-looking & intentionalTransparent & accountable
Rational & Experiential AimsClear and shared understanding of strategic environment & journey of change and implicationsClear and agreed institutional strategic framework - Mission, Values, Vision, Strategies, SMART Objectives and Operating PrinciplesContribute to resolving ‘vital questions’ of IDMC strategy & policy Departmental and inter-departmental operational plans for the first quarter, plus regular reviewTo build shared commitment, confidence and trust for a new way forward together.
Design for the weekMondayOverview Warm up – World Café Planning cycleIDMC’s journey of change – ToP Historical ScanCurrent strategic context – ToP Wave exerciseMission & Values and PSP Focus Question – ToP Focused ConversationTuesdayPractical Vision – ToP PSP workshopContinued…Social outing – BowlingContinued…WednesdayUnderlying Contradictions – ToP PSP workshopContinued…Continued…Strengths and resources – carousel brainstormThursdayStrategic Directions – ToP PSP workshopContinued…Continued…Implications: donor commitments – ToP Focused ConversationFridayImplications: natural disaster integration – ToP Focused ConversationSMART Objectives – ToP PSP workshopContinued…Operational plans – ToP PSP workshopClose
Design for the weekMondayOverview Warm up – World Café Planning cycleIDMC’s journey of change – ToP Historical ScanCurrent strategic context – ToP Wave exerciseMission & Values and PSP Focus Question – ToP Focused ConversationTuesdayPractical Vision – ToP PSP workshopContinued…Social outing – BowlingContinued…WednesdayUnderlying Contradictions – ToP PSP workshopContinued…Continued…Strengths and resources – carousel brainstormThursdayStrategic Directions – ToP PSP workshopContinued…Continued…Implications: donor commitments – ToP Focused ConversationFridayImplications: natural disaster integration – ToP Focused ConversationSMART Objectives – ToP PSP workshopContinued…Operational plans – ToP PSP workshopClose
IDMC’s Journey of Change ToP Historical Scan
Current Strategic ContextToP Wave exercise
PSP Focus QuestionToP Focused Conversation“How can IDMC strengthen it’s unique role as a global monitor and evidence-based advocate,to best contribute to prevention, protection during, and durable solutionsfor people affected by internal displacement?”
PSP Practical VisionWhat do we want to see in place 3 years from now as a result of our work?”
PSP Underlying ContradictionsWhat is blocking us from moving towards our vision?”
Strengths & ResourcesCarousel brainstorm“What strengths and resources do we have to address the blocks to our vision?”
PSP Strategic Directions“What practical actions will address our blocks and move us toward our vision?”
Our implementation vehiclesGroup creativity exercise“If our implementation plan were a fantasy vehicle, how might it look?”
PSP Focused Implementation“What will be our ‘SMART’ accomplishments for the first year?”“What implementation steps will be required in the first Quarter?”
First Quarter reviewOverviewStrategic review – World CaféOperational reviewRevise SMART Objectives Draft Quarter 2 Operational PlansReflection & close.
FeedbackAlfredo Zamudio, Director“From beginning to end Martin had a very clear methodology.The planning week was a learning experience, very inclusive of all participants. The extensive documentation has been essential for our work."Clare Spurrell, Head of Communications“Our planning week has always been faced with some trepidation, but this year IDMC was able to really 'unlock’. We were amazed with what we managed to achieve by the end of the week”
And, if you don’t have 5 days…Edventure Frome3 workshops in 1 long day - vision, contradictions, strategic directionsBrief review of context, mission & values firstImplementation planning by staff team later15 participants – three part-time staff, volunteer Board, local stakeholdersExperienced ToP PSP facilitator on staffLower stakes, less complex, less contentious
Resources & supportToP BooksThe Art of Focused ConversationThe Workshop BookTransformational strategyToP TrainingICA UkraineGoTraining RussiaICA:UK
Discussion & questionsAt tables: What words or images do you recall?What surprised you? What confused you?How do this approach and case compare to your own work and experience?What’s one question you would like to ask from your table?
Thank you!With thanks to all at IDMC, and to Rachel Natali for her photographs Download the full 28-slide presentation from my website: