Transformational Strategy: Facilitation of Top Participatory Planning

by Bill Staples

Tried and tested practical wisdom about participatory, long range and strategic planning.In rapidly changing, complex landscapes organization leaders need concrete plans not simplistic advice. Reactive plans often entrench the problem. But when many minds focus together a new array of ideas and options can generate profound insight, creative strategy and high resolve in the whole group. What can leaders, consultants and facilitators do to ensure this happens? As a master practitioner of ICAs Technology of Participation (ToPTM) Bill Staples fully illustrates the breadth and depth of the transformation that comes from fully engaging people in the decisions that affect their work and lives. This book pulls back the veil on todays most powerful facilitation and reveals transformational philosophy, methods and tools used around the world. ToP practitioners will especially benefit from the case studies and detailed procedures that launch organizational transformation. There are few organizations that have contributed so much to the improvement of group problem solving and decision-making as the Institute of Cultural Affairs. Over the past 25 years, its Technology of Participation has become known the world over and is applied in every sector of society. This book provides a thorough introduction to ToP including its background, purpose, methods, and applications. Bill Staples integrates and presents this information in a way that makes it accessible to anyone concerned with engaging people in effective problem solving and decision-making.Sandy Schuman, author of Creating a Culture of The International Association of Facilitators Handbook and The Handbook for Working with Difficult How They Are Difficult, Why They Are Difficult and What You Can Do About ItICA is truly one of the pioneers of the participatory approach to planning and deliberation. Its commitment to participatory, democratic values is authentic and trustworthy.Sam Kaner, author

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 30, 2013

Reviews

[Martin Gilbraith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transformational Strategy outlines the global and historical role of participation in transformative social change, and the history and evolution of the ToP approach. It places the spiral planning process in a wider framework that includes the preparation and research that precedes the planning and the implementation that follows it, and introduces a number of particular ToP tools and techniques to support each stage.

It has a chapter of in-depth theory and practical tips on the application of each of the four key stages of the spiral process that will be most familiar to ToP facilitation trainees and practitioners. It outlines some possible variations in the approach for different groups and groups sizes, and additional follow-on steps to inspire commitment through implementation.