4D Vision Problem-Solving

Explain to the participants that the discovery phase is all about focusing on times of excellence, when people have felt things to be at their most effective and alive. Talk about how a traditional problem-solving approach to resolving conflict within a team might ask ‘What is the source of the conflict?’ whereas the AI approach would ask ‘What is the very best team you ever worked with?’.

• Ask the group to give you examples of the best team they have ever worked in, or with. Note the responses on the flip chart. Once you have enough responses, pin the flip chart to the wall.

2. Now Move on to the Dream Phase (15 Minutes)

Talk to the participants about how in the dream phase the challenge is to move away from the status quo, and start to envisage a preferred future. Encourage them to think about potential and the contribution that could be made. In practical terms, what is the ultimate position the team could be in, how far can it stretch?

Ask the group to tell you how their dream team would look, how they would work together, what they would achieve and what contribution it would make. Remind them to use the responses from the discovery phase for prompts and ideas. Capture their thoughts on a flip chart.

Pin the sheet on the wall next to the discovery phase responses.

3. Explain the Principle Behind the Third Phase, Design (15 Minutes)

Discuss how this phase involves creating the social and procedural architecture required to realize the dreams. Emphasize that this is the time to determine the desired qualities and behaviors which will underpin the efforts to move towards a positive future. As an example you could say “AI would ask, ‘What is the best way to lead this team towards our goal?’ rather than the more traditional ‘What is wrong with the way this team is led?’.”

• Ask the team to think about what it is they need to do in order to achieve their dream team. If required, you can prompt with questions such as: ‘What are the training needs?’, Will there be procedural changes?’, or ‘Are the current system capabilities sufficient?’
• Again, pin the sheet with all the suggestions on it to the wall.

4. Talk to the Group About the Final Phase, Deliver (15 Minutes)

Talk to the participants about how this phase provides the opportunity to put into practice the visions and propositions they devised during the dream and design phases. Emphasize that this is a time of continuous learning, adjustment and improvisation, and that the process is only as valuable as the changes that actually occur after the process has been completed.

• Ask the group to tell you what they need to do to implement these dreams. They should consider using the following questions to break down each dream into manageable chunks:
• What needs to be done to achieve this?
• Who needs to be involved?
• Where should it be implemented?
• When does it need to be done by, and by whom?

Review Activity and Apply Learning (15 Minutes)

Review the flip chart notes from each phase and use them to complete an action plan. These actions can then be followed up by the individuals assigned to each task to ensure the opportunities identified as a result of resolving the problem are implemented. The action plan has been reproduced below, with the first line completed as an example. A full, printable version of the action plan is available to download using the button at the top of this page.

What needs to be done?

Who is responsible?

Notes

Deadline

Devise reward scheme for existing customers

Marketing

Competitor research to be carried out

31st December