Co-creating Facilitated Session Goals and Objectives

Jointly developing facilitation goals and objectives with participants (co-creation) can be an effective strategy to create buy-in or support.
Resource Type:
Tool
Use this to:
| Plan|

Rather than setting objectives in advance (i.e., using the cascading approach), an alternative method to establish clear and constructive objectives for a facilitated session may involve co-creation. This process involves jointly creating the objectives during the commencement of the session and involving the participants in this process. This can be an effective strategy to create buy-in or support for the purpose of the session.  

Applying the Delphi Method to Co-Create Goals and Objectives 

One of the most useful techniques for co-creating goals and objectives is based on the Delphi Method. A series of steps are presented below to guide this process:  

    1. Choose a facilitator  
    2. Establish a panel of experts   
    3. Define the problem or topic area 
    4. Provide key questions to gain clarity on the objectives (a survey or discussion may be used)
    5. Collate and summarize responses looking for common viewpoints
    6. Provide multiple rounds of questions to achieve consensus 

Tips

An external or co-facilitator can be effective for creating an atmosphere of neutral or unbiased facilitation. The individual may bring a fresh perspective and novel questions to guide an enriching discussion.

Last Updated:  March 24, 2021
Source:

Adapted from: Linstone, H., & Turoff, M. (2002). The Delphi Method: Techniques and Applications (Digital ed.). New Jersey Institute of Technology.
https://web.njit.edu/~turoff/pubs/delphibook/index.html

Scroll to Top