mind@work: Group Decision System, Electronic Boardroom, Advanced brown paper sessions.

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"mind@work is not merely a set of techniques for improving organizations, enhancing communications, building consensus, or solving problems. It is based on the principle that conception and implementation are intimately linked, with a core of creating common meaning."

mind@work VOF supplies methods, applications (minds2gather), tools and techniques to improve change processes by improving team resolution making, creativity and getting results.

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Brainstorming	Printing	Clustering	Deciding

Welcome to our English home page

Thank you for your interest in our products/services. We are an organization dedicated to better decision making by groups or teams, something you may call Decision Groupware, Electronic Boardroom or Group Resolution Methodware. The methods are aimed at better social interaction through, amongst others, computer supported brainstorming, clustering or categorizing using cards or hexagons and various techniques for building consensus. We've specialized in problem definition, because:

If you're not part of the problem, you're not part of the solution

The definition of the problem is part (about 80%) of the problem

People tend to bypass the process of problem definition, because it is connected to negative emotions, like frustrations, anger, sadness, loss, envy ; it requires people to become open about their feelings and - Argyris - the process of bypassing problem definitions is also undiscussable.

'The wrong solution for the right problem is preferable over a right solution for the wrong problem'. In both cases the solution doesn't work, but only in the first case one will surely innovate in the right direction.

Companies fail not because of a mistake, but because they continue to make the same mistake over and over again.

As facilitators, we're not involved with the implementation of the solution (see 1).

Talking about problems requires a level of communications, that can only be attained in a same place, same time meeting. Openess can be enhanced by using computers for brainstorming, while communicating 'is' a social process and can be enhanced by using cards.

We have developed a four step process, using computer and cards for better decision making. The advantages are:

The advantages of using computers	The advantages of printing labels or cards	The advantages of using cards	The advantages of using this method
Everybody treated equally, less hierarchy All ideas visible: more creativity, greater speed Working at their own speed, no pressure More emotions shown, less politics Evaluation anonymously Focus on idea not on owner	Every idea readable Proportional printing: smaller font with larger texts Use of different shapes and colours Multiple copies for parallel processing Professional Usuable on table top, brown paper or electrostatic board	Lots of items: better overview Actual exchange of ideas Colour activates integration Movement stimulates left and right brain hemisphere Joint, dynamic discussion, dialogue and conversations Intuitive understanding Fractal, chaotic, social, easy	Consensus on problems without emotional or group pressure to conform Freedom of choice and participation precedes committed choice Creative, innovative and implementable solutions Fast reporting on session and action plan
Brainstorming	Printing	Clustering	Deciding

Here is a ! DEMO !
free demonstration of the software and the printing facilities.

The steps are:

Accepting the situation and each other: green
Informing each other about the different views on the situation or issue: yellow
Ordening the ideas, have a conversation on the results and prioritizing clusters and ideas: blue
Action planning on alternatives, options or solutions: red (and green, yellow, blue and red again).

The session has to designed. In the design of our interventions we take into account:

the responsible manager or leader

the preferences of the group

the nature of the environment

the desired result (S.M.A.R.T.)

The sessions and meetings move from problem definition to action planning in a consistent way. The facilitator designs the processes and is not involved with the content. Most of the time the group works so fast, you cannot even become involved much. In the end we almost always have a concrete, specific results, although sometimes not the results you'd have expected beforehand.

mind@work orchestrates meetings and change processes. Contact us for designing and executing a workshop . Depending on the circumstance, hiring us will mean an out of pocket cost of between Euro 2000 to 5.000. The benefits will always be greater. We also developed the software minds2gather and mindprint. . Furthermore we train consultants, moderators and facilitors in using these new techniques. Contact us for dates and information on training . Using mind@work requires experience in facilitating group processes, an open mind and a compassionate attitude. Because of the use of computers and the logistics of the printing, it is recommended that the facilitators work in pairs.

We are creating a network organization in The Netherlands that will be able to deliver better roads to change through minds2gather for for-profit and not-for profit organizations. At this moment in time we're concentrating on doing business in The Netherlands, but we're interested in expanding our network.

More information: see the questions asked at the 8th European Facilitators Conference . For information and documentation in the English language, please contact us through mind@work (info@mindatwork.nl) or janlelie by telephone (+ 31 70 324.34.75).