on Culture & Development - Seameo-SPAFA

5. Repeat process with next characteristic. The second characteristic shouldbe more challenging in that it is perhaps more valued by the group inthe context of their work e.g. good listener.6. Invite the group to comment and discuss on how they felt throughoutthe process and the strategies they adopted to complete the activityand/or compensate for these feelings.109Alternative:Taking advantage of the November 2005 Culture and Development conference,an alternative activity was set up whereby participants were requested to helpus decide which of them should receive scholarships to attend the conference.Working in small groups of 5/6 persons, each had a chance to present reasonswhy they should attend. They were instructed that there should be nodiscussion or further questions during these presentations. At the end of thesession, each member of the group was asked to note down the names of twopeople they personally chose to eliminate. Again there was to be no discussionwith other group members as this was a personal choice. It soon becameapparent that the initial decision to reject two proved optimum as one of thecommon strategies to avoid choosing was for individuals to name themselves.Having to select one other person to join them in this “rejected” minority groupdid manage to increase the tension. The selection papers were collected as this,in a sense, ‘obliged’ them to complete the activity. At the same time it increasesthe tension as they did not want to hurt anyone’s feelings and they assumedtheir choices would be revealed – which they weren’t. As with the ColleagueCard Sort, follow up discussion focused on how participants felt throughout theprocess.