1.5 - About University

Method Best used when How toLogicalMethodCriteriaMethod• The situation requires a technicallycorrect answer.• Workgroup or team memberswill commit to a logically correctanswer.• Getting agreement on prioritiesmay be difficult, because:- There is a high potential fordisagreement and conflictaround priorities.- Vested interests exist withinthe workgroup or team.[☛ 12.7 Dealing with Conflict]1. Discuss various methods for assembling data logically; for example,consider these tools:☛ 7.2 Problem Solving☛ 7.5 Decision Making☛ 7.7 Quality Tools2. Select and apply the method most appropriate to your situation.When the potential for conflict is high, it’s important to explain theprocess and clearly state why it is being used.1. Ask the workgroup to step back from the list of items for amoment.2. Ask members to spend time discussing the criteria or principlesthey will use to set priorities. For example:- priorities as your customers would see them, or- priorities based on some higher-level principles, or- considerations such as corporate strategy.3. Generate an agreed-to set of criteria that will be used to help theworkgroup or team determine priorities.4. Set priorities based on the agreed criteria.H OW TO USE THIS LEADERSHIP TOOL“Priority is a function of context, or the ‘bigger picture’ in which something occurs. ... It’sbig-picture renewal that puts us in touch with the purposes and patterns of life.”—Stephen Covey, FIRST THINGS FIRSTPriority setting focuses the workgroup’s energy and commitment on the critical few, highimpactitems. A counterpoint to brainstorming, it is the most common form of evaluativethinking. While brainstorming increases the number of options under consideration and raisesthe level of ambiguity, priority setting guides workgroups toward closure and decision making,and lowers the level of ambiguity.Type of Thinking Techniques Ground RulesDevelopmental• Used to generate andsurface many ideas.Developmental• Brainstorming• Lateral thinkingDevelopmental• No evaluation, clarification only.• Build on others’ ideas.• Creative thinking is encouraged.• Quantity is more important than quality.Evaluative• Used to narrow in onthe best plan of action.Evaluative• Priority setting• Decision makingEvaluative• Challenging and questioning are okay.• Debate is okay.• Closure is sought on the best ideas oractions.330 SECTION 10 TOOLS FOR LEADING TEAMS AND GROUPS