e-Consultation & e-Workshops Service
Getting more from staff, partners and stakeholders
In-person meetings and meeting time efficiency can be improved by identifying issues, debating and rating choices and undertaking 'context setting whiteboard activity' before the meeting even starts using our effective email techniques. In fact, face-to-face meetings can be even replaced altogether. We have experienced it and done it.
Make best use of participants' energy and ideas in meetings by using our e-Consultation & e-Workshops Service as a precursor to, or replacement for boardroom discussion, team strategy sessions or network development.
Our online meeting services are ideal as an ideas generator or group consultation tool. If there are issues to assess or strategies to be maximised within your business or organisation, our services can be applied as an e-workshop, e-consultation forum, or e-meeting.
In some instances our services can replace the need to meet physically, resulting in reduced travel costs and more efficient use of time.
USES
Our e-Consultation & e-Workshops Service is ideal for:
- staff/stakeholder consultation
- identifying options and approaches through brainstorming
- planning - Conference, strategic or mission
- information synthesis
- data analysis
- project or program evaluation reviews
- selecting ideas for guest speakers
- role playing and scenario analysis
- performing a SWOT analysis
- group decision-making and problem solving
- de-polarisation of issues through group awareness
Using structured email strategies, our e-meetings and e-workshops provide a structured but open and non-intrusive way of gathering information and opinion and allow individuals to revise their views through awareness of overall responses, rather than through pressure from individuals.
Our e-Consultation & e-Workshops Service can reduce/remove travel costs, remove risks related to absence from the workplace and enhance the value of later face-to-face meeting time, or telephone conferencing.
BENEFITS
Our e-Consultation & e-Workshops are conducted by email. They do not involve video conferencing or other expensive linkages, do not require software downloads, nor are they conducted in real time, which places unreasonable pressure on participants.
The structure and time frames allow participants to fit the process into their normal daily activities and invites carefully considered input. In some instances an activity may involve the use of a secure discussion board.
Our services are ideal for companies or organisations with regional or international offices, or even staff spread across teams or throughout a building. e-Consultation & e-Workshops Service reach conclusions and save time and money.
When contentious issues are discussed, participants can remain anonymous, making our service ideal for the voicing of open and honest opinions that are not always expressed in a face-to-face situation. Our process moderates forceful participants while equalising the opportunity for talented individuals who work best in a different context. This allows improved group interaction and creation of more rigorous outcomes than traditional workshopping.
Our services are an improvement to an in-person workshop in that:
- all input is displayed and shared
- it achieves consensus, while preventing any individual from influencing the views of others
- participants interact each round by responding to each other's commentary
- input is able to be easily rated and assessed by participants
- there is a start and end date
- there is a superior cost saving in terms of time out of office, travel and accommodation
HOW WE DO IT
We apply our proven six-step process to achieve your goals.
- We discuss with you, your needs and objectives. This includes your timing, business goals and issues at hand.
- We structure a commitment-based e-Consultation or e-Workshop Service around your task and needs.
- We work with you to develop background papers as required and details of the meeting service for presentation to the participants.
- We distribute the daily guidelines, receive and process responses from the participants.
- We can prepare a facilitator's summary of issues for wider distribution as appropriate. We also offer a continuing discussion board service depending on your needs/interests.
- Most importantly, we assist you collect authentic fact and opinion gathered through the workshop and appraise it against your mission while reducing the impact of personalities in the process.
HANDS ON: HOW IT HAPPENS
Our e-Consultation & e-Workshops Service involves several 'rounds' and requires minimal time from each participant. While 100 percent participation is not required, all members of the organisation DO have the opportunity to participate throughout the process, even if this participation is passive.
Because of the nature of the process, we provide skilled e-meeting and e-workshop facilitation. If required, participant involvement can be anonymous to other participants. This ensures participants can actively participate freely, without personal or 'local politics' inhibiting the process.
We use a number of base strategies that can be adapted for a wide range of uses through altering the context in which they are presented and the process itself.
As facilitators, we develop appropriate contexts and perform the administrative tasks associated with the compilation and processing of data and distribution of the results. If a face-to-face meeting is not being held, we can host an on-line 'de-brief' for participants.
Read a Press Release about one of our workshops.
Some of our workshops include:
- development of ideas and identification of opportunities for Australian agribusiness in Iraq
- development of an assessment tool for courses for a major Australian university
- group consultation and collaboration for policy development for a major Australian based international aid agency.
