Facilitation Skills

Correct Answer: Use structured voting techniques and prioritization matrices to weigh different perspectives

Using structured voting techniques and prioritization matrices is the most effective approach for achieving consensus in stakeholder workshops with conflicting viewpoints. This method is optimal because: - It provides a systematic and objective way to evaluate different perspectives - It gives all stakeholders equal opportunity to contribute - It helps quantify preferences and priorities - It reduces emotional bias in decision-making - It creates transparency in the decision process The other options are less effective because: Escalating to senior management removes stakeholder ownership and engagement from the process, potentially leading to reduced buy-in. Creating a compromise solution based on personal judgment introduces subjective bias and may not adequately address all stakeholder concerns. Holding individual meetings does not promote collaboration or consensus-building, and may actually increase division among stakeholders by keeping them separated during the decision-making process.

Correct Answer: Use a round-robin approach where each participant shares one key requirement in turn

The round-robin approach is the most effective technique for ensuring meaningful contribution from all stakeholders because: 1. It provides equal opportunity for everyone to speak 2. It creates a structured environment where no one can dominate the discussion 3. It helps overcome participation barriers for more reserved stakeholders 4. It ensures systematic coverage of all perspectives The other options are less effective because: Anonymous electronic voting limits interactive discussion and doesn't promote collaborative understanding. Organizing by hierarchy can intimidate junior stakeholders and may bias the requirements toward senior perspectives. Individual meetings before the workshop, while useful for preparation, don't promote collaborative discussion and consensus-building that happens in group settings. They also duplicate effort and extend the timeline unnecessarily.

Correct Answer: Use consensus-based voting with weighted criteria matrix

A consensus-based voting system with weighted criteria matrix is the most effective approach because: 1. It promotes collaborative decision-making while providing structure 2. It allows for objective evaluation through predetermined criteria 3. It accounts for varying importance of different factors through weighting 4. It helps reduce bias and personal preferences 5. It creates a transparent and documentable decision process The other options are less effective because: Basing decisions on hierarchical positions may lead to power imbalances and overlook valuable input from subject matter experts at different levels. Sequential decision-making can create bias as later evaluators may be influenced by earlier decisions, and it does not promote collaborative problem-solving. A simple point-based ranking system lacks the nuanced evaluation criteria needed for complex business decisions and may result in oversimplified solutions that do not address all stakeholder concerns.