Customer Reviews

Winning Through Participation: Meeting the Challenge of Corporate Change With the Technology of Participation

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Laura Spencer's book Winning Through Participation is one of the earliest and finest introductions to the facilitation process available. Technologies of Participation (ToP) are practical methodologies for the experienced and new facilitator. She introduces the Focused Conversation Method, the ToP Workshop Method, ToP Event Planning and Orchestration Techniques, ToP Strategic Planning Process and many other practical applications of ToP methods. ToP methods were developed by the Institute of Cultural Affairs in the 1950's, 60's and 70's as practical ways of enabling groups to develop their own thinking and solutions to problems. They are still used in 100's of places across the world.

Winning Through Participation is a great foundational resource for facilitation, both for the movement and for facilitators. It is particularly useful for its presentation of basic methods of facilitation, clear forms, and explanatory material. It is a great beginning toolkit for organizing and promoting facilitation.

This book appears to be the first one that sets forth the methods of the Technology of Participation, ToP, so widely used and known facilitation circles. The Institute of Cultural Affairs, ICA, an international non-profit concerned with the human factor in development, through its experience in offering consultancy and leadership in organizational development, was the fertile ground for this method spring forth and grow.

More about this book is on the SFN (Southwest Facilitator's Network) website, written March 2001.

Back in it's 1st or 2nd printing, this was probably the only book of its kind. I completely wore it out from constant use. It is an outstanding companion to any training I received from ICA in how to use the group facilitation methods that Spencer describes. She uses case study examples, summaries of numerous group facilitation methods, and practical plans for events like participatory strategic planning retreats.

Recently I went back to it and discovered a whole new appreciation for her wisdom. For example, I was a bit frustrated with the kinda' "mom and apple pie" quality of a group's brainstorm of their values. Spencer provided the insight I needed to set a more challenging context so groups could establish guiding principles for themselves... with teeth! Buy this book and read it. Then read it again after a few years of practice using participatory methods.

Now in its eighth printing, this how-to book is the ICA's facilitation "bible." With examples drawn primarily from the private sector, it describes the ICA's Technology of Participation core methods and their application in detail. Foreword by Rosabeth Moss Kanter. Available in English and Spanish Editions.