This page describes how to write a left-hand/right-hand column case for use in an Action Design workshop. The quality of your case will have a major impact on what you learn. The best cases focus on moments that illustrate a key theme, issue, or recurring difficulty that you would like to learn to handle more effectively. It usually takes about an hour to write a case.

1. Think of an episode that illustrates a difficult or challenging issue in your work.  Please choose something in which you were personally involved and which you would like to learn to handle as productively as possible.  State what the challenge was (e.g., creating a cross-functional culture in a business team).

2. Please describe the context briefly:  who was there, the purpose of the encounter, what had just happened.  Make up the names if you wish.

3. Describe what actually happened by reconstructing key moments in the conversation.  Divide your paper into two columns as shown in the attached example.  Some word processing programs have a table command that is useful for creating this format. Or you can download a case template in Word.

• On the right hand side of the page, write what you and others actually said.  It is not important to remember the exact words spoken.  Your best recollection will be fine.  It is essential, however, that you write dialogue, as if from a play.

• On the left hand side of the page, write down any thoughts and feelings that you had at the time and did not say.

4. Please note any concerns or puzzles that still linger about the incident.  Write down also what help you would like from others when we discuss the case.

                        An Example