Upcoming Programs:

June 22-27, 2008: Creating Productive Conversations, Wellesley MA

September 21-24, 2008: Making Conversations Work, Wellesley, MA

Step-change improvement in organizational effectiveness depends on the competence of individuals and groups to reflect critically on their own reasoning and action and to test their insights in action.  The medium of organizational intelligence is conversation in which people inquire into diverse perspectives, recognize and question assumptions, name difficult truths, and commit to joint action.  But conversation too often is superficial, timid, repetitive, or otherwise unproductive.   Whether as a leader or member, as a consultant, facilitator, or coach, to make a difference we must reason, talk, and act competently with others on the most important and difficult issues.

Competence is first an attribute of individuals.  But conversation is a team sport.  To develop competence in this domain an individual must work with others who think differently, who can offer feedback, who do not have the same blind spots, and who can serve as practice partners.  People often come to the Action Design workshops described here as individuals, but virtually all the work is done in small groups.  Action Design also supports workshop alumni in creating ongoing practice groups.

Organizational results are most often created by groups.  Competent individuals are crucially important, but there is also an aspect of group competence that includes trust, mutual understanding, and norms that sustain productive inquiry.  Action Design often works with intact groups to develop both individual and group competence.  Several members of a team may participate together in one of the workshops described here, a team may invite Action Design to conduct a workshop internally, or we may design customized development work in the context of our consulting services.

Our competence building programs draw on a common core, a learning approach that we have developed over two decades.  Building on this common foundation, each of our programs is customized for particular purposes and audiences:
 

• The Action Design Institute is our flagship curriculum of open-enrollment programs.  These are intensive, three- to five-day programs designed to help individuals develop their competence as change agents.  A typical class includes participants from several countries and with roles ranging from project leader to internal or external consultant to senior manager.  We currently offer a five-day program, Creating Productive Conversations and two three-day programs, Making Conversations Work and Creating Productive Conversations II. These programs can also be offered inside an organization.
• Our Leadership Development programs range from a two-day segment of an executive education program at a leading business school to yearlong, customized programs for client organizations.
• Facilitating Reflective Conversation is a two-day workshop that combines the work of Action Design with that of Roger Schwarz on "Skilled Facilitation."  Action Design also offers in-house workshops in both facilitating and coaching.
• In addition, we develop custom workshops in the context of our consulting services.