Walking the Sunlit Path

Online FORUMOnline FORUMConsensus Convergence SoftwareConsensus Convergence Software

• People talk past each other.• Blood pressures rise.• Everyone gets defensive.

Adversarial debate is a path to failure…

• Exasperation deepens.• Positions become hardened.• Misunderstandings multiply.• Nothing is accomplished.

In such situations:

Simply put, it doesn’t work.

So where do we find a model that does work?

Certainly not among professional advocates.

Here’s an approach:

1) Take the best ideas from philosophy, science, engineering, and communication studies.

2) Design a product based on them.

To empower people to achieve productive consensus

on issues that matter.

The Goal:The Goal:

Provide incentives for group success.

Cultivate the skills needed to assess issues.

Enhance positions incrementally.

Guide dialog past common breakdown points.

Set clear and attainable thresholds for success.

The Approach:The Approach:

THE WSP FORUMTHE WSP FORUM- An Introduction -

Dedicated to those willing to stay for an answer.

What is required of participants?What is required of participants?

ANSWER:ANSWER:

QUESTION:QUESTION:

1) A constructive attitude1) A constructive attitude

2) A little patience2) A little patience

• Is achieved through inquiry and dialog.

• Is accorded to ALL who converge on consensus.

SUCCESS…

It isn’t about being right so much as getting it right.

How do you accumulate progress?How do you accumulate progress?

ANSWER:ANSWER: Build it into the process. Build it into the process.

QUESTION:QUESTION:

Topic: Funding level for 2014Status:

Ongoing

The level MUST be increased

Next Action: Awaiting rebuttals to Team #3's latest position paper.

There's no money for an increase

Optional funding sources

Some expenses must be cut

Exit

Participants: 18 Uncommitted:

4

Topic: The 2016 Budget

Status: Ongoing

Are any areas under-funded?

Out of the box brainstorming

Are there alternative funding sources?

What expenses should be cut?

Participants: 18 Observers: 4

Agreed: Last year's budget can't be used for 2016. (100%)Agreed: Mistakes were made in last year's budget. (100%)Agreed: We must make a decision by 12/01/15. (64%)Agreed: We need input from key clients on support levels. (100%)Open: We should cut costs by limiting mailouts to the metropolitan area.

RECORD OF RESOLUTIONS

ExitAlerts (2) History BlogVote on Resolutions

Team 1 (2)

Team 2 (5)

Team 3 (3)

Team 4 (4)

Success = 80%

Goal: An optimum budget proposal for FY 2016.

This is where the main dialog

happens.

How do team members work together?How do team members work together?

ANSWER:ANSWER: In their team space. In their team space.

QUESTION:QUESTION:

15

Team 2 Page: The 2016 Budget

Position:Team

Members:

5Out of the box brainstorming

VivaYoJaneA Noba Loney Transcend Deep Thot

08:22 JaneA: Are we only brainstorming about cutting spending?08:44 Noba Loney: It could be about anything related to the budget.09:03: JaneA: I don't think anyone knows where to cut.09:04: Noba Loney: That’s why we need to think differently. 09:08: Noba Loney: I’ll look for a book on it.

Team Dialog

ExitTeam Alerts (0) Team History Position Page Topic Page

Comment

How do the Topics come into being?How do the Topics come into being?

ANSWER:ANSWER: Authorized members create them. Authorized members create them.

QUESTION:QUESTION:

Topic Definition

Label The 2016 Budget

Description Some combination of cuts and/or new funding sources is needed to keep everything within our means without losing valuable services. We need to look into all options and come up with a good budget.

Teams 4 Members

Ongoing

18

Status 80Success %

View/Define View/Select

Topic Page 17OK Cancel

Goal An optimum budget proposal for FY 2016.

Who controls user access?Who controls user access?

ANSWER:ANSWER: Designated administrators.Designated administrators.

QUESTION:QUESTION:

System Administration

RequiredOptional

Profiles...

Personal

Education RequiredOptional

Foundational Views RequiredOptional

RequiredOptionalOrientation

Not Tracked

Not Tracked

Not Tracked

JaneAStans2ReasonDeepThotNoba LoneyTranscend

03/14/1503/14/1504/02/1504/03/1504/03/15

65%68%83%68%61%

YesYesNoYesNo

YesYesNoYesNo

Member Added Rate Topics Teams

Access Control...

Add Edit Search 19OK Cancel

Why call this product “applied philosophy”?

ANSWER:ANSWER: Because its design, including its expert system, was largely shaped by 2,500 years of philosophy.

QUESTION:QUESTION:

If there is a roadblock in the dialog, the expert system can be consulted to diagnose its source.

Example: Is a group reality check needed?

The system can then recommend actions -

List the central facts related to the Topic.

Do the teams agree on these?

If not, focus on resolving the disagreements.

The system can also recommend high quality resources for particular types of issues.

The WSP Forum provides an electronic environment in which people can cultivate inquiry skills in a supportive dynamic whose only goal is productive consensus on

issues that matter.

Walking the Sunlit Path: The Technical Framework

Walking the Sunlit Path: A Map For Living

Walking the Sunlit Path: Introduction

For more, see these slideshows…

Live presentations available on request.

This project needs a team to finish itPARTICULARLY FOR JAVASCRIPT

[email protected]

If you would like to become involved in any aspect of it, please contact -

“W alk ing the Sunlit P ath”