Steps

The facilitator then formed two columns under the problem title/depiction, explaining that one column represents ‘restraining forces/barriers’ while the other represents ‘helping forces/enablers.’

Example Issue: Domestic violence against women

Allowing time for participants to think about the issue, the facilitator asked participants to identify 5-7 barriers and 5-7 enablers to the issue, and write them on a sheet of paper.

Once completed, participants took turns sharing one barrier and one enabler for the issue. Each idea was then written on idea cards and placed in the corresponding column for the whole group to see.

This was done until all factors had been discussed. The facilitator then asked participants to rank each of the listed factors by importance.

To conclude the discussion, the facilitator then posed a number of question about potential strategies to address the issue, and listed them on a separate piece of paper. Questions may include:

• Based on the list we just made, what are some of the more significant barriers/enablers to the issue?
  • Probe→ Why are these the most significant? Have they always been significant or has this changed?
• Are any of the barriers/enablers listed different in nature and/or significance in the context of the work that is done in your respective organizations?
• How can some of the enablers listed be used to address the issue?
• How can these barriers and enablers be developed into action plans/strategies?