Solution Search

It’s sometimes said that publishing is just one big problem, and all that publishing executives can do is nibble at it.

Whether that’s true or not, we do know that top management is frequently confronted with issues that resist resolution: strategy, technology, implementation.

The future.

Most organizations have the answers to these questions; unfortunately, they just don’t know how to bring them forth. In response, The Cole Group has developed a method for extracting answers from the most intractable problems: Solution Search.

Held in 19 hours over three days, Solution Search puts all your “stakeholders” into one room and uses time-tested techniques to reach not just consensus, but a common understanding.

Solution Search can be held off-site near your operation, but best results come from having the group stay together overnight. Beepers, cellular phones and phone messages are outlawed.

Our experienced facilitators can help your group (as few as 20 but no more than 60) bring out their own answers.

Self-management

Solution Search groups are broken down into teams of six to eight people each. The essential work of Solution Search is done by these teams, giving team members a huge role in how that work is done.

Each team provides its own guidance: a discussion leader assures that all opinions are expressed; a timekeeper keeps the team on schedule; a recorder puts the team’s results on flip charts, and a reporter tells the larger group of the team’s discussions. Roles are frequently rotated during the three days.

This self-management practice – when coupled with the large group sessions – gives everyone in the group an opportunity to give direction to the Solution Search.

Time-proven techniques

Solution Search is based on a variety of group dynamic techniques, but most of what we do owes a great debt to the work of Marvin Weisbord and Sandra Janoff of SearchNet, who have been leading sessions such as these for almost 30 years.

Solution Search works because of the effort and planning your organization will put into it. Before the Solution Search session, we meet with a steering committee at least once; after the session, we work with you on a wrap-up report.

Solution Search isn’t designed to resolve conflict – it puts everyone on common ground to make decisions.

System selection | General management | Cole’s courses | Solution search