Plan a Disaster

Purpose:

Assessing and Reflecting

Overview:

This strategy widens frames of reference by increasing awareness of potentially unanticipated outcomes of carrying out a plan or possible details that might be overlooked during implementation of an initiative.

Procedure:

1. Identify a goal and ask the group to define the opposite outcome.
   • What might they see if the negative outcomes were to happen?
   • What might they hear if the negative outcomes were to happen?
   • Where might they see and hear these indicators?
   • Who might be affected most by the negative outcomes?
2. Develop detailed plans for the above.
   • What steps in communicating and implementing the plan might need to occur to produce each negative attribute?
3. Finally, ask the group to pause and reflect on the implications for the positive planning processes and implementation efforts in which they hope to engage.

Variations:

Use the disaster plan to shape the criteria for assessing the effectiveness of the final positive plan the group produces.

Source:

Lipton, Laura, & Wellman, Bruce (2011). Groups at work: Strategies and Structures for Professional Learning. MiraVia. Charlotte VT. P. 87. ISBN 978-0-9665022-7-5. Pg 31.