Who needs vision Why do a vision workshop? statements? A Visioning .pdf · Once the collective...
Transcript of Who needs vision Why do a vision workshop? statements? A Visioning .pdf · Once the collective...
Michael Sparks Winter, University 2007, Australian
National University, Canberra University
29 & 30 November 2007
Professor Michael Sparks
The Winter School
Tartu University
Michael Sparks Winter, University 2007, Australian
National University, Canberra University
What is a vision workshop?� An interactive session where members of a focus
community come together with organisations to indicate
ideal future outcomes;
� A session in which organisations can seek clarification of
what the community wants and how the organisations can
help achieve it;
� An opportunity to examine the strengths and assets in the
community as well as the needs and gaps; and
� An opportunity to discuss potential partners who might
also help to achieve the community’s vision.
Michael Sparks Winter, University 2007, Australian
National University, Canberra University
Why do a vision workshop?� To understand what the community wants or needs before
you develop a policy;
� To clearly communicate this community vision with
others;
� To see how the outcome that your organisation is working
toward fits in with the community vision;
� To determine other potential partners in achieving the
vision; and
� To give people a sense of ownership of the policy process.
Michael Sparks Winter, University 2007, Australian
National University, Canberra University
Who needs vision
statements?� Local, provincial and national government policymakers;
� Organisations that exist to support or provide services to a specific community;
� Projects like healthy cities, healthy islands, healthy schools;
� NGOs and humanitarian organisations often have a vision statement as well as a mission statement (IUHPE, Red Cross and Red Crescent, etc. ); and
� Intergovernmental organisations (WHO, UN, World Bank, etc.)
Michael Sparks Winter, University 2007, Australian
National University, Canberra University
How do you start?� Identify who should be invited to participate. Consider:
� Whole community;
� Those most affected by the policy;
� Political, religious, cultural leaders;
� Those with an interest in the policy area;
� Other organisations with an interest in the policy area;
� Non-Governmental Organisations or humanitarian organisations with a relevant interest in the policy area; and
� Other levels of government.
Michael Sparks Winter, University 2007, Australian
National University, Canberra University
Next steps:� Draw up a list of those who should be invited;
� Determine an appropriate place that will be conducive to open discussion (neutral territory);
� Determine an appropriate time for the meeting giving consideration to the needs of those invited (may need to be after office hours or on a weekend!);
� Analyse any special needs that participants may have (travel, child care, disability access, etc);
� Analyse any communication issues that need to be addressed before issuing the invitation including language, form of invitation (mail/email/public notice/telephone), most effective means of communicating with the community.
Michael Sparks Winter, University 2007, Australian
National University, Canberra University
Next steps (continued):� Send out the invitations with sufficient time for people to
be able to make arrangements to attend;
� Keep a record of who is attending and who has sent
apologies. Follow up those you haven’t heard from;
� Make sure the meeting place is ready and comfortable on
the day (supply water and food for the meeting); and
� Make sure that everything participants need to
communicate is in place (microphones, pen and paper,
white boards, butcher’s paper, interpreters, etc).
Michael Sparks Winter, University 2007, Australian
National University, Canberra University
The Visioning process� May be as formal or informal as you like/need it to be;
� Usually led by one person (may be independent) using a
list of questions targeting a future vision;
� Input from participants may be spoken or written but must
be recorded in some way;
� Once the collective visions have been stated, there needs
to be discussion of what is realistic, what can be achieved
with present resources, partners who could be called on to
help, and what the community can expect from the
organisation leading the process.
Michael Sparks Winter, University 2007, Australian
National University, Canberra University
The visioning process
(continued)
� It is very important to clarify any points that are not clear
so that everyone knows exactly what is being said;
� It is important to identify the role the community will
play in reaching this vision (assets, resources, actions);
� A smaller group may write up the results and send them
to all the participants;
� The group may be re-convened in future if necessary;
Michael Sparks Winter, University 2007, Australian
National University, Canberra University
Example� A good example of a city in Australia that used visioning
to develop future plans and policies:
http://www.vincentvision2024.com.au/events.html
Michael Sparks Winter, University 2007, Australian
National University, Canberra University
Policy implications of visions� Once the visioning workshop has been held, the policy
makers need to carefully analyse the vision that has been
developed and figure out:
� What they can and should do to help achieve the vision;
� Who they need to work with to achieve the vision;
� How they will link their policy development to the results of
the vision workshop;
� How they will report on policy progress in a way that
contributes to the fulfilment of the vision
� How to communicate and manage realistic expectations.
Michael Sparks Winter, University 2007, Australian
National University, Canberra University
Vision workshop
demonstration� Small groups
� Agree on the type of organisation you will be representing
(can be real or imagined)
� Some in the group represent the organisation, others
represent the focus population/members that are being
served by the group – decide on the roles of members
� Distribute questions – one person in each group leads the
exercise and another reports back at the end.
Michael Sparks Winter, University 2007, Australian
National University, Canberra University
Discussion� In what policy contexts do you think visioning workshops
would work best?
� When might they not work so well?
� What problems could hinder the process?
� What are your thoughts on the usefulness of visioning?
Michael Sparks Winter, University 2007, Australian
National University, Canberra University
Final pieces of advice:� When developing a mission statement - encourage
positive dreams! Ask the community to imagine an ideal
outcome. Then work out what steps are necessary in
getting there.
� When developing your organisation’s policy response to
the vision statement – be as accurate as you can about
what your organisation can actually do – how it can
contribute to achieving the vision. Your organisation does
not have to achieve the vision all by itself!