Balancing among competing demands

Often collaborative processes require that stakeholders select or give priority to competing demands. In such circumstances, facilitators may provide them with tools and processes to help them make these difficult decisions. An analytical approach to facilitation includes this effort:

(1) clearly defining the decision to be made;

(2) selecting the “success criteria” for the decision;

(3) creating and defining the options from which to chose; and

(4) using quantitative and qualitative methods to weigh the various options against each other – to select the best.

The process must also be regularly updated in light of the dynamics of the context and group. Then, ensure that judgment is added to the analytical tools.