A proposal for the F2F

Hello all,

I'd imagine that like last year's F2F we'll need to be making a lot of decisions. I'd like to propose using a particular tool to help speed/capture those decisions. Not sure of the name, but I call it a decision wheel. Steve Cisler invented AFAIK. Below is a pasted description of the tool. To see a quick vote on whether to use it or not, I'd propose everyone respond to this message with a simple message body with a simple +1 (For), -1 (Against), or 0 (Ambivalent). I'll tabulate the results, or Marc can for impartiality :) (Trust me, I'm not THAT tied to the tool).

My quick pattern for using this:

Name: Decision Wheel Consensus

Context: A F2F group with a whiteboard, or online group with blackboard capability, needs to make several decisions.

Forces:

..Decision time is limited

..Number of decisions can be discussed at once

..Shared vision must be captured

Solution:

..Pick a moderator

..Draw a center for the wheel

.. For every decision to be made, create a decision axis

.. draw two spokes in opposite directions from the center, ideally in a different color for each decision

.. Label the spokes with the quality that needs deciding (color, centralization, attributes Vs elements)

.. Label one spoke with the value at one end of quality spectrum (all elements)

.. Label opposing spoke the value at other end of spectrum (All attributes on single element)

.. For each member have them plot on the decision axis where their views are, and make a brief case for why

.. Once all members have gone, let any member that wishes change their plot points, and briefly state why

.. Repeat until for each axis a consensus has been reached by tightly grouping plot points, or until no member wishes to change their mind.

.. If no member wishes to change their mind, then the topic needs discussion, or tabling until further information can be added.

Result Context: For each decision axis a group plot point has been created and a decision made, or a range of plot points have been captured and the decision has been tabled until after further discussion/new information.

Tool description follows:

Steve Cisler described the use of a spoked circle as a graphical decision aid

(see figure below). The circle represents the "space" of decisions that must be made, while the endpoints

of the spokes represent the two possible extremes of each decision. In his paper on "Community

Networks: Past and Present Thoughts." Cisler describes how the spoked-circle approach was used by the

Silicon Valley Public Access Link project. The upright spoke, for example, might be labeled "system

architecture" and the location of the small circle on the spoke near the "distributed" endpoint depicts the

decision to use a distributed architecture instead of a centralized one. A point on the middle of a spoke

would indicate an intermediate position between the views represented by the endpoints.

There are no stringent requirements as to how to use the tool. Simply identifying the spokes can be an

important first step, as the spokes clearly show which decisions are to be made. It may not be critical to

determine the exact location of the decision. In some cases, a group may decide to postpone a decision,

but it is a group decision, nevertheless, that ultimately must be made with others in the group. If a

difference of opinion hasn't been resolved — for example, whether an online resource should be free to

use or whether there should be fees — the organizers could say, "We're still trying to resolve this. Which

approach do you think is best?" The tool can also be used as a way to explain compromises or transitional

circumstances by showing the current point in relation to the direction along which the developers plan to

proceed. For example, when the system is launched it might be deemed necessary to charge users a small

fee, but ultimately the system would be expected to be free to use. It might also be necessary to begin

with text-only displays, but with a commitment to move to more advanced graphical displays later.

xdi message