Ideas, planning and service design
Diverge, Share, and Organize
Expand individual ideas, share them so everyone can see them and organise them into groups that can inform the next decision.
- People
- 12–20
- Session time
- 165 minutes
- Format
- In person
English session plan
Original program status: draft. Source safety category: Low; this is not a guarantee of safety.
Preparation: Standard preparation. Facilitation team: 3 organising roles.
What this session can decide
Create groups of ideas and relationship maps. Leave final decisions, implementation planning and acceptance or rejection to the next session.
Outside its scope
- Do not select the final proposal.
- Do not force people to speak or disclose personal information.
- Do not evaluate the people who created the ideas.
Primary caution: Do not select the final proposal.
Before starting
- Question and scope
- Expand individual ideas, share them so everyone can see them and organise them into groups that can inform the next decision. Before the session starts, state the subject and period to be covered in one sentence.
- What is decided here
- Create groups of ideas and relationship maps. Leave final decisions, implementation planning and acceptance or rejection to the next session.
- Output recipient
- At the end, the Recorder retains “Concept maps showing similarities and differences”. Create a structure of ideas that can be compared in the next decision.
- Participation and information boundaries
- Let people choose to participate by speaking, writing, or passing. Keep personal information, confidential information, and assessments based on personal attributes off the record surfaces.
- Operating team
- Assign the Lead facilitator, Recorder, and Timekeeper before starting, and confirm who announces switches and stops.
- Next check
- Decide the review date for “Concept maps showing similarities and differences”, who may view it and who is responsible for the next decision.
Who takes responsibility
- Lead facilitator
Keep “Diverge, Share, and Organize” within its purpose and stated exclusions, and announce the start and end of each stage.
From before the start until the session ends.
- Recorder
Record “Individually written ideas”, “Sticky notes with ideas and insights”, “Concept maps showing similarities and differences” at each stage and hand the records to their recipients at the end.
From preparation of recording surfaces before the start through storage after the session.
- Timekeeper
Notify the Lead facilitator 3 minutes before each stage ends and when switching to breaks or buffer time.
At the start of every stage and 3 minutes before its end.
Session flow
Minutes are measured from the session start. Method time, transition time, breaks and buffer are shown separately; they are not additional overlapping activities.
0–23 minutes
Expand individual ideas
Method: Silent Brainstorming / Brainwriting · 0–20 minutes. Transition: 20–23 minutes (3 minutes).
Write ideas in response to the question silently, one idea per card. Read other people’s ideas, add ideas they inspire and mark the ones you want to share.
Responsible: Lead facilitator; Recorder; Timekeeper
Output: Individually written ideas
Handoff: Each participant keeps the ideas they have marked and brings them to whole-group sharing.
This stage may be shortened only in accordance with the stated conditions.
23–101 minutes
Share from small groups to the whole group
Method: Shift & Share · 23–98 minutes. Transition: 98–101 minutes (3 minutes).
Place ideas at tables organised by theme. Participants move between tables, building on explanations and questions. Each table records additional insights, one per note.
Responsible: Lead facilitator; Recorder; Timekeeper
Output: Sticky notes with ideas and insights
Handoff: The Recorder moves all sticky notes to the organising surface.
This stage is not marked as shortenable.
111–144 minutes
Compare several maps of the ideas
Method: Comparing Concept Maps · 111–141 minutes. Transition: 141–144 minutes (3 minutes).
Each table creates a concept map showing relationships between ideas and compares it with another table’s map. Record common clusters, different perspectives and ideas not yet organised in a single comparison table.
Responsible: Lead facilitator; Recorder; Timekeeper
Output: Concept maps showing similarities and differences
Handoff: Pass the comparison table and concept maps to the organiser of the next decision-making meeting.
This stage is not marked as shortenable.
What is retained and who receives it
Individually written ideas
Owner: Recorder
Each person selects the ideas they want to share at the next stage.
Sticky notes with ideas and insights
Owner: Recorder
Make the material to be organised visible to everyone.
Concept maps showing similarities and differences
Owner: Recorder
Create a structure of ideas that can be compared in the next decision.
Materials and setup
Material names, quantities, groups and handling instructions retain the fixed draft's original helper-derived guidance. Where a format is marked “Source material specification”, the entire bound English source material entry takes precedence over the old helper-derived format guidance. This format-only correction does not resolve other instruction or safety concerns. English names are not substituted into a Japanese-keyed lookup.
Everyday tools
- Selection marks
Quantity: 2 marks per person
Format: Pen marks. Use round stickers only if anonymity or movement is needed.
Use pen marks by default. Divide round stickers by participant count only if repositioning or anonymous collection is needed.
- Pens
Quantity: 1 per person
Format: Dark broad-tip pens or whiteboard markers
Check that the ink flows and place the pens where participants can reach them. Avoid pale-coloured pens.
- Pens
Quantity: 1 per person
Format: Dark broad-tip pens or whiteboard markers
Check that the ink flows and place the pens where participants can reach them. Avoid pale-coloured pens.
- Pens in two colours for distinguishing similarities and differences
Quantity: 1 of each per person
Format: 1 black or blue pen and 1 pen in a different, distinguishable colour
Before the session starts, decide which colours to use for shared and differing links. Also vary line styles, such as solid and dotted lines, so colour is not the only distinction. Distinguish them with solid and dotted lines as well as colour.
Sheets to prepare by hand
- Idea cards
Quantity: 5 per person
Format: Sticky notes around 75 × 75 mm, or A4 copy paper cut into four pieces.
Do not buy specialised cards. Write “Idea” at the top of each paper slip. If participants write on them, use one item per slip and handwrite the necessary headings before the session starts. Write only one idea per slip.
- Surface for grouping anonymous ideas by similar subjects and effects
Quantity: 1 sheet per group plus 1 for whole-group consolidation
Format: Source material specification: Classification sheets: one A3 sheet per group plus one for whole-group consolidation
Source-bound format display correction; the other fixed helper-derived guidance is unchanged.
Write the session question at the top. Initially spread out all submitted ideas without sorting them. After grouping similar ideas, label each group so its subject and action are clear. At the bottom, create an area for retaining the top 2 groups with the most selection marks.
- Practice panel
Quantity: 1 sheet per table
Format: Large-format paper or a whiteboard
Create fields headed “Evidence”, “Conditions” and “Consultation” on one sheet. Write each heading in words rather than relying on colour alone.
- Table-number signs
Quantity: 1 sheet per table
Format: Sticky notes around 75 × 75 mm, or A4 copy paper cut into four pieces.
Write consecutive numbers on the required number of signs before the session starts. Use thick lettering that can be read from a distance.
- Rotation record booklet
Quantity: 1 booklet per visitor
Format: A4 copy paper
Divide A4 copy paper into 6 fields headed “Round 1” through “Round 6”. In each field, leave room to record the table number, evidence presented, conditions for success and one question or suggestion. There is no need to buy booklets.
- Paper slips for recording visitors’ questions or suggestions, one per slip
Quantity: 6 strips per table
Format: Long paper strips made by cutting A4 copy paper lengthways into 6 pieces, or sticky notes
Write “Question or suggestion” at the top of each slip. After hearing about evidence for the practice, conditions for success and points for consultation, visitors write one question or suggestion per slip.
- Takeaway slips
Quantity: 1 per person
Format: Sticky notes around 75 × 75 mm, or A4 copy paper cut into four pieces.
Do not buy specialised slips. Write “Takeaway” at the top of each paper slip. If participants write on them, use one item per slip and handwrite the necessary headings before the session starts.
- Individual map paper
Quantity: 1 per person
Format: Source material specification: One A4 individual-map sheet per person
Source-bound format display correction; the other fixed helper-derived guidance is unchanged.
Write “Individual map paper” at the top. Leave enough space to arrange sticky notes or paper slips without overlap, and use lettering that can be read from a distance during whole-group sharing.
- Concept cards
Quantity: 8 per person
Format: Sticky notes around 75 × 75 mm, or A4 copy paper cut into four pieces.
Do not buy specialised cards. Write “Concept” at the top of each paper slip. If participants write on them, use one item per slip and handwrite the necessary headings before the session starts. Write only one word per slip.
Materials chosen for the session conditions
- Silent-submission tray
Quantity: 1 per group
Format: An opaque envelope or empty box already available, or a submission area marked out with masking tape on a table
Position it so other participants cannot read submitted content. There is no need to buy a dedicated tray.
- Overlay surface for copying similarities and differences between concept maps
Quantity: 1 sheet per group plus 1 for whole-group consolidation
Format: An opened transparent document folder already available. If no transparent material is available, copy the similarities and differences between the two maps onto A4 copy paper.
At the top, add a key for “Shared links” and “Links present in only one map”. Place individual maps side by side. Copy links with the same words and direction as solid lines and links found in only one map as dotted lines. Do not erase links or merge them into a single line.
Setup for each method
Silent Brainstorming / Brainwriting
- Groups of 3–6, with group sizes differing by no more than one person
- One worktable per group, arranged so that participants do not look at one another’s writing
- One tray per group, opened only after all ideas have been submitted
- One whole-group consolidation surface for the groups’ top ideas
Shift & Share
- At least 2 practice stations according to the participant range, each with one host and a 3 m-diameter standing conversation area
- The same number of visitor groups as stations, with 5–9 people per group
- One one-way route that cycles through station numbers in order
- One whole-group surface collecting practical knowledge from all stations
Comparing Concept Maps
- Groups of 2–3 with participants distributed evenly
- One work table per group for placing individual maps side by side
- One whole-group integration surface for overlaying one difference per group
When to switch or stop
Fallbacks
- At the 15-minute point, there are more than 100 ideas.
Each person marks 2 ideas they want to share; move unmarked ideas to the holding area.
Method guide: Silent Brainstorming / Brainwriting
Stop conditions
- Sticky notes contain judgements of individuals or their attributes.
- Stop organising and rewrite the notes as observable issues or actions.
- Someone who does not want to speak or write is forced to participate.
- Allow passing or anonymous submission before resuming.
Sources, rights and limits
This site has composed this programme’s purpose, method sequence, delivery instructions, roles, outputs and switching conditions. See each individual method page for that method’s sources and licences.
Original source records and their required notices are retained below. Their presence does not mean a new legal or cultural-safety clearance. Original citation titles are kept in their source language.
Sources and required notices for the 3 methods used
Silent Brainstorming / Brainwriting
- Chris Baynham Hughes: Silent Brainstorming / Brainwriting — CC BY 4.0 adaptation; changes made
- CC BY 4.0
- Source: Chris Baynham Hughes: Silent Brainstorming / Brainwriting | https://openpracticelibrary.com/practice/silent-brainstorming-brainwriting/ | CC BY 4.0 adaptation; changes made
- Source: CC BY 4.0 | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
- Attribution: Chris Baynham Hughes | Authors and contributors credited in the source material
- Attribution: Taiwa no Fumen Editorial Team | Japanese adaptation and this site’s original illustrations
- Changes and adaptation: Adapted with changes as Japanese facilitation scores
- Cultural caution: open-method screening complete: Closed, ritual or sacred cultural practices are not used as sources; opting out, sensitive information and power differences are addressed in each method’s limits and branches.
- Limits of this record: Individual contributors are credited. Text covered by CC BY 4.0 was adapted with changes into Japanese facilitation scores. Exception notices, the site logo and third-party embedded material were excluded.
Shift & Share
- Liberating Structures Fieldbook (2026): Shift & Share — Henri Lipmanowicz / Keith McCandless / Nancy White — CC BY-SA 4.0 adaptation; changes made
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Source: Liberating Structures Fieldbook (2026): Shift & Share — Henri Lipmanowicz / Keith McCandless / Nancy White | https://www.liberatingstructures.com/shift-and-share | CC BY-SA 4.0 adaptation; changes made
- Source: CC BY-SA 4.0 | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- Attribution: Henri Lipmanowicz and Keith McCandless; Keith McCandless and Nancy White | Author/contributor credit from the original material
- Attribution: Taiwa no Fumen Editorial Team | Japanese adaptation and this site’s original illustrations
- Changes and adaptation: Adapted with changes as Japanese facilitation scores
- ShareAlike: Provided under CC-BY-SA-4.0
- Cultural caution: open-method screening complete: Closed, ritual or sacred cultural practices are not used as sources; opting out, sensitive information and power differences are addressed in each method’s limits and branches.
- Limits of this record: Adapted with changes into Japanese facilitation scores under CC BY-SA 4.0 and provided under the same licence. Only the current pages are covered; materials dating from June 2026 or earlier, official icons and third-party material were excluded.
Comparing Concept Maps
- Greg Wilson: Comparing Concept Maps — CC BY 4.0 adaptation; changes made
- CC BY 4.0
- Source: Greg Wilson: Comparing Concept Maps | https://openpracticelibrary.com/practice/comparing-concept-maps/ | CC BY 4.0 adaptation; changes made
- Source: CC BY 4.0 | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
- Attribution: Greg Wilson | Authors and contributors credited in the source material
- Attribution: Taiwa no Fumen Editorial Team | Japanese adaptation and this site’s original illustrations
- Changes and adaptation: Adapted with changes as Japanese facilitation scores
- Cultural caution: open-method screening complete: Closed, ritual or sacred cultural practices are not used as sources; opting out, sensitive information and power differences are addressed in each method’s limits and branches.
- Limits of this record: Individual contributors are credited. Text covered by CC BY 4.0 was adapted with changes into Japanese facilitation scores. Exception notices, the site logo and third-party embedded material were excluded.
Japanese resources and historical source records
Original Japanese plan and its print view · Japanese operation pack or starter materials
An English print edition is not provided here. The linked plans, print views and operation materials are Japanese resources.
Historical recorded publication holds
The following original hold statements are retained verbatim with their fixed source versions. They are not a statement of current acceptance, nor does this historical label resolve a source-specific restriction.
- English translation and rendered-page independent acceptance pending
- Method dependency source/text SHA binding and current source-specific rights verification pending
- Publication not cleared
Historical fixed-source and English-draft provenance
Japanese program SHA-256: 05757d8ec6542468cf3909eae0e66da1f33bf43b92b558b0719492537adef813
Fixed source context SHA-256: 637142fff569949bb0cbcc3bdb5b0836aa0b414f84ca644409bd1625d9a03b15
English draft SHA-256: c36ac1bd033722a38c929b96194352bf6d9f5e89bfed03b4066ad81876b969c7
- opl-comparing-concept-maps: source
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76227c2ee6759998ab5a1966783f4ceae088325918b57bf440e7619ce8e84574; English draft029d6328baa0f8a108bd739a4f74d534254472192fd84e44df885aa91984fa82 - shift-and-share: source
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These hashes identify the checked inputs; they do not grant independent acceptance or publication clearance.