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Taiwa no FumenPractical methods for shared thinking

English edition: the full translation has not yet received an independent line-by-line review. Check the linked sources and method-specific limits before use. Japanese PDFs and videos remain labelled.

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Ideas, planning and service design

Reduce a Concept to a Minimum Pilot

Select the essential parts of a concept and design a trial and measurements that can be started within existing authority.

People
4–16
Session time
150 minutes
Format
In person

English session plan

Original program status: draft. Source safety category: Medium; this is not a guarantee of safety.

Preparation: Standard preparation. Facilitation team: Four roles, including an experienced facilitator.

What this session can decide

Propose a small trial, observation indicators and stop conditions. Obtain approvals concerning laws, safety, contracts and charging separately.

Outside its scope

  • Do not remove safety requirements.
  • Do not approve full operation.
  • Do not promise actions that require additional authority.

Primary caution: Do not remove safety requirements.

Before starting

Question and scope
Select the essential parts of a concept and design a trial and measurements that can be started within existing authority. Before the session starts, state the subject and period to be covered in one sentence.
What is decided here
Propose a small trial, observation indicators and stop conditions. Obtain approvals concerning laws, safety, contracts and charging separately.
Output recipient
At the end, the Recorder retains “Trial plan”. Manage the goal, experiment, indicators, responsibility and stop conditions on one sheet.
Participation and information boundaries
Explain that people may pass, rest or leave, and keep personal information, confidential information and judgements about attributes off the recording surface. Assign Participant support separately.
Operating team
Assign the Lead facilitator, Recorder, Timekeeper and Participant support before starting, and confirm who announces transitions and stops.
Next check
Decide the review date for “Trial plan”, who may view it and who is responsible for the next decision.

Who takes responsibility

Lead facilitator

Keep “Reduce a Concept to a Minimum Pilot” 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 “Minimum trial specifications”, “Starting actions and responsible people”, “Trial plan” 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.

Participant support

Receive requests to pass, rest, leave or check individually, and decide with the Lead facilitator whether resumption is possible.

From before the start until the session ends.

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.

  1. 0–38 minutes

    Select the essential parts of the concept

    Method: Min Specs · 0–35 minutes. Transition: 35–38 minutes (3 minutes).

    Check concept elements one at a time and retain only those whose removal would undermine the trial’s purpose. Exclude safety, laws, rights and information management from the reduction exercise.

    Responsible: Lead facilitator; Recorder; Participant support

    Output: Minimum trial specifications

    Handoff: Pass the parts of the minimum specifications that the group can act on itself to the next stage.

    This stage may be shortened only in accordance with the stated conditions.

  2. 38–61 minutes

    Select starting actions within existing authority

    Method: 15% Solutions · 38–58 minutes. Transition: 58–61 minutes (3 minutes).

    Write actions that can be prepared without additional budget, additional authority or someone else’s approval. The person responsible selects one action and sets a start date and a state that counts as completion.

    Responsible: Lead facilitator; Recorder; Participant support

    Output: Starting actions and responsible people

    Handoff: Pass the starting actions and minimum specifications to experiment design.

    This stage is not marked as shortenable.

  3. 66–129 minutes

    Design the experiment and measurements

    Method: Goal Experiment Measure Loop · 66–126 minutes. Transition: 126–129 minutes (3 minutes).

    State the hypothesis to test in one sentence. Record the experimental procedure, observation indicators, period, responsibility, conditions for expansion and stop conditions.

    Responsible: Lead facilitator; Recorder; Participant support

    Output: Trial plan

    Handoff: Pass the trial plan to the approver, the person responsible for safety checks and the person responsible for implementation.

    This stage is not marked as shortenable.

What is retained and who receives it

Minimum trial specifications

Owner: Recorder

Show the smallest scope that can be tested without undermining the purpose.

Starting actions and responsible people

Owner: Recorder

Specify a first action that can be prepared without additional resources.

Trial plan

Owner: Recorder

Manage the goal, experiment, indicators, responsibility and stop conditions on one sheet.

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

Black writing tools

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.

Pen for identifying items to delete

Quantity: 1 pen per group of 4–7

Format: A red pen already available. If unavailable, use a black or blue pen.

Mark items to delete with a double strikethrough and the word “Delete”. Even without red ink, distinguish them from other edits through line style and wording.

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.

Broad-tip 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.

Sheets to prepare by hand

Individual paper

Quantity: 1 per person

Format: Source material specification: One individual sheet per person, A5 or larger

Source-bound format display correction; the other fixed helper-derived guidance is unchanged.

Write “Individual 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.

Maximum-specification list

Quantity: 1 sheet per group of 4–7

Format: Source material specification: One A3 maximum-specifications list per group of 4–7

Source-bound format display correction; the other fixed helper-derived guidance is unchanged.

State the content, preparation date and person who checked it. If distributing it, also provide a large-print version or digital viewing data with the same content.

Whole-group consolidation surface

Quantity: 1 per venue

Format: Source material specification: One whole-group consolidation surface per venue, at least 120 cm wide

Source-bound format display correction; the other fixed helper-derived guidance is unchanged.

Write “Whole-group consolidation surface” 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.

15% action cards

Quantity: 2 per person

Format: Source material specification: Two A6 action cards per person for a 15% solution

Source-bound format display correction; the other fixed helper-derived guidance is unchanged.

Do not buy special-purpose materials. Write “15% action” at the top of each paper piece. If participants will write on it, use one item per piece and handwrite the required headings before starting.

Surface for sharing the small action each person chose

Quantity: 1 surface

Format: Large-format paper or a whiteboard

Divide the work surface into 3 fields: “Action I will try”, “Date to try it” and “Person to reflect with afterwards”. Do not rely on colour alone; write each field heading in words.

Sticky note for the date to try a small action

Quantity: 1 per person

Format: Sticky notes around 75 × 75 mm, or A4 copy paper cut into four pieces.

Write the person’s chosen action, the date to try it and someone to reflect with afterwards. Provide one per person so they can take it home.

Homemade 3-column goal, experiment, and measurement sheet

Quantity: 1 sheet per group

Format: Two A4 sheets placed side by side. Join them with masking tape if a larger surface is needed.

Create Goal, Experiment, and Measurement columns on one sheet. Write a heading for each column rather than relying on colour alone.

Table for comparing experiment priorities

Quantity: 1 per proposed experiment

Format: A4 copy paper

Divide the work surface into 3 columns: Expected impact, Effort required, and Confidence in the result. Write a heading for each column rather than relying on colour alone.

Measurement sheet for baseline, collection method, purpose, storage, and deletion

Quantity: 1 per proposed experiment

Format: A4 copy paper

Create Baseline, Collection method, Purpose of use, Storage, and Deletion fields on one sheet. Write a heading for each field rather than relying on colour alone.

Learning sheet for stop conditions, responsible person, and short-cycle update date

Quantity: 1 per proposed experiment

Format: A4 copy paper

Create Stop conditions, Responsible person, and Short-cycle update date fields on one sheet. Write a heading for each field rather than relying on colour alone.

Information to gather before the session

Information sheet for checking participation and handling of records

Quantity: 1 copy per affected person

Format: A4 copy paper or digital viewing data with the same content

Use language a first-time reader can understand to explain What participation involves, Consent is voluntary, How to withdraw consent, and Whether existing records will be retained or deleted after withdrawal. Add the creation date, the person who checked it, and a contact for questions. If distributing it, also prepare a large-print version or viewing file with the same content.

Setup for each method

Min Specs

  1. Provide one table per group of 4–7, with group sizes differing by no more than 1 person
  2. Space in front of the consolidation surface to arrange each group's list, at least 30 cm wide per group

15% Solutions

  1. Chairs arranged so 2–4 people can face one another
  2. A space on a table or on each person's lap where only they can read their action card
  3. Explain at the outset that advice is given only when requested

Goal Experiment Measure Loop

  1. Set goals as desired states participants can influence and display that numerical achievement will not be used for penalties, guarantees, or personnel evaluation
  2. Before each experiment, identify affected perspectives, an implementation lead, specialists to consult, stopping conditions, and how to reverse it
  3. As a rule, collect no personal data for measurement. Use existing values or non-identifying aggregates and set purpose, collector, storage period, deletion date, and update date
  4. Explain the experiment and measurement plainly to affected people and first show consent, how to withdraw, and choices after withdrawal to delete, anonymise, or stop use of existing records

When to switch or stop

Fallbacks

There are more than 10 essential elements.

Limit the specifications to testing one use situation and one outcome.

Method guide: Min Specs

Stop conditions

The trial involves laws, safety, contracts or personal-information processing.
Stop preparation and do not implement the trial until approval from the responsible authority is obtained.
Stop conditions or a loss limit cannot be agreed.
Put the trial on hold as unapproved.

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

Min Specs

  • Source: Liberating Structures Fieldbook (2026): Min Specs — Henri Lipmanowicz / Keith McCandless / Nancy White | https://www.liberatingstructures.com/min-specs | 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.

Current-page credit and licence companion for this method

15% Solutions

  • Source: Liberating Structures Fieldbook (2026) — Henri Lipmanowicz; Keith McCandless; Nancy White | https://www.liberatingstructures.com/15-percent-solutions | CC BY-SA 4.0 adaptation; changes made
  • Source: Creative Commons License — Liberating Structures | https://www.liberatingstructures.com/cc-license | CC-BY-SA-4.0 notice
  • Source: CC BY-SA 4.0 | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ | Licence text
  • 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.

Current-page credit and licence companion for this method

Goal Experiment Measure Loop

  • Source: Open Practice Library: How to do GEMs | https://openpracticelibrary.com/practice/gems/ | Adaptation under CC-BY-4.0; changes made
  • Source: CC-BY-4.0 terms | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | CC-BY-4.0
  • Attribution: Taiwa no Fumen Editorial Team | This site’s text and illustrations
  • Cultural caution: This manifest contains no structured cultural-safety assessment. Human checks are required for context, opting out of participation and power differences.
  • Limits of this record: Only the notices displayed in the public YAML were transcribed. This does not assert that no individual rights exist.

Current-page credit and licence companion for this method

Historical fixed-draft notes

The original fixed draft notes are retained without deletion as historical records of those fixed source versions. Current material format corrections are separately identified above; these notes do not imply that other concerns have been resolved.

  • The fixed sourceRaw for preparedMaterials.5 specifies A6, while its helper-produced format offers approximately 75×75 mm sticky notes or quartered A4 paper. The coordinator is separately investigating the A6-size helper issue. Both fixed source representations are retained without correction or a claim that these sizes are equivalent.

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: 06c48a5597995653f2cd5f21d7fb52c01b69ca9f03b6d00b4fe92cc8d3897502

Fixed source context SHA-256: bcf3d851a3eabc049fa6daaaa8004e6c5b64988c60f081095662f3659c4f9c82

English draft SHA-256: 9fb6649efc2f7aef8a15e9eba34b16589386dd19f8db5888607c045d1a61df54

  • fifteen-percent-solutions: source 9fc0898f6f2fe2ccd2c7b07b6c14ffdaf94f3cea0e9687c47abcd66de5099530; English draft 6fb4e7aab6fbc1a483523be1ec075d9cd40fdc907d0a766fc2f641c51de4c660
  • min-specs: source ffdba770d0c9e8734e91916b6a5c245669130dfb618f9b06ac483b345f1338b3; English draft 56a0e5e841cba86a01d33745981a04c48d90977a377ff0dd65c6c7193281c07a
  • opl-goal-experiment-measure-loop: source fe257cfadd32f02277e486ba8acff192334e4e3309764403eb8c35b14bbda9d3; English draft 423f81ccb6fff2f9a3bffc17785a681e8e7d5f75f4c1d15e29cb9524e254b7ca

These hashes identify the checked inputs; they do not grant independent acceptance or publication clearance.