| ActionMap Solution Overview |
The ActionMap solution for increasing collaborative solutions development capability has the following major features:
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| The ActionMap Toolkit - A Proven Set of Procedures |
The ActionMap solution for increasing collaborative solutions development capability is based on the ActionMap Toolkit. The ActionMap Toolkit is a set of procedures and formats for conducting collaborative solutions development meetings that has been proven in hundreds of engagements with organizations like HP, Chevron and Hunt-Wesson.
These procedures were developed to be operated as a flip-chart tool. They have recently been incorporated into a software package that provides automated direction of complete collaborative solutions development work sessions.
A more complete description of the ActionMap Toolkit and its uses is provided in the
main menu section of this web site.
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Adds Directly to the Core Capability
A major feature of the ActionMap solution is that the ActionMap Toolkit is designed to directly increase the core capability of CSDC, which is human communication and learning around process development and collaboration.
Increasing this core capability improves, in a single stroke, all of the activities, applications, disciplines and functions that depend on collaborative solutions development capability.
To accomplish this, the ActionMap Toolkit starts with formal systems analysis and design techniques that have simplified for use by people who have not had either on-the-job or formal training in these skills.
These systems analysis and design techniques are then integrated with procedures for sharing knowledge, interests and priorities, for brainstorming, and for focusing these intermediate results on the creation of concrete action plans.
These procedures have been simplified over the course of hundreds of group sessions into step-by-step formulas that closely support people natural problem solving, planning and decision-making abilities.
The resulting set of procedures is flexible, powerful and intuitive, and can be used to rapidly produce high quality process models and action plans, along with strong shared understanding, alignment and commitment to action.
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| Supports the Core Capability at the Point of Use |
Another major feature of the ActionMap solution is that the ActionMap Toolkit is specifically designed to be used in interactive group sessions, where the actual work of collaborative solutions development is accomplished.
The Context of Use for Collaborative Solutions Development Capability
The ActionMap Toolkit provides a flexible, structured and directive work plan for conducting collaborative solutions development work sessions, answering the question "what to do next" at all times during a session.
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| Addresses the Challenges of Collaborative Solutions Development |
The ActionMap Toolkit is also designed to directly address the challenges of collaborative solutions development, which include:
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Multiple lines of authority / lack of a single authority |
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Hidden agendas, domineering and grand standing, resistance to change |
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Different organizational and cultural backgrounds and languages |
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Different levels of process development skill and areas of process expertise |
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Partial, non-overlapping knowledge of the target process area |
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Actual conflicting interests and priorities |
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Maintaining focus and direction |
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Lack of a clear agenda and step-by-step instructions to follow |
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The actual hard work of process analysis, design and implementation planning |
This allows the ActionMap Toolkit to be a "standalone" tool that requires little or no meeting faciliation training to operate.
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| Integrates with Other Tools and Techniques |
Because the ActionMap Toolkit operates closely with people's everyday problem solving, planning and decision-making behaviors, and at the same time uses powerful systems engineering techniques, it is a "base" tool that easily accomodates the use of other tools, techniques and methods.
At the same time, the ActionMap Toolkit provides a baseline of capability for many related disciplines, such as project management, business process reengineering, systems design, and decision-support, allowing groups to produce results in all of these areas without extended resource commitments and training in each of these areas.
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| Satisfies Critical Success Factors for Broad Distribution of Use |
The ActionMap Toolkit uniquely satisfies the following critical success factors for approaches to broadly increasing collaborative solutions development capability.
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Reliable and effective |
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Fast and easy to start, learn and use |
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Widely applicable and highly scalable |
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Combines rigorous process development with strong consensus building |
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Translates rapidly across languages, cultures and areas of expertise |
With these qualities, the ActionMap Toolkit can meet all of the challenges, and realize all of the opportunities, described in this section of this web site.
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