Type of Technique AltA Technique Outcome of AltA Application Number of Participants Ease of Application Problem structured and defined New material created & potential solutions identified Existing material reviewed Enhanced Decision Making Individual Small Group (2 - 10) Large Group (>10 people) Easy ■ Medium ■■ Hard ■■■ Structuring Mind Mapping     ■ Conceptual Mapping     ■ Rich Pictures     ■ ■ Creative Brainstorming      ■ Brainwriting     ■ Starbursting        ■ Reverse Brainstorming      ■ ■ Six Thinking Hats       ■ ■ Creative Combinations     ■ ■ ■ Diagnostic Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats      ■ Plusses, Minuses, Interesting       ■ Five Whys     ■ Key Assumptions Check      ■ Quality of Information     ■ Outside-In Thinking     ■ ■ Indicators / Signposts of Change      ■ ■ Surrogate Adversary / Role Play      ■ ■ Alternative Futures Analysis      ■ ■ ■ Challenge Devils Advocacy     ■ Team A / Team B     ■ ■ Pre-Mortem Analysis      ■ ■ What If Analysis     ■ ■ ■ Figure 4: AltA Techniques and Application
Resistance Forms Comments Acknowledgement/ Response Examples Attack (project or personal) Most blatant form of resistance “You are really questioning a lot of what I do” “You seem really about something” “Give me more detail” Stakeholder has an insatiable appetite for detail “We are getting into a lot of detail” “We’re unique/different” “Our business is too different, it can’t work here” “Are we really that different? Are there any lessons we could learn from others?” “No time” Means: “You are not a priority” “You don’t have the time to work with me. I am having a hard time trying to proceed without your involvement” Silence Toughest to deal with “I don’t know how to read your silence” Table A1: Resistance forms and responses There are 3 fundamental steps to dealing with resistance: Step 1 – Identify the form that the resistance is taking what you see more than what you hear Listen to yourself – use your own feelings as a barometer Listen for repetition / tell-tale phrases Step 2 – Acknowledge and name the resistance Tell the person your perception of the resistance Do it in a “win/win” manner; neutral, non-aggressive manner – “what I think I hear you saying is....” Tell the person how the resistance is making you feel Step 3 – Be quiet, listen, let the person respond Get the person talking Encourage full expression of the concerns Gradually uncover underlying resistance / issue- be aware of other forms of resistance surfacing
Some of the typical signs and signals that a person is lying include: Eyes maintain little or no eye contact, or there may be rapid eye movements, with pupils constricted. Hand or fingers are in of his or her mouth when speaking. His or her body is physically turned away from you, or there are unusual/un-natural body gestures. His or her breathing rate increases. Complexion changes such as in colour; red in face or neck area. Perspiration increases. Voice changes such as change in pitch, stammering, throat clearing. Desirable Qualities for an AltA Facilitator Facilitating a group is not easy, but with sufficient practice it can yield very valuable results, especially when combined with AltA techniques. The AltA Facilitator should strive to develop certain qualities in order to succeed as a facilitator of AltA and to provide Alternative views and/or analysis when required. The AltA Facilitator is: Rational. Exhibits critical thinking skills: relies on reason rather than emotion; considers all evidence; follows evidence where it leads; is more concerned with finding the best explanation than being right, analysing apparent confusion and asking questions. Weights the influences of motives and bias, and recognises own assumptions, prejudices, biases, or point of view. Honest. Recognises emotional impulses, selfish motives, nefarious purposes, or other modes of self-deception. Open-minded. Evaluates all reasonable inferences, considers a variety of possible viewpoints or perspectives, remains open to alternative interpretations, accepts a new explanation, model, or paradigm because it explains the evidence better, is simpler, or has fewer inconsistencies or covers more data, accepts new priorities in response to a re-evaluation of the evidence or reassessment of our real interests, and do not reject unpopular views out of hand. Disciplined. Is precise, meticulous, comprehensive, and exhaustive, resist manipulation and irrational appeals, and avoid snap judgments. Sound Judgment. Recognises the relevance and/or merit of alternative assumptions and perspectives; recognises the extent and weight of evidence. Courageous. Has the ability and confidence to present—in a constructive unpopular or challenging arguments that go against perceived “group norms.”
Asking the right questions: a guide to critical thinking M Neil Browne & Stuart M Keeley Ch 1 Discusses argument deconstruction and the importance of self-reflection, and deciding what to believe and what to be sceptical of. (Pdf version available of AltA Community of Interest Portal) A tradecraft primer: Structured analytical techniques for improving intelligence analysis US government All Describes some of the AltA techniques, plus other more advanced analytical techniques used in intelligence analysis. Rational Analysis for a Problematic World: Problem structuring methods for complexity, uncertainty and conflict Rosenhead, J & Mingers, J All Analytical methods to assist in problem formulation and problem solving in an uncertain world The Abilene Paradox and meditations in management Jerry Harvey Ch 2 Demonstrates how dynamics can keep individuals from stating true beliefs. Winning Decisions: getting it right the first time J Edward & Paul J H Schoemaker Ch 1 & 7 Step by step analyses of how people typically make decisions. Provides worksheets, tools, questionnaires to support getting a big decision made. Sources of How people Make decisions Gary Klein Ch 6 & 16 Discusses complexity and systems thinking. A practical to policy analysis: The eightfold path to more effective problem solving Bardach E All Guide to policy review and provides checklist of items to be considered in policy analysis Listening Effectively John A All Techniques to aid the AltA facilitator in improving listening skills (pdf version available on the AltA Community of Interest Portal)