Transcript TASK QUESTIONS AND RESOURCES

PLANNING THE TEAM’S INQUIRY
Decision-making/Problem-solving (Simon ‘77))
 Intelligence
 Design
 Choice
 Review
IDENTIFYING QUESTIONS FOR ANALYSIS
Questions of Fact
Questions of Value
Questions of Policy
Questions of Prediction
PHRASING QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Guidelines
 Focus on one idea per question
 Phrase questions unambiguously and clearly
 Phrase questions objectively
 Phrase questions open-endedly
PHRASING (CONT’D.)
Fact
 Measured or proved
 Numerical/quantitative
 Historical data
 Empirical
 Expert support
 Avoid adjectives > subjectivity
PHRASING (CONT’D.)
Value
 Degree or worthwhileness
 How to prioritize
 Consistent with moral, ethical, and value criteria
Policy
 “Should” statements
 “Possible” actions or solutions
 Subsume ideas of values and facts
 Avoid adjectives
Prediction
 Future possibility re fact, value, or policy
 Probabilities
PLANNING RESEARCH
Identify Needs for Data
 Historical
 Empirical
 Critical analysis
 Opinion research
Make a Team Plan
 Divide the work; make specific assignments
 Guidelines for presentation of info to team
 Set deadlines
IDENTIFYING INFORMATION RESOURCES
Primary vs. Secondary
Information from Interviews
Interviewing Tips
2 Broad Categories of Questions
 “Shooting”
 “Fishing”
IDENTIFYING (CONT’D.)
Information from Surveys
 Shorter the better
 Friendly to all
 Plan all aspects of the process
 Keep questions simple, unbiased, and positive
 Quick and easy to complete
 Design tabulation process
 Easier at beginning, tougher at end
 Demographics at conclusion
 Neat and professional
Internet
SHARING INFORMATION AS A TEAM
Working Through Information Together
 Total open communication of all collected info
Make Clear Reports
 Categorize and organize
 Post information
 Purposeful visuals
SHARING INFO (CONT’D.)
 Methods for visuals
 No extraneous info
 Big and easy to see messages
 Brief
 Clear
 Only few items per visual <7
 Use vivid comparisons or contrasts
 Use best method for your purpose