PROBLEM OF PRACTICE PROTOCOL

Overview:  

The problem of practice protocol is designed to help teams collaboratively address individual team members’ specific barriers, challenges, and frustrations.  One presenter shares his or her problem of practice with the team, and team members ask probing questions and provide recommendations to help advance the challenge or sticky situation.  The problem of practice protocol supports team members with challenges that inevitably crop up, while leveraging the experiences and expertise of the team.

Length:  30 minutes.  

Pre-Work: 

  • Identify a presenter to share a meaningful problem of practice with the team.  
  • Presenter reviews the protocol.

Step 1:  Problem Statement                                                                          (5 minutes)

  • The presenter summarizes a specific barrier or challenge they are currently confronting.  The presenter provides data illustrating the problem, as appropriate.
  • The presenter may summarize strategies they have tried to implement in response to the challenge.
  • The presenter provides the context participants need in order to think critically about the issue at hand.

Step 2:  Clarifying Questions                                                                        (3 minutes)

  • Participants ask the presenter clarifying yes/no questions to get a better understanding of the problem under review.
  • Facilitator limits questions to yes/no.

Step 3: Probing Questions                                                                        (7 minutes)

  • Participants ask the presenter probing questions, requiring more than a yes/no response.  
  • Participants seek to better understand the challenge, its root causes, and various strategies the presenter has tried to address the challenge.

Step 4: Fishbowl Brainstorm                                                                        (10 minutes)

  • Participants engage in a fishbowl problem-solving conversation, brainstorming potential strategies, solutions, and considerations for the presenter.
  • The presenter remains silent and listens to the conversation.

Step 5: Next Steps                                                                                (5 minutes)

  • The presenter processes the conversation and reflects on ideas and comments shared by the team.  
  • The presenter commits next steps informed by the conversation.  

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