Consensus Mapping Software 2.0

Consensus Mapping - Idea Selection Software, Idea Evaluation Software (Creativity, Innovation);

The consensus mapping technique (Hart et al., 1985) helps a facilitator and group reach consensus about how best to arrange a network of up to maybe 20 ? 30 activities that have to be sequenced over time into a useable plan of action (e.g. outlining a 10-year network of sequentially linked activities to deal with a complex environmental pollution issue). These will usually be activities that could be done in a range of orders ? i.e. the order has to be approved ? it is not given by the internal logic of the activities themselves.

The technique has parallels to many of the usual project planning methods (and could if necessary feed into them) but operates at a purely qualitative, outline, level.

It merges elements of standard clustering techniques such at KJ-method and Snowball Technique with elements of sequential mapping Causal Mapping incorporated into a wider consensus-seeking procedure that has associates with Eden;s SODA method. Here is the suggested procedure:

The complete procedure works best with a trained group, but the mapping element could easily be adapted to informal solo use.

Requirements: 16mb RAM 10Mb HD space