Framing Your Business Issue for Others

Abstract

Appropriate for individuals interested in framing a situation in order to facilitate conversations with colleagues and others not familiar with the situation. To engage others in these conversations, this note outlines specific statements to guide students in framing challenges as stories that can be delivered in eight minutes. Using these guidance statements will help participants prepare a visual presentation of a situation and facilitate conversations with others interested in contributing. Presentation guidance is also provided for preparation of flip charts that are to be provided in a Gallery Walk event.

Excerpt

UVA-OM-1413

July 23, 2010

FRAMING YOUR BUSINESS ISSUE FOR OTHERS

In executive development programs, participants often apply learning themes to one or two “back-home” situations. Such real-world sharing provides opportunities for analysis, action, and deliberation that participants can later apply to their own businesses.

Experience has shown that managers and professional staff alike realize there is considerable value in framing opportunities in ways that facilitate conversation with other participants. In order to engage others quickly in these conversations, we have prepared several guidance statements to help frame challenges as stories. Using these guidance statements will help participants deliver a stimulating and visual description of a situation and show others how they might contribute.

The target is for participants to tell their story in eight minutes using a flip chart or set of PowerPoint slides and then be ready to listen to other participants who offer personal experiences, ideas, and even advice as framing considerations.

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Keywords: Business improvement thinking, effective communication, story telling, gallery walk, brainstorming