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Co vision

Build a shared response to a question

Pratique

Aim

In creating the “co-vision” technique, Imfusio was inspired by Gail and Matt Taylor, founders of the Group Genius methodology that aims to develop collective “genius”. This approach makes it possible to explore the differences in perception and representation within a group. In this way a shared response is produced that still reflects the diversity of individual points of view on the topic in question. At the end of the exercise, this takes the form of a photolanguage poster.

Instructions

Time needed: 60 minutes

Key steps

As facilitator, you explain to the group the question they will work on during the session and make sure that everyone understands it.

1. Individual time (7 minutes)
   Each participant individually illustrates their response on a sheet of flipchart paper, focusing on using images, drawings, diagrams: visuals more than words!
2. Subgroups time (25 min max.)
   Form subgroups of 2-5 people so that the participants can share their individual reflections before building a shared vision:

• Each participant has 2 minutes to share their reflection, without being interrupted by other members of the subgroup.
• Once each of the participants has presented their material, the subgroup has 15 minutes to put together a collective response in the form of a poster that shows the shared points AND the specific elements from each individual so the richness of the reflection isn’t diminished.

3. Everyone together (25 minutes)
   Once all of the participants have come back together, each subgroup has 2 minutes to share its group poster.

At the end of the presentations, offer the group some time to clarify ideas followed by sharing in a circle to bring out the points of convergence and any disparities that emerge from the different subgroups.

Tips and advice

• This activity offers an opportunity to try out the four levels of listening.
• Co-vision is a very useful method when dealing with participants from different cultures, backgrounds or levels in the organisation.
• At the very end of the session, you can offer a debrief on:
  • the content of the responses (richness, systemic vision, etc.)
  • the way they were created (different points of view complementing each other, working collaboratively, etc.).
  • the different forms of expression within a group or between subgroups (words, drawings, images, diagrams, etc.)