Process Walkthrough: From Brainstorm to Decision | Leading Successful Work Groups
Interactive Walkthrough

From Brainstorm to Decision

Walk through the complete participatory decision-making process step by step — from blank wall to final consensus.

From Theory to Practice
See the Diamond in action

You have studied the phases of the Diamond and explored different decision methods. Now watch a group move through the entire process in real time — from the first blank flipchart to a decision everyone can support.

Notice how the energy shifts as the group moves from wide-open brainstorming, through the hard work of the Groan Zone, and into the focused convergence of consensus.

Constraint
The decision cannot involve hiring new people or soliciting volunteers from outside the organization. All solutions must work with existing staff and resources.
Phase 1
Divergent Phase

The Blank Wall

The facilitator posts the question on a fresh flipchart: "How to staff the reception desk at lunch?" Below it, a reminder: no hiring new people and no soliciting outside volunteers. The wall is empty. The markers are ready. It's time to brainstorm.

How to staff the reception desk at lunch?
(Ready to capture ideas...)
Phase 1
Divergent Phase

Ideas Start Flowing

Hands go up. Ideas come fast. The facilitator captures each one — no discussion, no evaluation, just ideas. The flipchart fills up and a second sheet goes up on the wall.

How to staff the reception desk at lunch?
Rotating lunch coverage schedule
Staggered lunch breaks
Self-serve check-in kiosk
Phone auto-attendant during lunch
Cross-train admin staff for coverage
Close reception 12:00–12:30
Buddy system — two people split lunch
More Ideas
Redirect visitors to online booking
Manager-on-duty covers reception
Move lunch to 11:00 or 1:00
Combine reception with mailroom desk
Phase 1
Divergent Phase

The Wall Fills Up

Twenty minutes in, the wall is covered. Four sheets of flipchart paper hold the group's collective thinking — 20 ideas from 12 different people. The divergent phase has done its job.

How to staff the reception desk at lunch?
Rotating lunch coverage schedule
Staggered lunch breaks
Self-serve check-in kiosk
Phone auto-attendant during lunch
Cross-train admin staff for coverage
Close reception 12:00–12:30
Buddy system — two people split lunch
More Ideas
Redirect visitors to online booking
Manager-on-duty covers reception
Move lunch to 11:00 or 1:00
Combine reception with mailroom desk
More Ideas cont.
Paid lunch premium for coverage shifts
Sign-up sheet — voluntary rotation
Remote call forwarding to cell phones
Lock the door & post a sign with return time
Shorten lunch to 30 min for desk staff
Final Ideas
Digital visitor log — no staff needed
Flex time — desk person lunches at 2:00
Two half-hour shifts from different teams
Train security guard to handle visitors
Appointment-only policy over lunch
20 ideas • 12 contributors
Phase 2
Groan Zone

Studying the List

The facilitator asks: "Take a few minutes to read every idea on the wall. Then we'll hear your reactions — what excites you, what concerns you, what needs clarification." This is where real understanding begins.

How to staff the reception desk at lunch?
✓Rotating lunch coverage schedule
✓Staggered lunch breaks
?Self-serve check-in kiosk
✓Phone auto-attendant during lunch
✓Cross-train admin staff for coverage
•Close reception 12:00–12:30
✓Buddy system — two people split lunch
More Ideas
?Redirect visitors to online booking
✓Manager-on-duty covers reception
?Move lunch to 11:00 or 1:00
✓Combine reception with mailroom desk
More Ideas cont.
?Paid lunch premium for coverage shifts
✓Sign-up sheet — voluntary rotation
✓Remote call forwarding to cell phones
•Lock the door & post a sign
•Shorten lunch to 30 min for desk staff
Final Ideas
?Digital visitor log — no staff needed
✓Flex time — desk person lunches at 2:00
✓Two half-hour shifts from different teams
✓Train security guard to handle visitors
?Appointment-only policy over lunch
Check marks indicate support • Question marks indicate need for clarification • Red dots indicate concerns
Phase 2
Convergent Phase

The Dotmocracy

Each person gets 5 dots. Place them on the ideas you believe are most feasible and impactful — remembering the constraint. You can put multiple dots on one idea if you feel strongly. The group's priorities will emerge.

How to staff the reception desk at lunch?
Rotating lunch coverage schedule
Staggered lunch breaks
Self-serve check-in kiosk
Phone auto-attendant during lunch
Cross-train admin staff for coverage
Close reception 12:00–12:30
Buddy system — two people split lunch
More Ideas
Redirect visitors to online booking
Manager-on-duty covers reception
Move lunch to 11:00 or 1:00
Combine reception with mailroom desk
More Ideas cont.
Paid lunch premium for coverage shifts
Sign-up sheet — voluntary rotation
Remote call forwarding to cell phones
Lock the door & post a sign
Shorten lunch to 30 min for desk staff
Final Ideas
Digital visitor log — no staff needed
Flex time — desk person lunches at 2:00
Two half-hour shifts from different teams
Train security guard to handle visitors
Appointment-only policy over lunch
60 dots cast • 12 voters
Phase 3
Convergent Phase

The Shortlist

The facilitator rewrites the top-voted ideas on a fresh sheet — clean, clear, and ranked by dot count. The long list becomes a focused shortlist. These are the ideas the group believes in most.

Top Priorities
1. Rotating Coverage Schedule ★★★★★★★★ (8 dots)
2. Staggered Lunch Breaks ★★★★★★★ (7 dots)
3. Cross-Train Admin Staff ★★★★★★ (6 dots)
4. Buddy System ★★★★★ (5 dots)
5. Two Half-Hour Shifts ★★★★★ (5 dots)
6. Phone Auto-Attendant ★★★★ (4 dots)
Phase 3
Convergent Phase

Proposals Take Shape

Small groups take the shortlisted ideas and weave them into concrete proposals. They write them on fresh flipchart paper and present to the room. Others can offer friendly amendments — the proposer decides whether to accept. Because the decision method is consensus, each proposal will be tested with the Gradients of Agreement scale.

The Rotation
A weekly rotating schedule where each team takes one designated lunch-coverage day. Cross-trained admin staff fill the desk on a predictable rotation. Auto-attendant handles overflow calls.
Gradients of Agreement
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
Can't support Fully support
The Buddy Plan
Two people pair up each day and split the lunch hour into two 30-minute shifts. Partners choose their own pairing and swap weeks. A sign-up sheet goes out monthly.
Gradients of Agreement
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
Can't support Fully support
The Stagger + Tech
Stagger staff lunches across 11:30–1:30 so someone is always at the desk. Add a self-serve kiosk and auto-attendant as backup so the desk person can take a real break if traffic is light.
Gradients of Agreement
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
Can't support Fully support
Phase 3
Convergent Phase

The Decision

Each person scores every proposal on the Gradients of Agreement scale: 1 = can't support, through 5 = fully support. The scores are tallied. Because the group is using consensus, the proposal with the highest average — and no scores of 1 — becomes the group's decision.

The Rotation
A weekly rotating schedule where each team takes one designated lunch-coverage day. Cross-trained admin staff fill the desk on a predictable rotation. Auto-attendant handles overflow calls.
3.8 / 5.0
Gradients of Agreement
1
1
2
2
3
3
✓
4
5
5
Can't support Fully support
The Buddy Plan
Two people pair up each day and split the lunch hour into two 30-minute shifts. Partners choose their own pairing and swap weeks. A sign-up sheet goes out monthly.
3.4 / 5.0
Gradients of Agreement
1
1
2
2
✓
3
4
4
5
5
Can't support Fully support
The Stagger + Tech
Consensus Reached
Stagger staff lunches across 11:30–1:30 so someone is always at the desk. Add a self-serve kiosk and auto-attendant as backup so the desk person can take a real break if traffic is light.
4.4 / 5.0
Gradients of Agreement
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
✓
5
Can't support Fully support
Phase 4
Implementation

The Plan

The decision is made — now it needs to become action. The group assigns owners, sets deadlines, and builds an implementation checklist so that "The Stagger + Tech" moves from flipchart paper to daily reality.

Implementation Checklist
  • ☐
    Draft the staggered lunch schedule (11:30 – 1:30 rotations)
    👤 Office Manager — Dana📅 By April 18
  • ☐
    Research & order self-serve check-in kiosk
    👤 IT Lead — Marcus📅 By April 25
  • ☐
    Configure phone auto-attendant for the lunch window
    👤 IT Lead — Marcus📅 By April 25
  • ☐
    Cross-train two admin staff on reception duties
    👤 HR Coordinator — Priya📅 By May 2
  • ☐
    Run a one-week pilot and collect staff feedback
    👤 Facilitator — Jordan📅 May 5 – 9
  • ☐
    Debrief meeting: review pilot results & adjust
    👤 Full Group📅 May 12
  • ☐
    Full rollout of Stagger + Tech plan
    👤 Office Manager — Dana📅 May 19
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