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Organization Development     Channeling Process   

 

The objective of this process is to gather information on the "rubs" people are experiencing in the organization, e.g., concerns, new ideas, expectations and hopes, etc. The process if done regularly and frequently:
  • keeps issues in an improvement process; allows for a process of planning, strategy development and negotiation
  • helps the organization's leadership stay in touch with the system
  • keeps the system focused on an improvement cycle rather than a cycle of fear and blame, heads off the building-up of tension.

1. On newsprint, gather the team’s "rubs" in two columns

date

   CONCERNS

 

 

 

        WISHES FOR IMPROVEMENTS
  • Most of the time is given to doing this in reference to the work and life of the team.

  • On additional sheets of newsprint or at a separate time the team needs to gather this                                                    information in reference to the total organization.

2. Have the team prioritize items in each column.

  • Give each person one vote for every 3 or 4 items in a column.
  • Members of the team go up to the newsprint to place a check mark showing their votes.
  • Do not try to "group" items that seem alike until after the voting.

3. On another sheet of newsprint, list the priority items and 

indicate a follow-up action for each.

date

               PRIORITY ITEMS

1.

2.

3.

 

 

 

               FOLLOW UP

The follow up action listed would be along the following lines: 

  • a person, or working group, agreeing to do some work on the issue and report back to the whole team
  • a person, or working group, being authorized to take action as they see fit or within guidelines provided by the team or leaders
  • agreement to consider the issue at a future team meeting for problem solving, strategy development or an appreciative process

Items from a channeling process on the larger organization would be referred to the management team for its consideration along with items from other teams.

   © Robert A. Gallagher, 1992 
Permission to Use: You may make copies of this resource with the conditions that -- 1. the copyright information and this note are included and 2. the material is not sold.

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