Produced by the Institute for Cultural Affairs (ICA) in Canada, the book was edited by R Brian Stanfield, its Director of Publications. A non-profit with a presence in 48 countries, the ICA has worked for 45 years in organisational development, adult and child education, community development, and methods of social change.

• Acknowledgements Foreword IntroductionPart 1. The Consensus Workshop Method1. Why Use the Consensus Workshop Method?Those awful meetingsInnocent of processCommon uses of "workshop"When the method works best2. Some BackgroundDevelopment of the MethodThe uniqueness of the methodThe Impact of the method3. The Consensus Workshop As Life MethodICA/ ToP™ methodsFour phasesAn example of the method in actionFive steps4. Two Approaches to the Consensus WorkshopThe cards approachThe flip chart approachPart 2. The Finer Points of the Consensus Workshop5. The Context: Orienting the GroupThe Workshop AssumptionsThe Workshop Book6. Brainstorming: Harvesting the Group's Ideas Brainstorming using a flip-chartPossible pitfallsThe facilitator's disciplined clarification of data7. Clustering Ideas: Order out of ChaosThe intent of clusteringTraps in clusteringThe clustering principle8. Naming: One Concept from Many IdeasThe procedures9. Step 5: Symbolizing the ResolveOptional follow-up steps after a consensus workshopPart 3. Workshop Leadership10. Design and Preparation of a Consensus Workshop Assessing the group's techniques and situationCreating a focus questionOrchestrating the processPersonal prepRehearsing the facilitator's stance11. The Style of the Workshop FacilitatorThe workshop facilitator's jobLaunching a consensus workshopFacilitator competenciesThe fundamental requirementThe paradox of facilitatorsFacilitation by the boss or the expertBe the one you are12. Challenges That Stretch the FacilitatorDifficult people or difficult behaviorsUsing the method to deal with the issues13. Time, Space, Mood and GroupManaging time effectivelyManaging spaceManaging the mood: creating eventfulnessManaging the group: using short coursesPart 4. Consensus Workshop Applications14. Using the Consensus Workshop Method with Various Group SizesA. Workshop for an individualB. Workshop for a small group of two to fourC. Workshop for a group of five to 40D. Workshop for a group of 40 to 100E. Workshop for a group over 10015. Using the Consensus Workshop Method in a Series Model-building consensus workshop seriesToP™ Planning SeriesAppendix 1. Building ConsensusAppendix 2. Examples of Focus QuestionsAppendix 3. ICA: Its Mission and LocationsBibliographyIndex