Who Can Change Things...

Participants reflect, how the main sectors within the society interact. The method gives an idea, to what extent the impact of a social initiative may depend from cooperation across sectoral borders.

In short

Time: approximately 60 minutes
Material: usual moderation material

Preparation

Facilitators mark out four circles on the floor with adhesive tape representing the societal sectors

Individual (large circle in the middle),
Politics,
Companies,
Civil Society

Introduction

At the beginning all participants stand in the large circle labelled “Individual”.

The facilitators explain that the activity begins with the individual: we live together in a society in which we can assume different roles which we can shape together.

as private individuals (employees, consumers, voters...),
as businesspeople,
politicians,
or activists

Action within a sector

In small groups, the participants now discuss the first question displayed on the wall. They receive moderation cards on which to write their answers in summarized form:

What options are available to you and other people in this field of action if you want to change something?

The question may encompass the following aspects:

What approach is taken by the actors in question?
What can people do on a small or a large scale in their specific field(s)?
If the question appears to be too abstract, participants may collect concrete examples

[10 minutes]

Action across sectoral borders

The participants then discuss the second question. Facilitators distribute paper sheets in the form of arrows. The findings are written on the paper arrows as keywords:

From your field of action, how can you influence the other actors?

[15 minutes]

Presentation

All groups present first the possibilities for actions which they wrote on their moderation cards.

In a second round they present their influence arrows.

Reflection

Are any actors missing?
How great do you consider the potential for change of each of the various actors to be?
What are the crucial requirements for change?
Where do you see opportunities to form effective alliances between actors?
Who holds the power to make decisions in the different areas?
Where do you see opportunities to form effective alliances between actors?
What such alliances are you currently aware of?