- What are the criteria for weighing / assessing / judging the alternatives?
- What are the recommended steps / actions?
- How can we convince others that out solutions are the best?
- What have we learnt from this case?
- What impact do the results of study have for personal life or the problematic
situation I am in?
This stage can be carried out in a large group or in small teams. If the questions were not
pre-established it is now appropriate to write down the interesting ones (like in a
brainstorming). It will be found that diverse aspects raise interest (due to complexity of
case, and subjectivity of life experiences of the participants).
c. Identifying the problem(s)
While the previous stage is considered one of general and non-focused analysis of all
elements or details that may rise interest at first contact (a sort of “warm-up” or “in-depth
familiarization”), in this stage the group must seize the essential problem or problems of
the case. This stage is dedicated to discovering the significant facts, to separate the
essential from the unessential. It is considered that this is the “diagnosis” phase (Zlate,
1982).
There are situations where the problem is clearly formulated (sometimes as a question)
even at the end of the case, and the task of the group is much easier, the stress being laid
on finding solution alternatives.
d. Identifying solution alternatives
After the clear formulation of problem(s) the group notes down the solution alternatives,
based on their personal experiences and as result of a group debate. For each alternative,
the advantages, disadvantages, and consequences of the solutions put forth must be taken
into account. We speak of assessing the positive and negative aspects of each alternative
and anticipating the consequences of their application.
Systematizing all alternatives in a table may make comparison and hierarchy easier:
Advantages Disadvantages Consequences
Variant 1: ..........
Variant 2: ..........
Variant 3: ..........
Etc. ..................