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	Building Shared Understanding of Wicked Problems

CogNexus is pleased to announce the offering of our one day Issue Mapping Workshop, which made its debut in March of 2008. We will be offering it again to the public later this year, or you can contact us to find out about bringing it to your organization. This workshop is designed for people who are passionate about learning new ways to work with complex business challenges and societal issues . You will complete the workshop with: a tool you can use immediately to help visualize and understand the problem/solution space of issues you are working on new insights into what makes a problem seem complex a connection to other innovative thinkers who are engaged in new ways of solving our problems The cost for the day is $495, including a course manual and materials. What is Issue Mapping? Issue Mapping is the process of creating a map to systematically analyze a complex issue, such as how to reduce the costs of a large system, or coordinate interactions among parts of a large project. It uses a specific language (called IBIS ) and a specific kind of software tool (e.g. Compendium ). It creates a clear and simple visual display of critical thinking around important issues, and even wicked problems. Issue Mapping frames things as issue-based rather than in the conversational basis that we humans most often use (which includes linear thinking, reactionary responses, a lack of deep listening, repetition, getting off track and going "all over the map"). What will Issue Mapping allow me to do? come up with persuasive, robust and resilient decisions and arguments that withstand criticism and the test of time explore the multiple parts of your most complex problems using a method that does not get overloaded with information thoroughly explore multiple viewpoints help a group to think precisely and logically about a difficult topic without getting lost in the weeds or snagged in debate How is Issue Mapping different from Dialogue Mapping? Issue Mapping contains the basic skills of Dialogue Mapping minus group facilitation. It is most powerful when an individual sits down to map out an issue to understand it better, or a group gets together and tasks themselves with analyzing an issue rather than just having a meeting or conversation about it. What else will I learn at the workshop? Under what circumstances Issue Mapping can/should be used The fundamentals of IBIS The seven different question types What is distinct about powerful questions How to use software tools for Issue Mapping What it means to make a decision in a map How decision rationale is represented in a map Map management: key to the effective use of Issue Mapping A deeper understanding of the power of making critical thinking visible  Who is this workshop designed for? Our workshop is designed for consultants and leaders of any kind; this includes managers, executives, scientists, engineers, project managers, team leaders, policymakers, administrators, lawyers, and educators. Why is Issue Mapping important? Even as the urgency and complexity of global issues is increasing, our ability to absorb and make sense of that complexity has remained constant, both as individuals and as groups.  Indeed, fundamentalism may be an increasingly seductive way to simplify the 'buzzing, blooming confusion' of life.  But we don't need more fundamentalism -- we need better tools for conceptualizing and visualizing the richness of the situation, so that more people can engage with the Big Picture: the many points of view, the conflicting data, and the unaddressed questions. Issue Mapping is such a tool.   Although the immediate focus of the Issue Mapping Workshop is getting a handle on personal and business issues, the ultimate vision for this work is to provide a lingua franca that allows diverse stakeholders to build systematically toward shared understanding of most complex, urgent, and intractable challenges facing humanity. For questions about Issue Mapping and workshops, email .