A sequence that could serve as a blueprint for productively working through a generic issue from start to finish:
Step 1: Presentation of the Issue (What are we talking about? What are trying to accomplish on this topic?)
Step 2: Questions (Did everyone understand the Presentation? Let's make sure everyone is on the same bus.)
Step 3: Laying Out the Field (Is there anything you want the group to know about how this issue touches you? We are looking for statements from the heart. Everyone gets one chance at the mic. We are not looking for dialog, judgments, or proposed solutions at this stage. If unresolved tensions surface, we'll deal with them as we go.)
Step 4: Identifying Factors (What does a good response to this issue need to take into account? What common values are in play?)
Step 5: Proposal Generating (What responses best balance the factors identified in the previous step?)
Step 6: Decision (Are we satisfied that what we've come up with is good enough?)
Step 7: Implementation (Who will do what, by when, and with what budget?)