1. An issue is presented with questions.
The sponsoring organization(s) provides a preamble of important information about the issue to be addressed. For example fact sheets, opinion papers and summary documents could be published; experts and key stakeholder could make presentations. Post the key questions to be answered by the dotmocracy process where all participants can see, for example in large letters on poster paper or with a projector.
2. Discuss potential solutions.
In small groups, participants brainstorm and deliberate potential answers to the posted questions. Collectively and independently participants draft many ideas.
3. Post proposals.
Participants clearly print each idea statement on its own
Co-op Tools dotmocracy sheet. Sheets are either posted on a wall or passed around among participants.
4. Fill dots to record opinions. Write comments.
Participants read and consider each idea and fill-in one dot per a sheet to record their opinion on a scale of strong agreement, agreement, neutral, disagreement, and strong disagreement or confusion. Participants sign each sheet that they dot and may optionally add brief comments.
Repeat steps 2 through 4.
Participants review and discuss comments and dotting patterns and post new ideas to be dotted.
5. Formulate a common solution.
The dotting process is called to close and the results are published. The most popular ideas should be celebrated. A small group of trusted stakeholder representatives and decision-makers discuss and formulate a final decision or plan that selects, combines, prioritizes and/or finds compromise between popular ideas with minimal disagreement.
This process should follow the official Rules & Requirements. Facilitators should download and read the complete Dotmocracy handbook.
Dotmocracy is an established facilitation method for collecting and prioritizing ideas among a large number of people. 