Facilitation Game – Gathering Wisdom

Ramgarh’s roundtable a facilitation game

Objective of the Facilitation Game

Ramgarh’s Roundtable is a collaborative facilitation game where participants explore the six key domains that shape a community or project: Economy, Social, Technology, Legal, Environment, and Politics. Inspired by the vibrant metaphor of Ramgarh village life, this exercise brings a visual and interactive approach to analyzing the importance and challenges associated with each area. Participants will use various game elements to contribute ideas, prioritize tasks, and create a well-rounded action plan.

When to Use This Facilitation Game Play

Use Ramgarh’s Roundtable:

• In strategic planning sessions to explore various project aspects from economic feasibility to environmental impact.
• For stakeholder meetings when building initiatives that require interdisciplinary alignment.
• When brainstorming new community projects or company-wide initiatives.
• To encourage team members to consider a balanced approach to project development, incorporating economic, social, and environmental perspectives.

This game offers a fun and engaging approach to ensure all areas of a project are thoughtfully considered before making decisions.

Facilitation Game Setup

Materials Needed:

1. Ramgarh’s Roundtable Template (depicting the six domains of Economy, Social, Technology, Legal, Environment, and Politics in a village setting).
2. Post-its (for writing down ideas).
3. Timer (to keep each phase moving).
4. Dot stickers (for prioritizing).
5. Dice (to determine turn-taking or assign roles).
6. Markers

You can purchase this chart and other facilitation materials at Visual Thinking School Charts.

Facilitation Game Phases

1. Village Exploration (Idea Generation Phase)

Objective: Participants brainstorm ideas relevant to each of the six domains represented in Ramgarh village.

Game Mechanics:

• Divide participants into six groups and assign each group one domain of the Ramgarh village metaphor (Economy, Social, Technology, Legal, Environment, or Politics).
• Each group takes post-its and writes down key ideas, goals, or challenges related to their domain.
• For example, under Economy, participants may consider resources for earning or under Environment, strategies for sustainable practices.
• Set a timer for 10 minutes to keep the ideas flowing quickly and efficiently.

This phase encourages everyone to reflect on how each area contributes to the overall goals of the project or initiative.

2. Roundtable Discussion (Present and Evaluate)

Objective: Groups present their ideas for feedback and add new insights.

Game Mechanics:

• Each group presents their ideas to the rest of the participants.
• During presentations, the other groups are encouraged to ask questions and provide suggestions, leading to more comprehensive ideas and cross-domain understanding.
• Use a dice to randomly select participants who will provide feedback or ask questions to keep things dynamic.
• After all presentations, groups have the option to revise their ideas.

For more guidance on prioritization strategies, see this effective brainstorming.

3. Voting with Values (Prioritization Phase)

Objective: Prioritize which ideas should move forward in each domain.

Game Mechanics:

• Each participant receives a set of dot stickers and is asked to place their dots on the ideas they find most impactful or achievable within each domain.
• Limit the number of votes per participant to encourage strategic prioritization.
• The ideas with the most dots within each domain are marked as high-priority.

This phase ensures the team’s priorities reflect a collective decision, maximizing the feasibility and impact of each choice.

4. Mapping the Journey (Action Planning Phase)

Objective: Outline an action plan for implementing the prioritized ideas across each domain.

Game Mechanics:

• The groups reconvene to refine the high-priority items and brainstorm action steps, assigning roles, timelines, and necessary resources.
• A timer is set for 15 minutes, allowing for quick planning.
• To add an element of spontaneity, roll a dice to select a representative from each group who will present the final plan.

This action plan serves as a roadmap, guiding the team on how to bring their collaborative vision for each domain to life.

For more details on how to incorporate effective planning into facilitation, check out our Visual Facilitation Certification Course.

5. Closing Reflection (Wrap-Up Phase)

Objective: Reflect on the process and insights gained.

Game Mechanics:

• Gather participants for a brief reflection on the insights they gained from analyzing each domain and the experience of collaborative planning.
• Each participant shares one insight or new perspective they gained, solidifying the benefits of this comprehensive facilitation activity.

Final Thoughts

Ramgarh’s Roundtable brings participants together to thoughtfully consider how every area contributes to a project or community’s holistic success. By using a blend of metaphor, prioritization tools, and collaboration, teams are equipped to create actionable plans that acknowledge economic, social, technological, legal, environmental, and political needs. For those interested in expanding their toolkit for visual facilitation, you can purchase our Ramgarh’s Roundtable Template at Visual Thinking School Charts and explore our Visual Facilitation Certification Course to deepen your facilitation skills.

This exercise is not only a way to organize priorities but also an enjoyable experience that reinforces the value of balance across multiple domains when building successful projects.

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Piyuesh is the founder of Visual Thinking School, Netherlands. He is passionate about empowering organizations and classrooms with Visual Thinking Skills. He conducts trainings onBusiness Sketchnotes™ , Classroom Sketchnotes™, Visual Business Storytelling™, Graphic Facilitation™

In his free time, piyuesh likes practicing Aerial Yoga, Acro yoga, Krav Maga and Pole workouts.

He can be reached out at his Instagram and Linkedin