EXPLORATION of the issues, emotions, history and structure of the situation. An understanding of the present position and its historical base. What are the groupings, structures and leaders in place? What attempts have been made to solve the problem and what has happened to these attempts? Exploration of the values and fears involded.
POSSIBILITIES in terms of new perceptions and new ways forward. A possibility needs to be generated and does not automatically follow an analysis of the situation. Possibilities are put forward – some are more possible than others.
IDEAS. Existing ideas and new ideas. The deliberate generation of new ideas using the formal creative techniques of lateral thinking. Assessment of these ideas in terms of feasibility, cost and time course.
CONCEPT arising from the ideas. Also concepts that are generated in their own right. A concept is a broad direction of thinking and action. Many specific ideas may be used to deliver any particular concept.
ALTERNATIVES of action and structure. Possible route forward.
DESIGN which brings together all the elements in a chosen design which lays out the way forward. What is to be done and how it is to be done. Implementation and action.
An EPICAD conference is a very specific type of conference. It is not a ‘think-tank’ analysis of the situation. It is not a negotiating conference. It is not an argument forum. The purpose of an EPICAD meeting is to use creative thinking to design a constructive way forward.
Note that an EPICAD conference can also be used before a negotiating conference. In this case the EPICAD meeting serves as a design conference to put on the table new concepts, ideas and possibilities which can be examined during negotiation. In such cases the final ‘design’ step of the EPICAD framework is omitted since it is the purpose of the negotiating conference to design the way forward.
The World Centre is willing to facilitate EPICAD conferences on any issue that is sponsored. Participants from the revelant organization will be invited to take part in the conference which may be held at the World Centre for New Thinking, or elsewhere. The purpose of such a conference would be to offer the possibility of thinking that is additional to the thinking already taking place on that issue. Please contact Daniela Bartoli (dhb@worldcentrefornewthinking.org) for more information.
