INFORMATION ON THE TECHNOLOGY OF PARTICIPATION (ToP) METHODS
Bookshelf		To books for Facilitators

Laura Spencer's book "Winning through Participation" is a rich resource of practical group facilitation methods developed by the Institute of Cultural Affairs, now known under the name Technology of Participation (ToP).

The book describes three basic methods:

• a focused conversation method (Objective, Reflective, Interpretive, Decisional)
• a simple planning workshop method (Brainstorm, Order, Name)
• event planning and orchestration techniques ("S.T.E.P.S.")

and a variety of applications for these basic methods, including the strategic planning process also known as LENS.

This is an excellent resource for facilitators, team leaders and trainers, providing step-by-step procedures for the basic methods.

For some information on the ToP method, see two of many references to ICA work on the World Wide Web (this is to activities in Canada and in the United States). Both sites open in a new browser window.