What Is CDS

CDS is a flexible but comprehensive organizational performance improvement and transformation system with a proven capability for helping stakeholders and diverse groups to both collaborate and innovate to accomplish complex tasks for change and transformation. 

The processes and principles help groups engage in a purposeful and rich conversation using practical collaboration tools.  Challenge Dialogues are structured discussions that allow groups to test the nature of the challenge, its context, crucial assumptions, and expectations. With this shared clarity, groups can better align on impactful strategies and clear action plans.

Accomplish more in less face-to-face, telephone or online meeting time.

Learn how to use diversity to create breakthroughs to solve complex challenges.

Move from idea to action earlier and with greater chance of success.

Benefit from diverse, global, best-in-class thinking.

HOW DOES CDS WORK?

CDS is a practical methodology that combines an 8-step framework with shared values, principles and desired outcomes to run purposeful, effective and collaborative dialogues, helping diverse groups use collaboration tools to co-create innovative solutions to complex tasks.

Step 1

Define the Key Challenge. Decide whether CDS is the right approach.

Step 2

• Prepare a Process Planning Memo to guide the entire Challenge Dialogue process.

• Get the Organizing Team aligned on purpose, scope and roles.

Step 3

• Identify key stakeholder groups and profile the type of people you wish to engage as participants.

• Issue formal Invitation from the Champion(s).

• Establish communication protocols and technology support for the Dialogue.

Step 4

• Write the Challenge Paper including the Key Challenge, Background Statements, Assumptions, Expected Outcomes, Questions-Issues-Opportunities-Ideas-Action Options and Next Steps.

• Distribute to the Dialogue participants inviting their feedback electronically using a Feedback Document by a specified date.

Step 5

• Compile and summarize the participant feedback and incorporate it into a Progress Report.

• Champion(s) provides his/her reflections and further thinking sparked by the participant input. The Progress Report is sent to participants with invitation for further feedback electronically by a specified date.

• One or two cycles of progressive Dialogue, with accompanying Progress Reports, may be used depending on the complexity of the challenge and diversity of the group.

Step 6

• Design a Face-to-Face Workshop so it reflects the input received thus far. Create a Workshop Workbook which provides a complete guide to each Workshop session, highlights the progress to date and includes a clear purpose, tasks, and resource materials for each session.

• Conduct the Workshop with a focus on identifying:

  • areas where there is alignment already;

  • areas of confusion that need further clarification;

  • areas of mis-alignment that need further Dialogue;

  • key learnings, and tangible future actions.

Step 7

Synthesize the Workshop results in the context of the full Dialogue process and prepare a Moving Forward Action Plan and a companion Key Learnings document. These are confirmed with the participants for their completeness and accuracy.

Step 8

• Prepare final reports Strategy, Action Plan or Business Plan, etc. that reflects the alignment and commitment achieved through the Dialogue process. Assess readiness to begin moving to Action.

• Evaluate performance of Challenge Dialogue process using performance indicators and identify areas for improvement.

• Plan for other follow-up work as identified in the Dialogue, if necessary. Continue to nurture the collaborative team that has developed, share new insights and knowledge and make sure everyone continues to be engaged with the progress and/or is kept well informed of it.