AGENT CHANGE*

This ACTIVITY is designed to capture participants’ imaginations and encourage them to think about the organisation’s future. Ideas for consideration should be identified before this ACTIVITY using TEAM THINK, CLUSTER MAPPING, GENERATOR, SWOT, or a conventional Brainstorming session.

TIME REQUIRED

75 minutes.

RESOURCES

A set of A4 images of superheroes, for example, Spiderman, Deadpool, Cat Woman, Batman, Black Widow, The Incredible Hulk, Storm, Wolverine, Captain America, Superman, etc.

Set of A4 coloured cards with titles: For example, issues identified as “Weaknesses” or “Threats” in a SWOT ACTIVITY.

Marker pens.

Glue sticks.

Flipchart sheets (1 per group) marked like this:

INSERT PICTURE

ACTION

1. The Facilitator should ask if any of the participants are familiar with comic superheroes such as Batman, get them to name a few. Hopefully there will be someone in the group who can just briefly say what these characters do.
2. Participants are broken into small groups of 4 – 5 people.
3. The groups are each given a sheet of flipchart paper and asked to copy the layout in the above diagram.
4. Groups are invited to pick an A4 card with an issue or topic written on it and glue in place, at the top, as in the diagram.
5. Groups are invited to pick an A4 picture of a superhero and glue in place as in the diagram. (if someone does not know about their character, ask the group expert to advise)
6. The Facilitator removes the paper covering the word in the top left position and asks the groups to use their imaginations to be their superhero and, in the upper left section of the diagram, quickly record what they think their superhero would see about the situation on the topic card, for example “Young people would not be interested in forming a Youth Council.” (10 minutes)
7. The Facilitator, removing the cover, then asks the groups to record, in the lower left section of the diagram, what they think their superhero would say regarding the situation. (10 minutes)
8. For the final element, and removing the cover, the Facilitator invites participants to stop being rational, to stop over thinking the issue or topic, and just come up with surprise ideas, not any or all of which have to be at all practical – be creative! Record these in the long section on the right half of the diagram.
9. As all the participants have been exploring their group personas as AGENT CHANGE (perhaps the group superhero expert can reference Marvel’s Agents of Shield), now is their opportunity to step forward and present their work. (5 minutes for each group)
10. The facilitator should encourage discussion around the themes as they emerge.

DISCUSSION (about 20minutes)

1. Encourage discussion around common themes and record on a flipchart.
2. Get the group to agree a rank order for the themes to inform future work plans.
3. Ask the group to make a list of the most improbable suggestions on the flipcharts and highlight those on which they would like to do further work in the future.

EVALUATION (10 minutes)

1. How did the participants feel getting into character?
2. “Is AGENT CHANGE effective and relevant for the use to which it is put?”

ADAPTATIONS

How would the group use this ACTIVITY in the future and would they make changes? Capture, record, circulate.