December 2007

Problem Solving
Solution based co-operative inquiry

Co-operative inquiry within the learning realm is a way of working with other people that have similar issues of concern and interest to develop better understanding and improve solution seeking. In this type of forum a group of people come together to explore various conditions, circumstances, situations or concepts and create a mutual “bonding” effect.

All members of the group contribute both to the ideas that go into their work, and also are part of the activity that is developed and explored. Everyone has a say in deciding what questions are to be addressed and what ideas may be of help to get to the bottom of the concern or issue, and an effective action to overcome it. In other words, everyone contributes to thinking about how to explore necessary and leading questions that need to be answered. As such, everybody has a say in whatever conclusions the co-operative inquiry group may reach. In a co-operative inquiry setting, all those involved act together as "co-contributors," "co-learners," and “co-solution developers.”

The first step is to bring a group of people together who have a common situational interest in something going on within the workplace. In this phase they talk about these interests and concerns, agree on the focus of their inquiry, and the end solution of the activity. To move the process forward, they collaboratively develop a set of questions or action-oriented propositions they wish to explore. They agree to undertake a particular action along with some workplace experiences that will contribute to exploring firsthand the various conceptual impacts, situations, problem aspects, etc. Then they come to an agreement as to some set of procedures that will work to move the solution forward within the company or department.

In the second phase, the group applies the agreed upon action(s) in their everyday work. They initiate the action and observe and record its outcomes. Initially they simply watch what is happening as the new action is employed in order to develop a better understanding of its ramifications and consequences. They then use this information to evaluate the effectiveness of the action.

In the third phase, the co-operative inquiry group members become fully immersed in their action-oriented experience and its results. They become more open to what is going on, and generally begin to see outcomes in new ways. They deepen understanding of the experience so that superficial explanations are elaborated upon and further developed.

This phase generally becomes the focal point of the creative thinking inquiry method. It is also what distinguishes it from conventional group thinking and action. Since they get so deeply and personally involved in the solution finding and action experience, practical skills and new understandings automatically emerge.

After an agreed upon period of engaging in phases two and three, members re-assemble to consider their original questions in light of their experiences, which then becomes phase four of the solution-inquiry process. As a result, they may change their questions in some way or reject them, and possibly pose new questions.

At this point the group undertakes a second cycle of action and reflection. They may choose to focus on the same or on different aspects of the overall solution inquiry and subsequent action. The group may choose to modify or redevelop its inquiry procedures, as well as its form of action and even ways of gathering data in light of the experiences encountered during the first cycle.

A co-operative inquiry group will often engage in as many as 6 to 10 cycles of action and reflection. These can take place over a short session or several sessions, which may extend over a year or more, depending on the kind of questions and action-based solutions that are explored.