Dialogue Process

Why: People are busy.  They sometimes can't find the time to meet with those they interact with in an informal, interest-based way.  Instead communication with key people is often brief, by email, open to assumptions and judgements and misunderstandings.  If the relationship is integral then real ongoing dialogue should be in place to share information, improve relationships and cooperatively solve issues.

What:  Dialogue Processes are for groups that have an ongoing, intertwined relationship.  Examples are union management, customer supplier or business partners.  They bring together key parties from both groups on a regular basis to share information, cooperatively work on important issues and to build trust and improve relationships.  Dialogue processes are jointly owned by all participants, they are interest-based and they are relatively informal and flexible.

How:  A third party helps the parties design and own all aspects of the process.  This includes the 4 main areas:

1) Who participates

2) How items get to the table (ex. agenda, what topics are appropriate for the forum)

3) How items are discussed and followed up on (ex. interest-based dialogue, use of third party facilitator, action items, meeting minutes)

4) How the process links with other processes (reduce overlap, integrate with other processes including documentation)