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Taiwa no FumenPractical methods for shared thinking

English edition: the full translation has not yet received an independent line-by-line review. Check the linked sources and method-specific limits before use. Japanese PDFs and videos remain labelled.

Return to session-plan results

Reflection, learning and knowledge transfer

Update a Community or NPO PDCA Cycle

Review how activities were implemented and the changes indicating that outcomes are beginning to emerge, then update the pathway from activities to outcomes and improvements within your authority.

People
4–15
Session time
270 minutes
Format
In person

English session plan

Original program status: draft. Source safety category: Medium; this is not a guarantee of safety.

Preparation: High preparation. Facilitation team: Four roles, including an experienced facilitator.

What this session can decide

Propose the next cycle’s activities and outcome checks. Verify recognition of grant-funded performance, accounting audit and community representativeness separately.

Outside its scope

  • Do not treat activity counts as outcomes.
  • Do not perform grant evaluation on someone else’s behalf.
  • Do not treat participants as representatives of the whole community.

Primary caution: Do not treat activity counts as outcomes.

Before starting

Question and scope
Review how activities were implemented and the changes indicating that outcomes are beginning to emerge, then update the pathway from activities to outcomes and improvements within your authority. Before starting, state the subject and period covered in one sentence.
What is decided here
Propose the next cycle’s activities and outcome checks. Verify recognition of grant-funded performance, accounting audit and community representativeness separately.
Output recipient
At the end, the Recorder keeps “Small improvement commitments for the next cycle”. Turn commitments into actions with an owner, start date and signs of outcomes.
Participation and information boundaries
Explain that people may pass, rest or leave, and keep personal information, confidential information and judgements about attributes off the recording surface. Assign Participant support separately.
Operating team
Assign the Lead facilitator, Recorder, Timekeeper and Participant support before starting, and confirm who announces transitions and stops.
Next check
Set the review date, readers and person responsible for the next decision on “Small improvement commitments for the next cycle”.

Who takes responsibility

Lead facilitator

Uphold the purpose and out-of-scope boundaries of “Update a Community or NPO PDCA Cycle” and announce each stage’s start and finish.

From before the start until the session ends.

Recorder

Record Implementation, outcomes and issues review table, Updated activity-to-outcome pathway diagram, Small improvement commitments for the next cycle at the relevant stages and hand them to the recipients at the end.

From preparation of recording surfaces before the start through storage after the session.

Timekeeper

Notify the Lead facilitator 3 minutes before each stage ends and when switching to breaks or buffer time.

At the start of every stage and 3 minutes before its end.

Participant support

Receive requests to pass, rest, leave or check individually, and decide with the Lead facilitator whether resumption is possible.

From before the start until the session ends.

Session flow

Minutes are measured from the session start. Method time, transition time, breaks and buffer are shown separately; they are not additional overlapping activities.

  1. 0–78 minutes

    Review activity planning, implementation, checking and improvement

    Method: Settlement Countermeasure PDCA Review · 0–75 minutes. Transition: 75–78 minutes (3 minutes).

    Record gaps between plans and implementation, verified facts and improvements in order. Separate implementation counts from changes among the people concerned; leave unverified outcomes explicitly unverified.

    Responsible: Lead facilitator; Recorder; Participant support

    Output: Implementation, outcomes and issues review table

    Handoff: Pass changes indicating emerging outcomes and unresolved matters to the stage that reviews the activity-to-outcome pathway.

    This stage may be shortened only in accordance with the stated conditions.

  2. 78–201 minutes

    Update the pathway from activities to outcomes

    Method: Outcome Mapping · 78–198 minutes. Transition: 198–201 minutes (3 minutes).

    Draw hypotheses linking activities to short- and medium-term changes among the people concerned. Attach observed signs and separate external factors and unverified arrows.

    Responsible: Lead facilitator; Recorder; Participant support

    Output: Updated activity-to-outcome pathway diagram

    Handoff: Pass actions along the pathway that the group can change to the next stage.

    This stage is not marked as shortenable.

  3. 211–234 minutes

    Choose improvements within your authority

    Method: 15% Solutions · 211–231 minutes. Transition: 231–234 minutes (3 minutes).

    Write improvements that can start without additional authority or budget. An owner selects 1 item and sets a start date and the signs to check next time.

    Responsible: Lead facilitator; Recorder; Participant support

    Output: Small improvement commitments for the next cycle

    Handoff: Hand the activity-to-outcome pathway diagram and improvement commitments to the activity lead and the next evaluation lead.

    This stage is not marked as shortenable.

What is retained and who receives it

Implementation, outcomes and issues review table

Owner: Recorder

Identify gaps in planning, implementation, checking and improvement.

Updated activity-to-outcome pathway diagram

Owner: Recorder

Show changes among the people concerned, external factors and verification gaps.

Small improvement commitments for the next cycle

Owner: Recorder

Turn commitments into actions with an owner, start date and signs of outcomes.

Materials and setup

Material names, quantities, groups and handling instructions retain the fixed draft's original helper-derived guidance. Where a format is marked “Source material specification”, the entire bound English source material entry takes precedence over the old helper-derived format guidance. This format-only correction does not resolve other instruction or safety concerns. English names are not substituted into a Japanese-keyed lookup.

Everyday tools

Broad-tip pens

Quantity: 2 per group

Format: Dark broad-tip pens or whiteboard markers

Check that the ink flows and place the pens where participants can reach them. Avoid pale-coloured pens.

Sticky notes

Quantity: About 20 per person

Format: Sticky notes around 75 × 75 mm, or A4 copy paper cut into four pieces.

Write “Expected effects” or “Obstacles” at the top of each sticky note or paper piece. Two colours are not required: distinguish them by written headings even when the colour is the same.

Voting stickers

Quantity: 3 per person

Format: Pen marks. Use round stickers only if anonymity or movement is needed.

Use pen marks by default. Divide round stickers by participant count only if repositioning or anonymous collection is needed.

Broad-tip writing tools

Quantity: 1 per person

Format: Dark broad-tip pens or whiteboard markers

Check that the ink flows and place the pens where participants can reach them. Avoid pale-coloured pens.

Pens

Quantity: 1 per person

Format: Dark broad-tip pens or whiteboard markers

Check that the ink flows and place the pens where participants can reach them. Avoid pale-coloured pens.

Sheets to prepare by hand

Table for deciding the next improvement from implementation results

Quantity: 1 sheet per group

Format: Two A4 sheets placed side by side. Join them with masking tape if a larger surface is needed.

Divide the work surface into 6 fields: “Expected”, “Implemented”, “Observed”, “Hypothesis about why the effect occurred”, “Remaining issues” and “Next improvement”. Do not rely on colour alone; write each field heading in words.

Table for aligning observation conditions

Quantity: 1 sheet per measure

Format: A4 copy paper

Divide the work surface into 4 fields: “Target period”, “Season”, “Location” and “Indicator”. Do not rely on colour alone; write each field heading in words.

Cards for separating how proposals will be handled

Quantity: 10 of each type per group

Format: Sticky notes around 75 × 75 mm, or A4 copy paper cut into four pieces.

Write “Candidate for adoption”, “Check with a specialist” and “Hold” on separate sheets, one label per sheet, and prepare the required quantity of each type. Distinguish them by written headings even when the colour is the same.

Pathway diagram from goals to next actions

Quantity: 1 sheet

Format: Large-format paper or a whiteboard

Divide the work surface into 4 fields: “Goal”, “Expected effects”, “Obstacles” and “Next action”. Do not rely on colour alone; write each field heading in words. If using large-format paper, join it horizontally into a long work surface read from left to right.

15% action cards

Quantity: 2 per person

Format: Source material specification: Two A6 action cards per person for a 15% solution

Source-bound format display correction; the other fixed helper-derived guidance is unchanged.

Do not buy special-purpose materials. Write “15% action” at the top of each paper piece. If participants will write on it, use one item per piece and handwrite the required headings before starting.

Surface for sharing the small action each person chose

Quantity: 1 surface

Format: Large-format paper or a whiteboard

Divide the work surface into 3 fields: “Action I will try”, “Date to try it” and “Person to reflect with afterwards”. Do not rely on colour alone; write each field heading in words.

Sticky note for the date to try a small action

Quantity: 1 per person

Format: Sticky notes around 75 × 75 mm, or A4 copy paper cut into four pieces.

Write the person’s chosen action, the date to try it and someone to reflect with afterwards. Provide one per person so they can take it home.

Setup for each method

Settlement Countermeasure PDCA Review

  1. Display the evaluation point, observation period, season, location, indicators, known limitations and contacts for checking proposals requiring permission or professional judgement.

Outcome Mapping

  1. One wall surface at least 3 m long for the whole-group route map
  2. One island table per group of 3–5, with participants distributed evenly

15% Solutions

  1. Chairs arranged so 2–4 people can face one another
  2. A space on a table or on each person's lap where only they can read their action card
  3. Explain at the outset that advice is given only when requested

When to switch or stop

Fallbacks

There are more than 15 activity items.

Cluster activities with the same purpose and review the 5 main activities.

Method guide: Settlement Countermeasure PDCA Review

Stop conditions

Decisions are needed on grant selection, accounting acceptability or legal compliance.
Separate the relevant matters and pass them to the responsible authority for verification.
The wishes of residents who are not participating are asserted as fact.
Return the wording to participants’ observations and unresolved matters.

Sources, rights and limits

This site has composed this programme’s purpose, method sequence, delivery instructions, roles, outputs and switching conditions. See each individual method page for that method’s sources and licences.

Original source records and their required notices are retained below. Their presence does not mean a new legal or cultural-safety clearance. Original citation titles are kept in their source language.

Sources and required notices for the 3 methods used

Settlement Countermeasure PDCA Review

  • Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Wildlife Damage Prevention Manual, chapter 5 pp.70-72 steps 8-10 | https://www.maff.go.jp/j/seisan/tyozyu/higai/manyuaru/attach/pdf/manual-42.pdf | PDL-1.0 adaptation; changes made
  • Source: Conditions applying to PDL-1.0 | https://www.maff.go.jp/j/use/link.html | PDL-1.0
  • Attribution: Taiwa no Fumen Editorial Team | This site’s text and illustrations
  • Cultural caution: This manifest contains no structured cultural-safety assessment. Human checks are required for context, opting out of participation and power differences.
  • Limits of this record: Only the notices displayed in the public YAML were transcribed. This does not assert that no individual rights exist.

Outcome Mapping

  • Source: Steve Pereira: Outcome Mapping | https://openpracticelibrary.com/practice/outcome-mapping/ | CC BY 4.0 adaptation; changes made
  • Source: CC BY 4.0 | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
  • Attribution: Steve Pereira | Author/contributor credit from the original material
  • Attribution: Taiwa no Fumen Editorial Team | Japanese adaptation and this site’s original illustrations
  • Changes and adaptation: Adapted with changes as Japanese facilitation scores
  • Cultural caution: open-method screening complete: Closed, ritual or sacred cultural practices are not used as sources; opting out, sensitive information and power differences are addressed in each method’s limits and branches.
  • Limits of this record: Individual contributors are credited. Text covered by CC BY 4.0 was adapted with changes into Japanese facilitation scores. Exception notices, the site logo and third-party embedded material were excluded.

Current-page credit and licence companion for this method

15% Solutions

  • Source: Liberating Structures Fieldbook (2026) — Henri Lipmanowicz; Keith McCandless; Nancy White | https://www.liberatingstructures.com/15-percent-solutions | CC BY-SA 4.0 adaptation; changes made
  • Source: Creative Commons License — Liberating Structures | https://www.liberatingstructures.com/cc-license | CC-BY-SA-4.0 notice
  • Source: CC BY-SA 4.0 | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ | Licence text
  • Attribution: Henri Lipmanowicz and Keith McCandless; Keith McCandless and Nancy White | Author/contributor credit from the original material
  • Attribution: Taiwa no Fumen Editorial Team | Japanese adaptation and this site’s original illustrations
  • Changes and adaptation: Adapted with changes as Japanese facilitation scores
  • ShareAlike: Provided under CC-BY-SA-4.0
  • Cultural caution: open-method screening complete: Closed, ritual or sacred cultural practices are not used as sources; opting out, sensitive information and power differences are addressed in each method’s limits and branches.
  • Limits of this record: Adapted with changes into Japanese facilitation scores under CC BY-SA 4.0 and provided under the same licence. Only the current pages are covered; materials dating from June 2026 or earlier, official icons and third-party material were excluded.

Current-page credit and licence companion for this method

Japanese resources and historical source records

Original Japanese plan and its print view · Japanese operation pack or starter materials

An English print edition is not provided here. The linked plans, print views and operation materials are Japanese resources.

Historical recorded publication holds

The following original hold statements are retained verbatim with their fixed source versions. They are not a statement of current acceptance, nor does this historical label resolve a source-specific restriction.

  • English translation and rendered-page independent acceptance pending
  • Method dependency source/text SHA binding and current source-specific rights verification pending
  • Publication not cleared
Historical fixed-source and English-draft provenance

Japanese program SHA-256: d4ab8b37eaebcdf542d7a71530f068868b0e8e69621b142c53ad9d702f61edf8

Fixed source context SHA-256: af868ac2973ad0b1a80286a5d3c8c6bdcdab70d9108cf05e4552b70cc5e07add

English draft SHA-256: 54312c6da317db7dd2e69a6863d7d9fce5b98c50403f380df42d0b52c15b68c6

  • fifteen-percent-solutions: source 9fc0898f6f2fe2ccd2c7b07b6c14ffdaf94f3cea0e9687c47abcd66de5099530; English draft 6fb4e7aab6fbc1a483523be1ec075d9cd40fdc907d0a766fc2f641c51de4c660
  • maff-pdca-review: source 0278622d2180613ca6de0e64b9d0a1c9ffa28a9dcfb242389f21128b82e4c7f2; English draft 2ee547ab40f9c55c0c446a6aa2a060c5f2b0db2c360074c59d064884a2d5593e
  • opl-outcome-mapping: source 695569543f45d362b4122ca578e59c70967752284278c7ebeb3938753417fc6e; English draft 14b5af0ad88e28aec4e8c005b4d4d4f7a6c079b364771dbae34611de69cff19d

These hashes identify the checked inputs; they do not grant independent acceptance or publication clearance.