FAQ
What is an action inquiry group NOT?
With the emphasis very much on personal development, this action inquiry group will not be a training workshop on sustainable development communications. And although there will be networking opportunities during the breaks, the primary focus will not be on information exchange about 'who's doing what', communications tactics, best practice or funding opportunities. On the other hand, the group will not simply be a whinge fest; the emphasis will be on a constructive exploration of participants' work-related personal challenges, which participants will then be expected to tackle in situ and share their subsequent learning with the group.
How will it help me improve my sustainable development communications work?
Improving sustainable development communications isn't just about using sexier images or smarter audience segmentation. It's also about generating a deeper understanding of how our own values and behaviour shape what we do and how we do it.
The Compass action inquiry group offers the opportunity to explore and challenge some of our own assumptions and habits, and consider how they play out in our personal and professional lives. The group process will itself provide practical experience in listening, engagement, working with different viewpoints, co-decision making, and story telling, all of which are important skills for sustainable development communicators.
Who is funding the Compass action inquiry group, and why?
The Sustainable Development Commission, the government's independent watchdog and one of the Compass Network's conveners, is funding this work as part of a wider research programme investigating ways to improve engagement on sustainable development issues. This pilot will help the SDC understand how action inquiry groups might help open space for change within government departments.
Contact Praveen.wignarajah@sd-commission.org.uk for more information.
Who is running the Compass action inquiry group?
The SDC has commissioned Esther Maughan McLachlan to run this project. Esther is a sustainable development communications consultant and part time PhD student working with action inquiry methodologies. For more information, feel free to contact her on esther.maughan@strong-language.co.uk
Who can join the action inquiry group?
Any Compass member can register, but places on the group are limited. Until we have a sense of the level of interest, we don't know if the group will be over-subscribed and therefore whether or not we will need to make a final selection. If we do, we will form the group from people with a common connection, be that being based in the same geographical area or being interested in exploring similar questions. We will not make the selection on the basis of perceived seniority or experience.
Where will the group be held?
Until we know who's interested, we don't know the answer to that. If the group is over-subscribed, we may simply hold the group in the area with the most registrants.
Is it free?
There is no charge to join the group and the costs of the meeting venue, refreshments and group materials will be covered. However, participants will need to fund their travel and any related accommodation and subsistence.
What level of commitment is required?
Since the methodology revolves around cycles of action in the workplace and reflection in the group, participants must commit up front to a series of, say, four half day meetings, as well as ongoing email contact between group meetings. However, the group will decide how often, when and where those meetings happen, so there is some flexibility within that commitment.
What happens next?
What we do next depends largely upon the number of people registering their interest. If there are lots of outstanding questions, we may run some Q&A sessions at Compass drinks venues on Tues 20 February. Alternatively, we may move straight to inviting registrants to the first group meeting, likely to be in March. Whatever happens, we will keep in touch with all registrants to let them know how things are going.
Register for the Compass Action Inquiry Group
