Conciliatory Pizza

Maintain the bond
Form a bond
Organize
Make decisions
Think
Calm

Goals:

Make the needs and desires of project members visible and see if a consensus is possible. This tool helps to put everyone's issues into perspective, and to measure their potential for conciliation. It is just as useful for setting up a group and defining a project as it is for evaluating intentions and redefining objectives during the process.

Participants:

2 à 6, 7 à 15

Duration:

30'

Required equipment:

A large sheet of white paper (min. A3) a flipchart or wall to hang the paper on, tape, sticky notes (2 different colors if possible), pens.

Space requierment:

Any area that allows the group to discuss, with a flipchart or wall to hang the paper on.

Requirements:

A well-defined group project. Ideally, the facilitator will have already gone through this protocol before facilitating it. If not, specify that she is discovering it at the same time as the participants.

Preparation

The facilitator leads the group through the protocol, reading and then carrying out each point, one after the other

Process

Define the issue, goal or project that brings the group together in the most precise way possible (e.g., cohabitation project, place of residence and/or life ethic, associative or creative project, festival, group vacation, etc.).
Draw two concentric circles on white paper, with as many slices as there are people, like a large pizza.
Working by yourself, write on sticky notes of two different colors, your desires (conciliation is possible) and needs (conciliation is not possible) related to the project in question.
Place each person's Post-its on the sheet, with needs in the center of the pizza and desires on the outer edge.
Silently take note of all needs and desires. Write down new needs and desires, or modify them if necessary and move sticky notes if necessary (switch from desires to needs or vice versa).
Start a discussion (possibly with the help of the “non-verbal communication” protocol).
Concerning needs: Which needs are common? Are there any conflicting needs? Are there needs that seem unattainable for some? If so, can this be overcome through discussion?
Concerning desires: it's interesting to see how these feed into and enrich the collective project.
For both circles, discuss how the elements contributed by each participant can structure the project, and how each participant can find her place in the design of the project.
Consider whether and how the joint project can be implemented, and whether it can be questioned or adjusted. If this is the case, one solution may be for some people to withdraw from all or part of the project.
Start a discussion (possibly with the help of the “non-verbal communication” tool).
Concerning needs: Which needs are common? Are there any conflicting needs? Are there needs that seem unattainable for some? If so, can this be overcome through discussion?
Concerning desires: it's interesting to see how these feed into and enrich the collective project.
For both circles, discuss how the elements contributed by each participant can structure the project, and how each participant can find her place in the design of the project.
Consider whether and how the joint project can be implemented, and whether it can be questioned or adjusted. If this is the case, one solution may be for some people to withdraw from all or part of the project.

Exemple d'une Pizza

Notes

This tool is very useful when a group is being set up and has chosen to define its members' participation in the project. It remains useful in the early stages of a project or when the project seems less obvious.
The Conciliatory Pizza can be used in an unchosen group (pedagogical or contractual). However, it is essential to consider the fact that members will not be able to leave the project at the end of the discussion. This parameter must therefore be considered in the theme addressed and kept in mind during the exercise.
It's a good idea to keep the pizza so you can refer to it regularly, as a reminder of the objectives set and the resulting structure. It can be renewed if new elements appear in the development of the project that may modify objectives, needs and desires.
It can also be consulted when urgent decisions need to be taken , to open a new discussion.
This tool has never been applied to groups of more than 8 people, so we don't know whether it will remain effective for larger groups.

References

Thanks to Océan Schantz and the Collectif du rêve habitable for this tool.