Fish Bowl

From Harambee Wiki

The Fish Bowl methodology is sometimes known as “Samoan Circle”. The following application is a variation adapted to the Harambee Workshop

1. Purpose of the facilitation format:

Find a balance between expert perspectives and participants views; engage all participants into an interactive dialogue; provide a platform which allows to “watch” the experts, yet without putting them on a stage; rather create an ambience of intimacy which leads to true dialogue; vivid exchange of ideas rather than one-way lecturing type of presentations.

The method is also excellent to report back from group work sessions.

2. Features

• Experts obtain the chance to transmit 2-3 key messages which have better chance to be captive with

participants than other formats

• Participants have the opportunity to bridge the gap separating them from the experts by taking a pro-active role and involve in a real conversation
• The discussion is more pertinent, relevant and vivid through an open dialogue format
• The very subtle alienation of the format (through pretending a TV talkshow) allows abstaining from certain predominant biases and involving in a more genuine exchange

3. Set-up and Procedure

2 concentric circles of chairs: inner circle has 1 chair for each expert + 1 for the facilitator + 2-3 empty ones, outer circle contains space for all the participants; inner circle initially remains empty

1. Facilitator introduces the situation and topic. He verbally generates the situation of a TV talkshow, where experts have been invited to present their views and enter into a dialogue with the audience

2. Facilitator invites 1st of experts to join the inner circle and invites him; the expert then holds a first short exposition of ideas in a casual conversation style; equal procedure with further expert.

3. Facilitator involves the experts in an exchange of ideas and issues; they are invited to engage and react immediately and spontaneously with each other.

4. Participants in the outer circle are not allowed to speak or articulate in any other way. Yet there are most invited to move to the inner circle, where 2 chairs remained empty so far. As long as they sit on one of these, they are equivalent members of the conversation. Once the have been able to ask their questions, expose their ideas or express their comments and opinions, they return to the outer circle, thus providing the opportunity for others to get involved.

5. Should the “visitor chairs” be occupied over a longer period, other participants from the outer circle may “claim the floor” by queuing behind a chair. This puts certain pressure release it.

6. Towards the end of the time limit, the facilitator invites the persons (coincidently) present in the inner circle to expose their most important insight, comment or recommendation to the audience.

Note: Description provided by Ingenious People's Knowledge (I-P-K)