Introduction

Ritualised Dissent / Assent (RDA) is a facilitation method designed to test and enhance proposals, stories, ideas or whatever by subjecting them to ritualised dissent (challenge) or assent (positive alternatives). It is forced listening technique, not a dialogue or discourse. It can be used very effectively in TTDR processes when it becomes evident that both researchers and stakeholders have become 'locked-in' to some fixed positions and ways of seeing the current situation and that there is a need for un-locking these in order to figure out the next step(s) forwards or sideways, away from the present.

The basic approach involves a spokesperson presenting a series of ideas to a group who receives them in silence. The spokesperson then turns their chair, so that their back is to the audience and listens in silence while the group either attack (dissent) or provide alternative proposals (assent). The ritualisation of not facing the audience de-personalizes the process and the group setting (others will be subject to the same process) means that the attack or alternative are not personal, but supportive. Listening in silence without eye contact, increases listening.

The process is meant to enforce listening, without disruption. The scenario replicates real-life proposal making especially with regards to new and non-conventional ideas – as more experimental approaches are commonly met with the most challenges from management.

Features and uses

• For simulating researchers and stakeholders for coming up with new ideas and ways of thinking at any point in the research process - e.g. when having to for coming up with new ideas to management or decision-makers, and to open up new thinking to necessary criticism and iterations;

• For using as an ad hoc technique at any point in the research process to critically test ideas, which, in turn, can contribute to

• Developing action plans which are more resilient than consensus based techniques.

Summary: End-notes

• The agility / versatility of RDA resides in the fact that it can be used either as a synergic - standalone - method or used synergically together with some other agile methods. For example, vector monitoring and evaluation (VME) is not merely an exercise in quant-qual data gathering. At some point in this process the need for coming up with fresh, new ideas will arise, and it is at this point that RDA can be introduced and used very effectively as a facilitated intervention.

• Active involvement in facilitating FB processes can open up multiple and rich opportunities for researchers to work on - refining, changing, innovating - their dynamic epistemic objects - the net effect being that researchers are no longer solely dependent on the literature only for doing this theoretical work - provided that any new insights and understandings gained from this have been well recorded and made available for interrogation by others and referencing purposes.