NEXT STEP - learning to play well together with other people   Next Step is a boardgame, as well as a sensemaking and decisionmaking tool. What is it for? To explore, talk about and resolve issues together with others. How is it used? Before playing, the participants agree upon a number of subsets relevant for the chosen theme. The gameplay begins by the first player throwing the dice, putting his marker at the indicated field and subset of the board, and picking a card from the deck. Upon reflecting what the card says with regards to both the subset, and the theme, the player tells this to the others. Then he puts the card, text up, at his place at the table. What happens in the game? If the player so wishes, the others can be invited to reflect and comment upon his card. This allows for the participants to bring their different expertise, experiences, stories and understanding to the table. Each participant often has a wealth of tacit knowledge that for various reasons are difficult to make visible. Playing the game allows for each player to share and make slightly more visible what was previously tacit. The interaction in the shape of conversation, gameplay and organizing reflection, is what enables the growth of the groups awareness and available intelligence towards allowing the group to resolve the issues within the chosen theme. The throw of the dice, together with the cards the player gets, acts as cues and prods. In addition, the sequence of cards are designed so as to form the beginning of a narrative, made contextually relevant through the subsets as well as the comments and reflections they elicit. What typically emerges is a structured conversation, flexible enough to mimic a natural interaction, yet also structured enough so as to allow the players to bring their gathered intelligence to bear upon the issues. What is the format and requirements? A typical session takes one hour, however, it can be used, from fifteen minute gameplays, to on-going, in-depth explorations of larger themes of interconnected complex issues. The number of participants can be between two and eight players per gameboard and table, up til any number of participants, only limited by the number of games, tables and facilitators available. It typically requires initial facilitation, but can also be designed so as to enable the participants to facilitate their own process. Other than a sufficient understanding and agreement of the chosen theme and subsets of the gameplay, no other preparation or previous understanding is required. How is it available? The game is available for purchase, with a range of available options - licensing, branding, consulting, training, facilitation, events and bespoke solutions. Inquiries most welcome. John