OPERA
OPERA is a framework for facilitating group discussion and achieving consensus, devised by innotiimi and widely used across Europe. OPERA differs from traditional forms of group work or meetings methods because:
- all participants are active all the time;
- time is used efficiently - the method avoids getting caught up in irrelevant details or competing about who has the best expertise;
- the process enables the collection of structured views on the subject under discussion;
- the meeting leads to results;
- individuals leave the OPERA meeting in a good mood, having all contributed to the process and reached agreement.
In OPERA a systematic way of working is combined with a creative process for solving problems. A participative approach enables people to commit themselves to the result of the process, by drawing on knowledge and experiences.
Originally OPERA was utilised as a problem-solving method in connection with organisational development. The method is still excellent for this purpose. However it has proved to be an effective tool for any group decision making.