user involvement is a fundamental principle in participatory design or pd
and also in other user-oriented design methods in human computer interaction
often user involvement occurs through facilitated activities such as focus groups and workshops
that is structured design-led events where users and other stakeholder groups
can discuss co-explore and co-realize visions about technology with designers
the person leading such activities is typically referred to as the facilitator
despite having a significant impact on participatory activities
processes and outcomes the role of the facilitator has not yet been thoroughly debated in existing
design discourse and support for role-related reflections is limited based on understanding
that a facilitator is one of several influential forces in the shaping of pd results our research
was motivated by the following research question how do experienced pd facilitators understand the
facilitator role and how are their interpretations reflected in strategies guiding their practice
as the first steps towards an enriched collective understanding of this specific role and its
realization we interviewed 14 respondents with an academic background in participatory design and
extensive facilitation experience the respondents were recruited through purposive sampling
and represented a total of nine universities in six different european countries transcriptions of
the interviews were then analyzed for statements describing either respondents perceptions of the
facilitator role associated responsibilities or strategies employed to fulfill the role
a total of six role facets which serve as metaphors that describe aspects of the facilitator
role were identified the six identified facets were based on understandings of the facilitator
as trust builder enabler enquirer direction setter value provider and users advocate each facet
corresponded to a set of related responsibilities and strategies for fulfilling the respective
responsibilities of that facet now let's take a closer look at each of the identified facets
findings from the interviews revealed that the respondents regarded the facilitator
as someone who sets the stage for the open exchange of ideas and perspectives that is a
trust builder who reassures participants about the value of their participation in respect to
the respondents reported strategies for preparing the participatory process one recurring theme in
the accounts was the time they often invested in interacting with participants outside of
the design activities in order to establish and develop facilitator participant relations
the second aspect that emerged as central in respondents understanding of the facilitator role
was a perceived responsibility to help participants in pd activities
voice their ideas needs and perspectives from such a perspective the facilitator is an enabler
one who provides the means and possibilities for participants to become actively involved
in terms of strategies for enabling active involvement we identified three overall approaches
use of a common language or shared tool for expression sensitizing and discourse management
the third facilitator facet the analysis revealed concerned the
respondent's perceived responsibility to develop a comprehensive understanding of the participants
their needs and values several respondents also highlighted the facilitators role in
uncovering value dilemmas and conflicts of interest among participants in pd activities
accordingly parts of being a facilitator is being an inquirer in terms of relevant strategies
respondents emphasize the inquisitiveness of probing for user insights often required
from the facilitator rather than playing the passive part of an information gatherer several
respondents described strategies that involve taking an active role probing for user insights
the fourth role facet we identified relates to decision making and the setting of directions
in pd activities and throughout the design process respondents regarded the facilitator
as having a particular obligation to guide the pd process and its activities towards an objective
and thereby increase the likelihood that the project will effectively contribute to change
relevant strategies in this regard included the use of materials and instructions
to better align activities with the agenda of the related project
providing the participants with concrete questions or challenges related to the problem area the
project is addressing as opposed to opening up for general discussions about the area
is another example of a direction setter strategy the respondents reported to employ
the fifth facet the respondents called attention to in their appraisal of the facilitator role
concerns the perceived obligation to ensure that pd activities
in addition to benefiting the associated project also offer value to participants in other words
that the time and efforts that the participants put into the pd project yield some type of return
of their investment these types of responses paint a picture of the facilitator as a value provider
providing opportunities for participants to learn the possibilities and the limitations
of technology is an example of one of the value provider strategies the respondents reported
using checking with participants concerning what they hope to achieve through their participation
and later asking what they had gained from taking part is another example
the sixth facet the respondents discussed was a facilitator's role in forefronting or
advocating users perspectives and needs uncovered through pd activities this is to
ensure that the outcome of pd activities would be communicated to project partners and reflected in
the technical solutions in ways that align with the original user perspective emerging from the pd
activities identified strategies involved taking the stage and negotiating the user perspective
in project meetings with partners and other stakeholders respondents also reported inviting
members of the project without direct experience from the project's pd activities to take part in
future activities thus offering partner representatives a first-hand experience
combined the six presented facets paint a complex picture of the pd facilitator role
the facilitator is seen as responsible both for offering value to the participants in pd
activities and to ensure that the output of the activities can be effectively utilized by the
associated pd project and thereby increase the project's prospects for turning imagined futures
into working value-based design solutions realizing pd's egalitarian values also requires
long-term dedication and commitment from the facilitator throughout a design process as
well as a high level of situational awareness in ongoing pd activities we regard these overarching
facilitator concerns as being strongly supportive in gaining an understanding of pd facilitation as
a practice in which required skills are learned and enhanced through practice-based reflection