The Four Cs

Purpose

• To explore and share what people know about the topic based on the 4Cs: components, characteristics, challenges & characters.
• To generate ideas on a specific topic or concern.

Facilitation Instructions

• Prior to session, decide on a topic you want the participants to explore, and prepare a 2×2 matrix in a large white space canvas (see template download for digital version).
• Write the following categories in each box of the matrix: “Components”, “Characteristics”, “Characters”, and “Challenges”. Then, draw something that represents each category.
• Define the terms of each “C." Components are the parts of the topic. Characteristics are features of the topic. Challenges are obstacles associated with the topic. Characters are people associated with the topic.
• Work in teams of 2-3 in breakout rooms. The goal is to collect information about each “C”, specific to the topic. Tell them they’ll have three minutes to plan an information-gathering strategy (for ex. Where will they find this information? Who will gather what information? What tools will they use? Will everyone add their own ideas or will you elect a transcriptionist?), 20 minutes to collect the information (this can be a mix of brainstorming and gathering info from online,) and 10 minutes to analyze and organize it (grouping up like information into the matrix, drawing connections, and considering importance.) Everyone should have a chance to contribute.
• Start the planning period, and let the teams converse with one another. At the end of three minutes, send a message alerting teams it’s time to move on to the next step.
• Use text/stickies capabilities for this part to post moveable information into the matrix. Start the 20 minute information-gathering stage. After 20 minutes, send a message to alert teams that it’s time to start reining information in, deleting, combining, drawing connections, and thinking of importance.
• Start the 10 minute information-analysis stage. In this stage, the teams should analyze their data, organize it in a meaningful way. Close the game by asking for volunteers to present their group’s findings. After each group presents, ask clarifying questions (Is there anything missing? Do these items mean the same thing?), and encourage the others to reflect on and add more information. 10 minutes.
• Could be any other letter with different categories. For example: Use four “Ds” to create your matrix and name them “Discover”, “Design”, “Damage”, and “Deliver”. Just make sure the categories you create will give you a meaningful way to look at a topic of interest.
• This is a great activity to use in sequence before Build Your Vehicle to get participants thinking about everything that makes up the topic. They will be able to use this information to visualize their own perceptions.

Products Generated

• A large canvas/document with four quadrants that represent different visual working pieces of the topic.

Time/Commitment Needed

• Primary Activity
• ~45 minutes

Reference

Gamestorming