Facilitation.

Facilitation is used in public and private sector organizations when groups, units, or departments are encountering difficulty in achieving consensus, solving problems or resolving conflict. In contrast to mediation, facilitation generally involves multiple parties, and/or larger groups. Trained facilitators provide technical assistance and guidance to these groups by assisting in the exchange of information, helping parties to communicate more effectively, and in building consensus. Much work in the facilitation process takes place outside of group meetings, as effective facilitation requires diagnosis of the conflict, planning and preliminary assessment of group dynamics, designing a process which will be effective, training the parties on the necessary skills, in addition to moderating and facilitating group meetings.