VPEC-T: What Works & What Doesn’t?

It’s been over 5 years since Carl and I stumbled upon VPEC-T thinking, whilst working with the UK’s Criminal Justice organisation. We’ve both enjoyed numerous conversations with people who tell us that they’ve found it useful,  in a wide range of circumstances.   I’m interested, however,  in hearing more about how VPEC-T has been applied,  and in sharing these scenarios publicly, so that others might find their own way to apply the framework. I’m particularly interested in the circumstances which led to its use, the method used to start the VPEC-T conversation, other models/canvasses that helped frame the conversation, insights that emerged and, last but not least, what worked and, more importantly to me, what didn’t.  Feedback on the use/usefulness of VPEC-T has always been difficult: the nature of a framework that examines sensitive issues, like Values and Trust, becomes a barrier to public feedback. In the spirit, however,  of openness and sharing, but recognising such sensitivities,  I’m not asking anyone to disclose specifics, instead, Im asking for more general,  anonymised, observations. 

1. What were the general circumstances that led to a VPEC-T analysis?
2. How did you bound the conversation – did you use a model or canvas to help focus-in?
3. How did you conduct the VPEC-T analysis – a workshop (how many participants?), 1-on-1, or other?
4. Which dimension (i.e. V-P-E-C-T) did you start with and which dimension(s) stimulated the most insights? 
5. What were the main barriers to getting the conversation going or issues that became a stumbling-block? How did you overcome?
6. What was the nature of the output/insights from the session and where/how did VPEC-T add the most value in surfacing them?

Not surprisingly, I’ve used VPEC-T in many different scenarios, sometimes explicitly, and sometimes  as a, non-disclosed, mental model, for analysing  at a problem or opportunity.  The most valuable feedback to me, however, has always come from others – their unimagined (by me!) challenges and circumstances. Ever since my original blog post in 2007, I’ve been keen to share and develop the thinking publicly (despite pressures to do otherwise!). Can I encourage others to do the same?  I guess I’ll see.  Any better ideas on soliciting feedback always welcome! (thought to self: I wonder if I could find a way to use Dave Snowden’s Sensemaker tool?).