EMS - Electronic Meeting Support. Combined with our skilled facilitation and an understanding of your desired deliverables, "Facilitated EMS" becomes a high energy interactive approach to support business processes. EMS is a combination of powerful decision support software and a network of computers linking together a team to simultaneously and rapidly exchange information by means of electronic dialogue.

An electronic agenda drives the process as participants use their keyboards to anonymously present their own ideas without fear of criticism.

EMS enables group members to work together more efficiently. Anonymity lets people freely exchange ideas and the simultaneous input of ideas cuts the time required. Generated information is also automatically documented. The psychological effect of working this way is that everyone is heard and taken seriously. Ideas do not get lost in the process, and it is clearer where there is consensus. 

Issues with a high priority or poor consensus receive more attention, and there is more involvement and buy in with decisions and the final results. The meeting activities are better prepared and monitored because the agenda is an integral part of the electronic process. 

A greater number of alternatives can be produced and analyzed in more depth, offering the participants better opportunities to reach consensus. All data is available during and immediately following the meeting, (on paper or electronically). EMS substantially optimizes a group's processes. 

Participants use a network of computers during the meeting to perform their tasks. One computer on the network serves as a leader station which controls the activities on the participants' workstations. The leader station is also beamed to a public display screen.

The facilitator-leader controls the tempo of the meeting with an electronic agenda which drives the meeting process. From the leader station the participants are started and stopped in the agenda activities while the facilitator gives instructions to the participants for each step in the activity. The participants enter their ideas on their keyboards and view all the ideas submitted by the group during discussions.

The results of one activity may become the starting point for a follow-up activity in a drill-down fashion to reach a final decision. Participants use their computers to input ideas, vote and analyze issues, and to follow the discussions.

Yes, a facilitator experienced with the use of EMS is required. An experienced facilitator can balance the speed of decision making and the involvement of the participants with the quality and depth of the analysis and discussions.

A separate facilitator may not be mandatory if the person who calls the meeting can also lead the meeting if there is adequate knowledge of the EMS tools.

However, because electronic meetings offer many more options and potential variations to the process flow, it increases the responsibilities of the facilitator. Having a skilled facilitator who knows how to use the system is an advantage.

The possibilities are as varied and creative as the organizations themselves. Meeting processes may be complex subjects where large amounts of information and options must be processed, or where people from various disciplines are involved. Examples include:

  - Vision building

  - M&A negotiations

  - Team building

  - Risk analysis

  - Self-assessments

  - Project evaluations

  - Strategy development

  - Crisis management

  - Product innovation

  - Needs assessment

  - Benchmarking & best practice

  - Open space meetings

  - Business excellence

The effectiveness and efficiency of meetings and brainstorming sessions often leaves a lot to be desired. The actions of individuals in conferences has a negative effect on the development of ideas. Creative solutions are lost in the heat of the discussions. Compromises are often made for fear of superiors or colleagues. 

Not everyone is heard and decision making is often long-winded. Participants openly show their boredom or become irritated. The ultimate result of the meeting is seldom what was expected.

Research has shown that by improving the quality of meetings with EMS, the meeting duration decreases more than 40% and project times can decrease as much as 90%. Our participant feedback surveys have consistently rated EMS supported meetings at a much higher level of satisfaction, participation and results.

Yes, considering a few factors, you can. Depending on the complexity, the number of participants, the scope of your responsibilities, and your knowledge of the subject at hand, you can facilitate a meeting using EMS support.

If you want our support to run the system and help out with support details, you can facilitate a meeting with a minimum of preparation. We will brief you on the major capabilities of the the EMS software and help you map the various EMS tools to your meeting process.

Experienced facilitators will have no difficulty adapting EMS support to their own unique facilitation style. Ideally, some formal training is beneficial to take full advantage of EMS and to apply the appropriate tools to your processes. We provide training for facilitators and project leaders in an interactive one or two day hands-on curriculum.