When working with a client on a business problem through action learning, I ask the sponsor or problem owner to answer a number of questions, in writing, before the first session starts. I have created a one page form with the following questions:
Describe the problem … describing context, history and some basic data, key people and departments involved.
Why is solving this important ? What has been tried in the past, and was this partly successful or not successful at all ?
What do you expect of the team, in terms of recommendations only, or recommendations and actual implementation ?
What would be your definition of ‘success’ of the team addressing this challenge ?
What is your experience with asking the sponsor to describe his/her problem ahead of the first meeting ? Do you use any other questions ?