Every session is designed as a part of the Ten-Step Knowledge Management Model. This means that it has an agenda and a process design. The agenda you design details the content and desired outcomes of the session, as well as the strategy of the facilitation team to clear the way for the participants to reach the outcomes.

The event's agenda is made up of a series of modules. Each module may consist of multiple assignments. A detailed straw dog will include the module's number, name, time, duration, assignment title, mode of work, and necessary logistics to support each module. Use the straw dog template and examples to 'see' the components of the agenda and the supporting process.

The strawdog design process addresses the mechanisms that will be employed to accomplish the outcomes.

There are two major components to the process of designing the straw dog

• crafting of assignments
• selection of group mode of work.

There are three modes of group work

• the participants can be together as a whole (as when reporting, discussing, and working on next steps)
• the participants can be divided into teams to generate diversity (each having the same assignment) or to fast track issues (each team having a separate but interdependent assignments)
• or the participants may be asked to work individually on some assignments.

For each mode of work, an assignment should be crafted before the beginning of the session though it may change under the press of circumstances during the session. A well-crafted assignment easily doubles the effectiveness of the facilitation.