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Meetingworks has been adapted for use with several types of focus groups.  Some lessons learned are:

1. Participants love to attend this kind of focus group.
2. Most people can use computers well enough now so you don't have worry about them being intimidated.
3. The agenda should be simple.  Allow time for talking!
4. Test driving the agenda is important.  You probably only get one shot with the folks, so make sure your questions are written to elicit the exact type of information you need.

Where information gathering is the primary goal and consensus is not a concern, use Meetingworks tools to brainstorm and edit the information.  Then use the "select all that apply" evaluation method.  This provides for group synergy and creativity, yet individuals are free to accept or reject ideas during evaluation.  Comments are encouraged so that maximum feedback is provided.

Focus Group in a "Fish Bowl" - For Group Health Cooperative a Materiel Management focus group was conducted.  Ten customers, around a "U" shaped table, each with a laptop, answered a number of questions derived from recent survey results.  Also in the room were company managers and suppliers (vendors).  The audience was mostly quiet, but did ask for clarification during the morning session.

During the afternoon session an equal number of managers, vendors, and customers were placed, together, at separate tables, with one laptop on each table.  They were asked to discuss and record solutions to problems identified during the morning focus group.  As each group developed a solution together one person “scribed” the solution into Generate.  Afterwards, all the groups discussed the myriad of solutions.  Company managers felt they had invaluable input from their customers and suppliers.

Other Focus Groups

Unico Properties conducted a survey and followed it by two focus group sessions.  They were able to find out what services current tenants would like today, as well as how they felt tenant needs would change over the next 10 years.  It provided a way to “drill down” into specifics not available in the general survey.

Aon Risk Services (San Francisco) conducted another type of focus group.  A well-known consultant was invited to moderate the session and help design the Meetingworks agenda.  Participants were asked pointed questions and their comments were reviewed and commented on by the consultant.  She gave them a lot of information, which made this particular focus group a more give and take type of session than most.

A major construction company conducted thirteen focus groups to explore issues raised in an employee satisfaction survey.  Each group participated using the same 2-hour Meetingworks agenda.  Trends in responses were easily tracked, since the groups were made up of employees with similar job descriptions.