Avoiding Surprises: How to Find Out How Complex a Topic Is

Two-part class (180 minutes, $185)
Part A: Tuesday, 6 May 2008, 19:00 EST/23:00 GMT (90 minutes)
Part B: Tuesday, 13 May 2008, 19:00 EST/23:00 GMT (90 minutes)

Using short labels to describe a policy issue or public direction can lead to unintended miscommunication. Does the official who says “economic development” or “educational improvement” have the same picture in mind as the citizen sitting across the table? Probably not. Moreover, short labels can oversimplify an issue. Like the tip of an iceberg, there’s often more than meets the eye. To avoid being surprised and unprepared, you need to determine whether a topic has hidden aspects, and if so, what they are and how they matter. This class teaches a nearly universal method to gauge how closely your assumptions about a topic match the realities the policy must address, and to develop strategies accordingly.

Audience: EAO

Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Instructor: Sara Ross

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