Setting the stage & creating a conversation atmosphere establishing the context & fostering a positive discussion environment creating the right atmosphere for dialogue gather data & collecting topics accumulate information & gathering subject matters acquiring data and compiling topics building insights & gaining knowledge developing understandings & extracting insights formulating insights and identifying key focus areas concrete action & making decisions tangible steps & establishing choices taking definite actions and determining decisions closing & wrap-up – retro or appreciation finalizing & conclusion – retrospective or appreciation concluding and reflecting – retrospective or appreciation