SDDP_Economic Integration
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Executive Summary
Twenty-one business and economics stakeholder representatives with diverse perspectives and experiences participated at the three successive bi-communal workshops on 3, 10 and 27 July 2007. During the first workshop, which was dedicated to jointly visualise and describe the desired situation, i.e. the envisioned Cyprus with respect to economic integration and free movement of goods and services within Cyprus and the EU. Economics and business experts identified 48 factors that describe the benefits / opportunities for Cyprus of free movement of goods and services. The second workshop aimed at identifying the current situation with its obstacles and perceived threats in achieving the envisioned Cyprus—economic integration and free movement of goods and services within Cyprus and the EU. The stakeholder representatives identified 62 of these obstacles and perceived threats. During the final workshop, economics and business experts proposed 27 actions to achieve economic integration in Cyprus and therefore to both overcome the obstacles and to reap the benefits in achieving free movements of goods and services within Cyprus and the EU. The stakeholder representatives were engaged in dialogue sessions that were designed and conducted employing the Structured Dialogic Design Process founded in systems sciences.
Triggering Question
In total, three bi-communal co-laboratories took place in July 2007 for which the triggering questions that were tackled in these co-laboratories were:
The Economic Integration co-laboratory – Desired Situation envisioned the ideal model of Economic Integration. Experts participating in this co-laboratory were asked to visualize the ideal scenario of Economic Integration. The Triggering question that was tackled in this co-laboratory was:
- “With the aim of economic integration, what are the benefits (opportunities) for Cyprus of free movement of goods and services within Cyprus and the EU?”
The Economic Integration co-laboratory – Current Situation explored the obstacles of the current situation and defined the exact nature of the problem, i.e. the problématique. The Triggering question that was tackled in this co-laboratory was:
- "With the aim of economic integration; what are the obstacles including perceived threats in achieving free movement of goods and services within Cyprus and the EU?”
The Economic Integration co-laboratory – Actions dealt with designing an action plan. Famagustians identified action options to implement in projects that will help overcoming the current obstacles and achieving the envisioned future. Participants engaged in the following Triggering Question:
- “With the aim of economic integration; what actions should be taken to overcome the obstacles and to reap the benefits in achieving free movement of goods and services?”
Results
Methodology
The workshop will be conducted through the methodology of "Structured Dialogic Design Process" (Structured Dialogic Design Process, SDDP) known as Structured Democratic Dialogue. The SDDP allows the team involved to discuss an issue with a structured and democratic way that allows us to achieve practical results. It is a deeply reasoned, scientific, psycho-social methodology has evolved over the past 30 years in its current form. Helps build consensus and solve complex problems.
The SDDP workshops contribute the following ways:
- To help participants reach a common understanding of the problem.
- To uncover the root causes (roots of the problem).
- Contribute to the consensual adoption of action plans.
- To create groups dedicated to the implementation of projects.
- to establish lasting ties based on respect, trust, and cooperation.
The SDDP workshops achieve these results through respecting the autonomy of all participants and the use of a toolkit consensus including discipline, technology, and graphics ideas that allow participants to control the discussion. The SDDP methodology developed to help understand and solve complex social systems (complex societal systems). It has been adopted successfully around the world in situations of uncertainty and conflict. At European level, the method has been used by four European networks of experts with participation of about 20 countries each time.