What, So What, Now What? W³
Salient facts from small groups are shared with the whole group and collected.
How to run it
- First stage: WHAT? Individuals work 1 min. alone on “What happened? What did you notice, what facts or observations stood out?” then 2-7 min. in small group. 3-8 min. total.
- Salient facts from small groups are shared with the whole group and collected. 2-3 min.
- If needed, remind participants about what is included in the SO WHAT? question.
- Second stage: SO WHAT? People work 1 min alone on “Why is that important? What patterns or conclusions are emerging? What hypotheses can I/we make?” then 2-7 min. in small group. 3-8 min. total.
- Salient patterns, hypotheses, and conclusions from small groups are shared with the whole group and collected. 2-5 min.
- Third stage: NOW WHAT? Participants work 1 min. alone on “Now what? What actions make sense?” then 2-7 min. in small group. 3-8 min. total.
- Actions are shared with the whole group, discussed, and collected. Additional insights are invited. 2-10 min.
Run this exercise live
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Materials:
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Prompts to use +
First stage: WHAT? Individuals work 1 min. alone on “What happened? What did you notice, what facts or observations stood out?” then 2-7 min. in small group. 3-8 min. total.
Salient facts from small groups are shared with the whole group and collected. 2-3 min.
Second stage: SO WHAT? People work 1 min alone on “Why is that important? What patterns or conclusions are emerging? What hypotheses can I/we make?” then 2-7 min. in small group. 3-8 min. total.
Salient patterns, hypotheses, and conclusions from small groups are shared with the whole group and collected. 2-5 min.
Third stage: NOW WHAT? Participants work 1 min. alone on “Now what? What actions make sense?” then 2-7 min. in small group. 3-8 min. total.
Actions are shared with the whole group, discussed, and collected. Additional insights are invited. 2-10 min.
Run this with your AI assistant +
Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.
Adapt this exercise for my exact room. Exercise: What, So What, Now What? W³. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: First stage: WHAT? Individuals work 1 min. alone on “What happened? What did you notice, what facts or observations stood out?” then 2-7 min. in small group. 3-8 min. total.; Salient facts from small groups are shared with the whole group and collected. 2-3 min.; Second stage: SO WHAT? People work 1 min alone on “Why is that important? What patterns or conclusions are emerging? What hypotheses can I/we make?” then 2-7 min. in small group. 3-8 min. total.; Salient patterns, hypotheses, and conclusions from small groups are shared with the whole group and collected. 2-5 min.. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.
Origin unverified
- Where we observed it: The strongest current observations come from Liberating Structures; aggregators are listed as additional observations, not origin proof. (1 source observed, including Liberating Structures.)
- What that means: we track where an exercise has been observed in public sources. We do not claim to know who created it, or how popular it is.
- No efficacy claims: appearing in this library is not a claim that the exercise is proven effective. Facilitator judgment and context decide whether it works for a given room.
- Corrections: if you have evidence of an earlier or more accurate source, read our methodology and trust boundary and tell us.