User Experience Fishbowl
Share Know-How Gained from Experience with a Larger Community (~35-70 mins
“Experience can be an effective teacher. But, clearly, only some students listen to their teachers”
Purposes
In User Experience Fishbowl, a small group of people who have made progress on a shared challenge (the “fish”) discuss their experiences while a larger group observes. This allows for a natural conversation, creating an informal atmosphere that encourages dialogue. Participants learn from peers with direct field experience and use what they learn to inform their adoption of new practices. This structure embodies LS Principle #2, Practice Deep Respect for People and Local Solutions.
Principle: Practice Deep Respect for People and Local Solutions
Five Structural Elements—Min Specs
Structuring Invitation
“We are going to put people who are tackling our shared challenge in a fishbowl and listen as they share their experiences.”
Space and Materials
An inner circle of three to seven chairs in the middle of a room [spotlight], surrounded by an outer circle of chairs in groups of three to four [breakouts of three to four]. Microphones for the inner circle and a few for questions from the outer circle if needed.
Participation Distribution
Roles include host [tech host], inner circle, and outer circle. Minimum group size is fifteen. Everyone is invited and has an equal opportunity to contribute.
Group Configuration
An inner circle of three to seven people from any position or rank and an outer circle with many small groups of three to four.
Steps and Time Allocation
Intro: Share the structuring invitation and identify the shared challenge. Invite a few people to be fish and sit in the inner circle [spotlight]. Invite everyone else to observe and take notes without interacting with the fish. (2 min.)
Story Sharing: The inner circle has a conversation about their work, sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Enforce two rules: “no speeches” and “talk to each other, not to the outer circle.” Intervene if someone isn’t getting a chance to talk or if someone is dominating the conversation or presenting rather than conversing. (10–25 min.)
Reflect and Formulate Questions: The outer circle forms small groups of three to four [breakouts] to formulate observations and questions for the fish. (4 min.)
Q&A Time: Everyone returns to plenary. The outer circle asks their questions, and the inner circle responds. [Groups put their most salient questions and observations in the chat.] (10–25 min.)
Debrief and Discover: Debrief using W3, asking, “What seems possible now?” (10–15 min.)
Taking It Online
Fishbowl works online with no major adjustments. Spotlighting the “fish” and having the audience turn off their cameras enhances focus and makes listening easier.
Practice Insights
Tips
Pick “fish” who represent roles and functions that must coordinate for success. Encourage them to share concrete examples rather than opinions as well as both successes and failures.
Riffs and Variations
Invite the “fish” to share what surprised them. Online, invite the outer circle to share questions in the chat while the inner circle is talking.
Practical Applications
User Experience Fishbowl transfers knowledge from officers or emergency response workers returning from deployment to people who are replacing them. It promotes exchanges between people with different levels of experience. For example, people using a new tool can share their experience with the rest of their organization. During an LS workshop, invite experienced practitioners to share stories to help newcomers.
Optional String
String together with Improv Prototyping, Simple Ethnography, and Shift & Share to gather evidence to inform a hunch, collect local observations, and make sense of data as you shape next steps during action research.
Attribution
Liberating Structure developed by Henri Lipmanowicz and Keith McCandless.
Collateral Materials
Link to supporting materials for User Experience Fishbowl.
Microstructural elements of User Experience Fishbowl in the constellation format.