Facilitator Best Practices

A story that presents a group of participants with a problem, dilemma or conflict in a situation that has
personal and/or professional moral/ethical considerations is called an Ethical Case Study and using the
Case Method with it allows practice of ethical decision-making and promotes the development of
Soldier Character. The situations require analysis and, in most cases, resolution. Within the Case Study
Method, depending on participant experience and/or time for the exercise, members of the group are
asked to identify and discuss the problem, situation or conflict from various aspects: what should
happen or should the actors do; what would they do or how do they feel about it; they are placed in the
role of a decision maker facing a problem; they may prepare for and role-play one of the parts; they may
debate for or against opinions or actions in the case study; etc.

Case Studies/Vignettes provide a conceptual setting for discussion and to work through new ideas,
differences of opinion, or solutions to basic and complex situations. Case Studies can be valuable as they
allow learning from the successes and mistakes of the persons in the story. This will provide practice
working through the Case Study and empower Soldiers in the development of their own Professional
Characters and Identities and to proactively negotiate ethically stressful situations encountered in
service to successful conclusions. Additionally, when properly facilitated, the learning occurs within the
group as the members share and think about the ideas presented and their reactions to them