As an IAF™ Certified Professional Facilitator, I recognize that every group intervention is an opportunity for participants to engage in meaningful experiences with measurable outcomes. The same principle applies when exploring the professional and organizational role of a Collaboration Architect.

However, this is not a handbook on group facilitation. Instead, it is a curated collection of published articles, thoughtfully transformed into chapters and structured into nine sections, each mapped to the IAF core competencies.

You are free to navigate this book however best suits your learning needs or curiosity—reading selectively or diving deep into specific sections. Just like in a facilitated process, you are in control of the journey.

I hope you enjoy this book, and that it becomes a valuable resource for you.

Paul Nunesdea, PhD, CPF

Fieldnotes on Meetings, Workshops and Group Facilitation

Every successful product is the result of dedication and effort, and books are no exception. However, in this case, the work has been carried out over the past several years. This book is not a new creation but a curated collection of articles that, despite their original publication dates, remain relevant and valuable today. I have carefully organized them into structured chapters and sections, allowing you to explore the content in a way that best serves your interests and needs as a reader. 

A Novel Profession

In this book, I introduce the concept of the Collaboration Architect to describe the work of group facilitators—a profession that emerged in the late 1960s and 70s, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area. Pioneers such as Strauss, Doyle, Sibbet, Kaner, and others laid the foundation for this practice, which quickly gained global recognition. One of its most distinguished champions outside the U.S. was Hunter in New Zealand, further solidifying facilitation as a critical discipline worldwide.

The International Association of Facilitators (IAF) serves as the leading global professional body dedicated to promoting, supporting, and advancing the art and practice of facilitation. Through knowledge exchange, professional development, applied research, and a strong network of practitioners, the IAF fosters excellence in the field.

Central to this mission is the Core Facilitator Competencies framework, developed over several years with input from facilitators around the world. This framework, refined through practical application, defines six key competencies that serve as the foundation for effective facilitation across diverse settings.