Leadership and executive development
A shared language for exploring challenges and solving problems together.
FACILITATING COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
A problem isn’t
the enemy.
A hidden
problem is.
Turn difficult conversations into clearly defined problems, shared decisions and action that lasts.
Rigour in analysis. Listening that brings people in.
Courage to act.
CHANGE STARTS BENEATH THE SURFACE
WHAT WE CAN SEEWHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND
A real problem
01 / people02 / evidence03 / action04 / learning
PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETYACTION LEARNINGCONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Less firefighting. More getting to the root.
THE PROBLEM BEHIND THE PROBLEM
Your team has
answers.
Is it asking the right questions?
When solutions come before understanding, rework returns. When people don’t feel safe to speak up, part of the problem stays out of the conversation.
The RAIZ Method combines structured analysis with people-centred facilitation, helping leaders and teams investigate, decide and act together.
A real problem to work on.
Learning through practical application.
Learning through practical application.
The same problem keeps returningMeetings don’t lead to actionThe team relies on leaders for every answer
FOUR STAGES. ONE CONNECTED APPROACH.
How the RAIZ Method works
Explore each stage for questions, tools and examples.
- Reveal
Define the problem with the people involved.
- Analyse
Investigate the causes with data and observation.
- Implement
Test an action with clear criteria, owners and a deadline.
- Sustain
Track the effects and keep what works.
R / REVEAL
The problem needs
room to surface.
Create a safe space to hear different perspectives, agree how the group will work together and define the real problem.
THE QUESTION THAT OPENS THE WAY
“What do we need to be able to say to understand what’s happening?”
FROM CONVERSATION TO PRACTICE
TOOLS AND PRACTICES
Working agreements, stakeholder mapping, Action Learning questions and a baseline measure.
WHAT YOU LEAVE WITH
A clear problem statement, with context, impact, a baseline measure and agreements for working together.
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE / CROSS-FUNCTIONAL REWORK
Instead of saying “the other department always gets it wrong”, the group identifies where the process breaks down, hears from the people involved and agrees how to track rework.
RAIZ means “root” in Portuguese. Its initials refer to the original Portuguese movements: Revelar (Reveal), Analisar (Analyse), Implementar (Implement) and Zelar (Sustain). Listening helps you recognise when to revisit a stage.
LIVE FACILITATOR TRAINING
Learn by doing.
Facilitate lasting change.
5sessions
connecting
method and practice
connecting
method and practice
For leaders, executives, HR professionals, continuous improvement specialists and facilitators who want a more structured, participative approach to problem solving.
Develop your facilitation skills while applying the method to a real workplace challenge.
20 hours5 sessions of 4 hours8 to 12 participantsLive online
Explore facilitator training Programme outline. Delivery in Portuguese and English; cohort dates and fees to be confirmed.
PROGRAMME OUTLINE / EXPLORE EACH SESSION
01The problem behind the problemREVEAL / THE GROUP ENVIRONMENT
Why teams get stuck firefighting. Experience the method with a real problem, working agreements and psychological safety that allows different perspectives to emerge.
02Ask before solvingREVEAL / THE PROBLEM
Action Learning questions, problem statements, baseline measures and a simple process map. Practise listening and framing problems in groups of three.
03Root cause analysis without jargonANALYSE
Collaborative fishbone diagrams, evidence-based 5 Whys, Pareto analysis and observation of how work happens. Practise with feedback to distinguish assumptions from verified causes.
04From plans to commitmentIMPLEMENT
Explore options, selection criteria, small-scale pilots, 5W2H action planning and a one-page plan. Address resistance, silence and dominant voices while building shared commitment.
05Sustain and learnSUSTAIN / INTEGRATION
Review measures, standardise what works and reflect on leadership practice. A final facilitation exercise and a plan to apply the method to your case within 30 days.
TURN LEARNING INTO
Better questions
Investigate before prescribing solutions.
Shared decisions
Involve the people who will make it happen.
Action with follow-through
Learn from what actually changes.
A method you can take back to work
Planned resources include RAIZ question cards, a one-page canvas, facilitation guides, an observation checklist and an impact tracker. The programme includes observed practice, group supervision and a RAIZ certificate, subject to full attendance and an applied case.
RAIZ FOR ORGANISATIONS
The challenge belongs to the business.
The capability stays
with your people.
Develop leaders who help their teams think, decide and solve problems. Your organisation’s context shapes both the challenges we work on and the programme we design.
Facilitated problem-solving sessions
Work on real business challenges through structured inquiry and actions with clear ownership.
Learning that continues
Practice and reflection sessions that help people apply their learning in everyday work.
Services in Portuguese and English. Online, in person or in a blended format, with travel available by arrangement.
Scope and fees agreed after an initial conversation.
FIND YOUR STARTING POINT
Where do you
start?
Three questions to connect your challenge with the learning format that fits your needs now.
An initial guide to help prepare the conversation.
This is not an assessment of your team.
01 / 03YOUR NEXT STEP
A WAY FORWARD FOR YOU
YOUR FIRST STEP
You can review the summary in the form before sending.
REFERENCES THAT COME TOGETHER IN THE METHOD
Analysis and relationships
in the same practice.
RAIZ brings together resources from continuous improvement, Action Learning and psychological safety to work on a problem with the people involved.
Investigate with rigour
Observe how work happens, define indicators and test hypotheses before choosing a solution.
Learn through questions
Broaden perspectives, reconsider assumptions and learn while the group works on a real challenge.
Create conditions for participation
Agree how to talk, listen to contributions and approach doubts and disagreement with respect.
YOUR FACILITATOR
“Presence
is strategic.”
RIGOUR AND HUMANITY IN THE SAME CONVERSATION
Mariana
Mourão
Consultant in Psychological Safety,
Action Learning and Leadership Development.
I bring more than 20 years of experience in leadership and strategic projects at Walmart, Atento and Whirlpool to my work developing leaders and teams.
Since 2015, I have focused my work on people development. RAIZ brings that experience together: the analytical discipline of continuous improvement, the power of questions and the relationships that make change possible.
I deliver training and projects in Portuguese and English. I regularly used Spanish in meetings at Atento, and English in meetings at Walmart and TPC Leadership. I work online and am available to travel, depending on the project.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTLean Six Sigma
Master Black Belt
Master Black Belt
ACTION LEARNINGAction Learning Coach
WIAL CALC
WIAL CALC
PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETYTraining through IISP
Team as One
Team as One
PEOPLE DEVELOPMENTEinstein · PUC-RS
Theory U, u.lab MIT
Theory U, u.lab MIT
Education and credentials
Postgraduate studies in Emotional Management in Organisations and Workplace Mental Health at Einstein, and Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Science at PUC-RS. Training in Theory U through u.lab, MIT. Credentials in Action Learning through WIAL, psychological safety and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt.
TRY A BETTER QUESTION
Before your next answer,
open up a possibility.
01 / 08
Are we trying to solve the problem or simply relieve the symptom?
REVEAL
MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION
Questions about the RAIZ Method
What is the RAIZ Method?
The RAIZ Method is a facilitation approach created by Mariana Mourão to help teams define a problem, investigate its causes, test a solution and track what changes.
What languages is the training offered in?
RAIZ Method training and facilitation are delivered in Portuguese and English. The website is available in Portuguese, English and Spanish.
What prior knowledge do I need?
No prior knowledge of Lean Six Sigma or Action Learning is required. The training introduces the concepts and tools through practical work on real problems, building on each participant’s experience.
Does the training focus on tools or people skills?
Both work together. Analysis helps you investigate causes; facilitation enables people to contribute, make decisions and commit to next steps.
Can I bring a real challenge from my workplace?
That is the starting point. Choose a challenge you can act on with the people involved, while protecting confidential information.
Is there an option for my organisation?
Yes. A programme can be designed for your leaders, executives or teams, around your challenge, participants and preferred delivery format. Use the starting-point tool to prepare that context.
When does the next cohort start, and what are the fees?
Dates, fees and registration details for the next cohort are still to be confirmed. This page presents the programme outline; it does not take registrations or payments.
Does RAIZ provide a certificate?
The proposed programme includes a RAIZ certificate issued by Mariana Mourão, subject to full attendance and application of the method to a real case. Her WIAL Action Learning certification, IISP psychological safety training and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt credential form part of her professional background and are separate from the RAIZ programme certificate.
Will there be self-paced courses and facilitator supervision?
Self-paced courses, supervision sessions and question resources are planned as future options. The initial focus is live training with practical application.
RAIZ
Contact Mariana
Tell Mariana about the challenge or training you have in mind. She will use your email address to reply and agree the next step.