For this reason, the last learning and development method introduced is decision-making with OPERA (own ideas, pairing, explaining, ranking and arranging). Pioneered by Innotiimi,5 it has been adopted in social enterprise development work. Recently, it was studied as a process that can support Appreciative Inquiry in medium-sized groups.6 Unlike Action Learning and Open Space, OPERA is oriented towards collective decision-making where many ideas are generated, then filtered, by a group of people. Unlike other group techniques, people work initially on their own, then in pairs, before they present ideas to the rest of the group. A 'ranking' phase promotes participatory democracy (members vote for preferred proposals). The final 'arranging' phase is a form of action planning.

In short, OPERA progresses ideas so that practical action can be taken. It is more effective than Action Learning, Appreciative Inquiry or Open Space when group decisions are needed. In the context of a FairShares Lab, OPERA can be useful for generating and selecting enterprise ideas, or to set the agenda for an Open Space or World Cafe session.