Notes:
We started off by examining the design areas that they had found problematic and I soon established a new way of working. Instead of individuals sitting alone in front of a PC using the design tool to doodle I got everyone in front of a whiteboard (or two when I could "borrow" a one from another room) and drew the problems they described and drew suggested solutions.
In the course of the discussion they gained a perspective of UML as a method of communication (instead of a dimly understood procedure to be followed) and I began to understand the problem domain.
I knew we were making progress when one by one they started standing up and taking over the whiteboard to present their own ideas.
We reached the stage where we knew how to address the problems that had dogged the earlier attempt and were feeling confident when we reminded that we were working in a "level 1" organisation.