Panarchy

Structural Elements — Min Specs

1. Structuring Invitation

   "Let's zoom in and out, exploring the levels of our world like Russian nesting dolls and looking for shifts in one layer that can create opportunities in another. Our first step is to visualize how systems are layered and embedded."

2. Space and Materials

   An open wall with a large Panarchy chart (e.g., the multisite infection-prevention example on liberatingstructures.com). Groups of four chairs around small tables [breakouts of three]. Sticky notes and copies of the Panarchy chart for each participant [digital versions].

3. Participation Distribution

   Roles include host [tech host] and participants. No minimum group size; works best with eight or more people at multiple levels of an organization. Everyone involved in spreading an innovation or making a transition is included and has an equal opportunity to contribute.

4. Group Configuration

   1-2-4-All [1-3-All]

5. Steps and Time Allocation

   • Intro: Share the structuring invitation and identify a shared challenge. Show an example Panarchy chart. Emphasize the creative and conserving dynamics. Small and fast creative experiments at lower levels may move up to larger and slower levels that conserve successful innovations. Likewise, accumulated knowledge at higher levels may move down to stabilize lower levels. Show the fast-slow diagram (small, fast levels at the bottom; large, slow levels at the top). Hand out Panarchy charts [everyone draws their own]. (5 min.)
   • Identify Factors: Participants list factors that influence their work on the shared challenge and order them from smallest to largest. (5 min.)
   • Translate Factors to Levels: Participants form pairs [breakouts of three] to translate the factors into levels, using one Panarchy chart per small group. (10 min.)
   • Compare Levels (F2F only): Pairs join to form quartets. They compare their charts, consolidate them into a single chart, and write the name of each Panarchy level on a sticky note. (10 min.)
   • Integrate Levels: Everyone returns to plenary. Invite three to four people from different groups to create a shared Panarchy chart by placing their group's sticky notes on the chart. Everyone else observes but does not interrupt [comments in Chatterfall or on sticky notes]. (10 min.)
   • Generate Insights: Participants form quartets [remain in plenary] to reflect on the shared chart using sticky notes [Chatterfall]. Ask "Which levels have received attention and resources? Which ones have been neglected? What do we know about the status and dynamics in play at the different levels?" (15 min.)
   • Share Insights: Everyone returns to plenary to add their sticky notes to the chart. [Transfer from the chat to stickies.] (10 min.)
   • Break: Invite everyone to check devices [step away from devices] and adjust fluids. (10 min.)
   • Identify Opportunities and Obstacles: Participants form new quartets [breakouts of four] to brainstorm opportunities for spreading positive change and write them on sticky notes. Ask "Looking up and down the levels, what opportunities and obstacles do you see for movement and changes between or across levels? What windows for new ideas are opening above? What resources are flowing downward from creative destruction bubbling above? What small-scale developments from below are disrupting the level above?" (15 min.)
   • Share Opportunities and Obstacles: Everyone returns to plenary. Invite three to four people from different groups to add their sticky notes to the shared chart. A few people share reflections and insights. (10 min.)
   • Prioritize Opportunities and Obstacles: The group votes on the three most important opportunities and obstacles [the digital polling]. (10 min.)
   • Identify Action Steps: Participants use 1-2-4-All [1-3-All] to discuss action steps they can take immediately to act on the top opportunities or obstacles. They identify anyone they know who influences more than one level simultaneously. Take notes on the shared chart. (15 min.)
   • Next Steps: Participants form trios [breakouts] to discuss when they will revisit and update the chart. (5 min.)