This is a revision of the text below that aims to be super simple.
How can we move forward together? Get really concrete about what the problems are.
How can we keep track of what everyone is doing? Build a plan that we keep updating as we go along.
How can we balance new ideas with the need to get stuff done? Use what’s there and share what we make.
How can we avoid becoming overwhelmed? Clearly express when we’re frustrated.
How can we avoid becoming perplexed? Focus on concrete, doable tasks.
How can people stay in touch with the project? Maintain a coherent public surface.
How can we make the project “real” for participants? Keep up a regular, sustaining rhythm.
How can we make the project accessible to new people? Let’s learn from newcomers.
How can we maintain focus as time goes by? Move things that are not of immediate use out of focus.
Backwards links specify the “larger” context for each of our patterns. This helps to explain the core problem that each pattern in our pattern language addresses. This table records each instance of B ←A where pattern A refers to pattern B.
- ←Roadmap We need to figure out how to get from “here” to “there”.
- ←Carrying capacity Each contributor has bounded time and other resources.
- ←Reduce, reuse, recycle A plan develops by making sense of existing resources.
- ←Carrying capacity As difficulties are encountered the plan should be revised.
- ←A specific project The project may cover many connected sub-projects.
- ←Wrapper Someone in the project needs to make sure the plan reflects reality.
- ←Newcomer If new participants have trouble getting involved, the plan should be revised.
- ←Heartbeat As we notice new spin-off or spin-in projects, we can give them energy.
- ←Newcomer Each potential contributor brings a somewhat new approach.
- ←Scrapbook We can keep track of great ideas coming from many different sources.
- ←Reduce, reuse, recycle All available perspectives are useful for the project.
- ←A specific project We may need help to create or activate a plan.
- ←Wrapper Share skills and be transparent about limitations and bottlenecks.
- ←Heartbeat Project activites should give us rewards, not drain our energy.
- ←Peeragogy We can collaborate on (the intersections of) specific projects.
- ←Roadmap In some cases we can lay out the potential tasks far in advance.
- ←Heartbeat We may alternate open discussion with focused work sessions.
- ←Newcomer As we find our way from motivation to action, we add concreteness.
- ←Roadmap If project participants are not all contributing, someone may take charge.
- ←Scrapbook One part of this responsible role is to gather outstanding concerns.
- ←Roadmap The simplest plan may just be to meet together from time to time.
- ←Wrapper It can be useful to set things up so that people can follow different rhythms.
- ←Roadmap Transparency can show outsiders what it would be like to get involved.
- ←Carrying capacity Boosting the project’s capacity may require training in new participants.
- ←Wrapper Ideally we would actively welcome all contributions with love.
- ←Carrying capacity It is useful to record obstacles and outstanding challenges.
- ←A specific project We want to stay connected to concrete action, not just theory.
- ←Heartbeat A project that is no longer rewarding may be put on the back burner.
Forward links specify the “smaller” context for each of our patterns. This helps to explain the core solution that each pattern in our pattern language offers. This table records each instance of A→ B where pattern A refers to pattern B.
- → A specific project The way to make progress is to get specific.
- → A specific project The project shouldn’t solve all problems.
- → Heartbeat People will meet in some rhythm.
- → Wrapper Someone should help those who are less involved keep apprised of progress.
- →Newcomer A good plan can help new people get involved.
- →Roadmap Develop a plan to make sense of existing resources.
- →Carrying capacity Existing stresses are one resource that we can use.
- → Roadmap When problems and difficulties are made explicit they can eventually be addressed.
- →Newcomer If there is too much work to do, finding people to help may be helpful.
- →Roadmap Make your project even more specific by creating a concrete plan.
- →Carrying capacity Make the scope of the project match your available energy.
- →Scrapbook Make note of anything you haven’t been able to solve and move on.
- →Roadmap Part of your job is to draw out goals and methods that people are using.
- →Carrying capacity Make note of difficulties that the group encounters.
- →Newcomer Make the project accessible to newcomers.
- →Heartbeat Make sure that meetings happen and that reports on those meetings go to the right people.
- →Reduce, reuse, recycle You can set up spin-off projects when something gets interesting.
- →Carrying capacity The group should nurture the people in the group.
- →A specific project Set up regular meetings to focus on specific tasks.
- →Scrapbook Wind down projects that are no longer helpful.
- →Roadmap A new person can give feedback on how clear the plan is.
- →A specific project Newcomers should adapt their general interest to a specific task.
- →Roadmap Just as we keep track of the future plans, we should also keep track of past events.
- →Reduce, reuse, recycle Something that is not interesting right now may become interesting later.