LAUNCHING: How to get started? Diagnosis!

1. What is "the Diagnosis"?

2. Why do learning about the diagnosis and diagnostic tools?

3. General steps of the diagnosis

When it comes to diagnosing issues or problems, the steps can vary depending on the specific context and the nature of the problem as well as the network we envision or want to diagnose. There are some general steps that can be followed in the diagnosis process for networks:

1. Problem identification: Identify the issue or problem that needs to be addressed. The problem might be that there is no network but you see the need of it! This could be also related specifically to performance, productivity, communication, culture, leadership, or any other aspect of the organization or network you want to launch or revive.
2. Data gathering. Collect relevant data and information to gain a deeper understanding of the problem. This can involve conducting surveys, interviews, observations, and reviewing organizational documents, reports, stories, photos... You can be creative on this point! Anything that can bring value to the introspection about the issue you are interested in is a valid source of information.
3. Analysis. When you have enough (this depends on your personal opinion) data you start to play with them! Analyze the data and information collected to identify patterns, trends, and potential causes of the problem. This may involve using various analytical techniques, such as statistical analysis, process mapping, or root cause analysis. It is very important to keep track of the work you do to not double the work or lose yourself in the maze of pieces of information.
4. Diagnosis formulation. Based on the analysis, you may develop a diagnosis that explains the underlying causes or factors contributing to the problem. This diagnosis should provide a clear understanding of why the issue is occurring. It can take the form of a rapport, a title, or a drawing...
5. Recommendations: Once the diagnosis is made, the more creative steps start. At this stage, you are invited to develop recommendations for addressing the problem. These recommendations should be practical, feasible, and tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of the organization.
6. Implementation. Camera...Action! Put the recommendations into action by developing an action plan and implementing the necessary changes or interventions. This may involve restructuring processes, revising policies, providing training, or implementing new strategies. It is important to stay realistic in the previous part, so the implementation can also bring joy, rather than bitter surprises!
7. Evaluation. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented changes to determine if the problem has been resolved or improved. You can start the evaluation already in the middle of the process of making changes, or even after each step. Being honest and including various voices from your network is a crucial point here because this will also asses each and every step undertaken before. This may also involve collecting additional data, measuring key performance indicators, and soliciting feedback from the network members.

It's important to note that network diagnosis is a complex and iterative process. The steps outlined above provide a general framework, but the actual approach may vary depending on the methodology and the nature of the network being diagnosed.

4. Examples

Here are some diagnosis models or parts of bigger methodologies that are dedicated to the diagnostic phase.

4.1. Social Permaculture

In social permaculture, the diagnostic phases focus on assessing and understanding the social dynamics, relationships, and patterns within a community or network. While there is no standardized framework for diagnostic phases in social permaculture, we can get a general outline of the diagnostic process in social permaculture from its principles and main ideas:

1. Defining the Purpose. What actually calls you to step forward and change the reality around you? This phase involves clarifying the purpose and objectives of the diagnostic assessment. It includes identifying the specific issues, challenges, or goals that the assessment aims to address. It is important to involve key members in this phase to ensure their perspectives and needs are considered.
2. Gathering Information. After obtaining "the compass" in the first place, in this phase, data collection methods are employed to gather information about the social aspects of the community or network. This can include conducting qualitative interviews, surveys, observations, and reviewing existing documents. The goal is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the social systems, relationships, cultural context, and community dynamics. There are known questionnaires of the permaculture design process - social permaculture may use them too (adapted to the human aspect !
3. Analysis and Sensemaking. Once the information is collected, the fascinating analysis phase begins. It involves reviewing and synthesizing the collected data to identify patterns, trends, and interconnections within the social system. This can include examining power dynamics, communication flows, decision-making processes, and social norms. Sensemaking involves interpreting the data and identifying the underlying causes and drivers of social dynamics. What is enormously helpful is to visually display the collected data, to be able to see patterns and a more general picture.
4. Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses. Here you will focus on identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the social system. This includes recognizing the positive aspects, assets, and capacities of the community or organization, as well as areas that require improvement. It can involve SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) or other similar tools to identify key areas of focus.
5. Community Engagement. Engaging with the wider community or your working team is crucial in social permaculture diagnostics. This involves seeking input, feedback, and perspectives from various stakeholders, including community members, leaders, and relevant organizations. It can be done through workshops, focus groups, or participatory activities to ensure a diverse range of voices are heard.
6. Designing Interventions: Based on the analysis and community engagement, this phase focuses on designing interventions or strategies to address the identified challenges and leverage the strengths of the social system. The goal is to develop solutions that align with the principles of permaculture and promote social resilience, collaboration, and equity.
7. Implementation and Evaluation, Once the interventions are designed, they are implemented within the community, team or network. This phase involves monitoring the implementation process, collecting (as much as possible!) feedback, and evaluating the effectiveness of the interventions. It is important to continually adapt and refine the interventions based on the feedback received and the evolving needs of the social system.

It is worth noting that social permaculture diagnostics are often iterative and ongoing processes. As the community or organization evolves and new challenges arise, further diagnostic assessments may be necessary to inform future interventions and promote continuous improvement.

These phases provide a general framework for conducting diagnostic assessments in social permaculture. However, the specific steps and approaches may vary depending on the context, scale, and goals of the assessment.

4.2. Design Thinking

The first step of Design Thinking is typically referred to as "Empathize" or - in our case - "Understanding the Networker." It involves gaining a deep understanding of the people for whom you are designing a solution, their needs, and their challenges. This step focuses on developing empathy for the community members and networkers to ensure that the subsequent steps of the design process are centred around their needs.

During the "Empathize" step, designers aim to observe and engage with the networkers directly. This can be done through various methods, including:

1. Conducting interviews.
   You may engage in one-on-one interviews with members to gain insights into their experiences, preferences, and pain points. Open-ended questions are often used to encourage your interlocutors to share their thoughts and emotions freely. Here is the explanation of this type of question:
   https://www.questionpro.com/blog/what-are-open-ended-questions/
   
2. Participatory observations.
   You can observe members in their natural environments, such as their communities, workplaces, or specific contexts related to the challenge. This helps designers understand the context in which members operate and how they interact with existing solutions or situations.
3. Engaging in empathy-building activities.
   You may also engage in activities that help to immerse yourself in the members' experiences. This could include shadowing, role-playing, or using creative techniques like creating user personas or empathy maps.
   If you are more curious about the role-playing methods (they might be really fun and insightful!) we highly recommend a very comprehensive description of some techniques here: https://www.wikihow.com/Roleplay

The objective of the first step is to gather qualitative data and insights that go beyond surface-level observations. You should aim to understand the underlying motivations, behaviours, and emotions of the members. This understanding forms the foundation for designing solutions that truly meet humans' needs and provide value.

By empathizing with the community, you can uncover latent needs, unmet desires, and pain points that users may not even be fully aware of themselves. This step allows us to gain a human-centred perspective, shifting the focus from assumptions and preconceived notions to a deeper understanding of the users' world.

4.3. Hero's Journey

The hero's journey could add a transformative narrative to the diagnosis process. It might serve as a meta-level perspective, which brings more understanding of the "background" processes that may occur during conducting the diagnosis, but which we couldn't foresee.

The hero, in this case, represents the network undergoing a profound change or seeking improvement. The journey involves distinct stages:

When a Call to Adventure happens, members of the network recognize the need for change, improvement, or diagnosis. This could arise from challenges, performance issues, or a desire for growth. It might also appear shortly after that the members Refuse the Call. Initially, there might be resistance or hesitation to embrace the diagnosis process due to concerns about disruption, resources, or uncertainty. Unless... they are lucky enough to Meet with the Mentor, an experienced consultant, diagnostician, or leader who provides guidance, knowledge, and tools to aid the organization in navigating the diagnosis journey effectively. (The mentor might be the person who passed the Launch and Thrive learning material

Eventually, thanks to the help and ongoing adventures the network is Crossing the Threshold. The members commit to the diagnosis process, venturing into the unknown to uncover underlying issues, strengths, and opportunities. There are multitudes of Tests, Allies, and Enemies - Challenges and obstacles that emerge during the diagnosis. These could include resistance from within the network, data complexities, or identifying root causes. To overcome these challenges network needs to Approach the Inmost Cave: Members delve deeper into the diagnosis, confronting core issues that may have been previously overlooked or ignored. Getting awareness and raising understanding of the processes brings Ordeal and Transformation. It is a critical moment where the organization gains profound insights through the diagnosis process. This might involve confronting harsh truths, acknowledging weaknesses, or discovering untapped potential. Here comes... the Reward! Armed with newfound knowledge and insights from the diagnosis, the organization gains the tools needed for effective transformation, growth, or change. It leads to The Road Back. The network starts the journey back to its initial state, equipped with the diagnosis outcomes and strategies for improvement. Members who went through the diagnosis might bring the Resurrection to the wider network and other members of the network. It helps to undergo a significant change, incorporating the diagnosis findings to address challenges and capitalize on opportunities. Finally, testing the diagnosis and obtaining the feedback feels like a Return with the Elixir. The network emerges or becomes stronger from the diagnosis journey - transformed and improved. It brings back lessons, strategies, and changes that positively impact its functioning, culture, and success. It also shares the experience and the story with the other networks.

Integrating the hero's journey into the network diagnosis process adds a narrative element that can engage members, make the process more relatable, and emphasize the transformative nature of diagnosis and improvement.

4.4. Biomimicry Thinking

An interesting example might be Biomimicry Thinking.

Biomimicry might be found in the Permaculture design process, but as an approach, it inspired many researchers, designers and social changemakers as well as - of course - ecovillages.It offers a perspective on the placement, manner, substance, and rationale of integrating biomimicry into the assessment of networks and groups. Resembling a procedure, the Biomimicry model stands as a structure designed to aid individuals in the application of biomimicry to their creative endeavours. There exist four domains in which adopting a biomimicry approach brings the most significant benefits to the design process (regardless of the field it is incorporated in): defining the scope(scoping), unearthing ideas (discovering), generating concepts (creating), and assessing outcomes (evaluating). Adhering to the specified steps within each stage ensures the effective amalgamation of nature's strategies into human creations.

Graphic adapted from: https://biomimicry.net/the-buzz/resources/designlens-biomimicry-thinking/

An interesting application of biomimicry might be found here: https://doughnuteconomics.org/tools/217