Diagnostic Methods

Conflicts, problems and tensions form a natural part of the life of a group project and we only have a few social tools to manage them in a positive way. This method is one among others; from the CLIPS framework. It proposes to listen, collect and order the information that the conflict is contributing to. Allowing to observe it from different layers, feelings, needs and fears, searching a way to new options.

The main goal of this method is to use the Mat to learn about the clips model and to put it at the service of a group project. The Mat serves as a symbolic representation of the project to be worked on. Placed on the ground, it takes strength and identity. This representation encourages play and participation through other symbolic elements like stones, seeds, branches, leaves, etc. that are already in the place, creating a space of deep connection of the participants with their common project and with the facilitators.

Tensions can be seen as a piece of emergent information at a given time. A group project will go through situations with tension as part of a changing, growing, and learning process. This method allows collecting information by observing the group scenario as a force field, where the different vectors push in opposite directions. This facilitates the next step: to define which proposals can be developed in order to improve the group field and process.

The term 'Collegial Coaching' is widely used in social enterprises to target issues of importance to one person for which this person seeks advice from their peers. The method has been adapted in a way that while coaching, the CLIPS model. is brought in as a reference. It could be typically applied at the end of an introduction to the CLIPS-model,and can be used with any audience that is familiar with the CLIPS model.

We have developed a CLIPS-Self-Assessment-Tool to help groups to analyze their own group. It is a questionnaire that can be found on the internet and completed online or on the computer. But the result of the questionnaire doesn't tell "the truth" about a project - this is important to bear in mind!

A method to help groups orient their actions and understand their strengths and weaknesses using the Permaculture Principles in relation to the CLIPS model. The Assessment Tool cuts across all the CLIPS layers, and is a diagnostic tool that completes the Social Permaculture & CLIPS Method and should therefore be used after the Orientation Table in part 1).

SWOT is used in CLIPS as a diagnostic method, to assess the state of a project - and realize new potentials. It is a known tool, used in both companies and organisations, when laying out strategies.

These cards are produced by the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN Education), here contextualized to CLIPS. They can be used to map motivations for group members, to map skills and learning needs of group members and to search for a common intention for a group. A workshop of 1,5 hours.