Structure means “building”, a metaphor for making protective walls around safe rooms; roofs, guiding aisles and doors that can be opened, closed, locked and unlocked.
Decisions to really put an effort into such structures are critical and difficult and often omitted in favour of more low-hanging fruit. The result is often that the community does not have a solid “building” when it needs one, such as in cases of conflict.
Without adequate structures it can be difficult to live out the – even clear – intentions. To develop a governance structure that fits the intention of the project and serves both individuals and the community is therefore a crucial issue in project development. In this section methods that support selecting appropriate structures nurturing set intentions and reaching common decisions are introduced.
This method aims at supporting groups to develop a meta-perspective about their group from a CLIPS perspective. A typical example of the use of this method is the first day of a community meeting, dedicated to gain a deeper understanding of the issues of the community and at the same time understanding the importance of all 5 CLIPS layers.
An effective method to create a detailed plan of action for the group’s future.
Helping the group to create its own, unique and precious road map is a service of high value, and a solid ground for the group to start working again after a time of crisis.
A method to help groups orient their actions and understand their best strengths and weaknesses using Permaculture Principles in relation to the CLIPS model. Although it cuts across all layers, it is especially related to Community and Structure. The Social Permaculture & CLIPS Method is formed by parts 1 & 2, so the Orientation Table (Part 1) should be consulted and applied before the Assessment tool (Part 1).
Sociometry is often used in decision-making to get a clear picture of the current situation of the individuals within the community. It can support the decision-making process and is thus seen as part of the structure layer. Instead of giving a vote that consists of “Yes” or “No”, people signalize their position through a position in the room….
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