About

How it works

SOS is designed for Groups working together to solve complex Issues, using a series of simple logic steps.

Step #1: Group members need to first register.

Step #2: One (or more) Member can then create a Group.

Step #3: Other Group Members can then apply to join the new Group by navigating to Groups, clicking on the Group name and clicking the link "Apply to join [Group name] Group".

Step #4: Other existing Group Members can then approve the new membership.

Step #5: Any Member can create a Skein to hold all the Issues, Causes, Effects, Rating and Comments - plus any Proposals and Decisions that Members make.

Get to work! Once the first Issue has been added, Members can add Causes and Effects of that (and any other Issue).

All Causes, Issues, Effects, Proposals and Decisions are classed as POIs - Points of Interest is one way of looking at these elements. POIs are effectively "Nodes" in a Graph database diagram. The links between POIs are known as "edges". See Wikipedia - Graph Database for more explanation.

SOS: a Skein of Skeins.

A Skein of causation is much like a chain of causation. The term has been used before in this context, so it is not new.
We use the term "Skein" because it more accurately describes how Skeins are not just straight lines but have many "threads" that join and depart from any one Skein. Skeins can also be linked together to create a "tapestry".

The SOS concept owes a great deal to many other concepts such as:

Open Space Technology. Wikipedia
Related methodologies, such as:
Draw toast. drawtoast.com
Bohm Dialogue. Wikipedia
World Cafe. theworldcafe.com
Six Thinking Hats. Wikipedia
Systems theory. Wikipedia
Critical thinking. Wikipedia
The Wisdom of the Whys. Why it is wise to keep asking "why?". There are many versions, including:
Socratic questioning. Wikipedia
The 3 Whys. inc.com
Five whys. Wikipedia
Other methodologies such as:
Ishikawa diagram. Wikipedia
Single, double and triple loop thinking. managementhelp.org and The open University
Root Cause Analysis. mindtools.com
Causal Chain Analysis. Thwink.org
Causal Chain Inference. Wikipedia
Fuzzy Cognitive Map. Wikipedia
Graph databases. Wikipedia Such as:
Kumu
Neo4j
yEd from yWorks
Why-because analysis. Wikipedia
Decision making in general:
6 Steps. codot.gov
7 Steps. lucidchart.com
8 Steps. bsujournalismworkshops.com
Flow charts. iMindQ.com
KIALO. kialo.com