Our values & principles

Our core values and principles are the foundation of our approach to the work we do with people and organizations.

"<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/58827557@N06/37056877150">In the Balance</a>" by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/58827557@N06/">Clint Budd</a>, here slightly cropped, is licensed via <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">CC BY 2.0</a>.
In the Balance” by Clint Budd, here slightly cropped, is licensed via CC BY 2.0.

Agile

Take smaller steps more quickly. Seek input. Adjust. Reengage.

Contextual

Connect with context — both local and global.

Experiential

Prefer experiential activities.

Human-Centered

Focus on real human activities and needs.

Inclusive

Prioritize everyone’s participation.

Interoperable

Presume integration.

Localizable

Shape activities and practices to be relevant and practical in different environments.

Measureable

Build evaluation into practices from the start as integrated, authentic activities.

Modular

Design and share for reuse in parts.

Non-Duplicative

Don’t reinvent wheels.

Open

When appropriate: Publish (eg, materials, practices, technologies) with open licensing in formats that facilitate access, retention, reuse, revision, remixing, and redistribution with reference and credit to origins.

Participatory

Shape efforts with broad input and have effective mechanisms to incorporate new participants.

Reproducible/Reusable

Support broad reuse and revision. 

Simple

Build from the bottom, up, following principles for coherence rather than trying to define coherence first and build from the top, down.

Sustainable

Design for sustainability from the start. Match activities to resources. Augment instead of extract.

Transparent

Work openly. Show your work.