CONTENT INVENTORY: LS Network Guide
Total target: ~60 pages / ~30,000 words Updated: Legend: 🟢 Mostly exists (edit/adapt) · 🟡 Partial (mix of existing + new) · 🔴 New (write from scratch)
SUMMARY TABLE
| # | Section | Pages | Status | Est. Hours | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | 4 | 🔴 | 3.0 | 2 |
| 2 | Principle 1: Ditch the Tables | 2 | 🟢 | 2.0 | 2 |
| 3 | Principle 2: Nurture Relationships | 2 | 🟢 | 2.5 | 2 |
| 4 | Principle 3: Knowledge in the Room | 2 | 🟢 | 1.5 | 2 |
| 5 | Principle 4: Focus on What Matters | 2 | 🟢 | 2.0 | 2 |
| 6 | Principle 5: Think Portfolio | 2 | 🟢 | 2.0 | 2 |
| 7 | Case Study 1: Floodplains by Design | 8 | 🟢 | 3.0 | 3 |
| 8 | Case Study 2: Gender & Ag (INGENEAS) | 8 | 🔴 | 5.0 | 3 |
| 9 | Case Study 3: Fire Adapted Communities | 8 | 🟢 | 3.5 | 4 |
| 10 | Case Study 4: INGENEAS Symposium | 8 | 🟡 | 4.0 | 4 |
| 11 | Quick Start: Step 1 – Define Purpose | 1 | 🔴 | 1.0 | 5 |
| 12 | Quick Start: Step 2 – Select Structures | 1 | 🔴 | 1.0 | 5 |
| 13 | Quick Start: Step 3 – Prepare | 1 | 🔴 | 1.0 | 5 |
| 14 | Quick Start: Step 4 – Facilitate | 1 | 🔴 | 1.0 | 5 |
| 15 | Quick Start: Step 5 – Follow Up | 1 | 🔴 | 1.0 | 5 |
| 16 | Quick Start: Step 6 – Debrief | 1 | 🔴 | 1.0 | 5 |
| 17 | Session Template A: Half-Day | 2 | 🔴 | 2.0 | 5 |
| 18 | Session Template B: Full-Day | 2 | 🔴 | 2.0 | 5 |
| 19 | Session Template C: 90-Min Online | 1 | 🔴 | 1.0 | 5 |
| 20 | LS Cheat Sheet | 2 | 🟡 | 2.0 | 5 |
| 21 | Checklists | 1 | 🔴 | 1.0 | 5 |
| 22 | Visual Templates | 2 | 🔴 | 2.0 | 5 |
| 23 | Conclusion | 1 | 🔴 | 0.5 | 5 |
| 24 | About the Author | 1 | 🟡 | 0.5 | 5 |
| TOTAL | ~62 | ~46.5 hrs |
SECTION DETAILS
1. Introduction
Status: 🔴 New Pages: ~4 · Est. hours: 3.0 · Week: 2
What it needs:
- The problem with how networks typically gather (presentations dominating)
- Why LS is different — and why it works for networks specifically
- How to use this guide
- Brief preview of the four cases
Source material:
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Portfolio-Principles-Original — "What my clients have been asking for..." opening sets the tone
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Floodplains-Original — framing around technical networks and "fluffy" pushback
- Nancy's lived experience — needs fresh writing
Notes: Set the hook here. The "boring meetings, poor process and feeble results" line from Portfolio-Principles is a gift — consider using it.
2. Principle 1: Ditch the Tables
Status: 🟢 Mostly exists Pages: ~2 · Est. hours: 2.0 · Week: 2
What it needs:
- Expand the Floodplains blog point into a full principle
- Add the "why it works" explanation beyond just the Floodplains example
- Connections to other LS contexts (virtual settings?)
Source material:
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Floodplains-Original — Point 1 "Ditch the tables": concentric circles, removing barriers, conversational sound level
- 02-Templates/Chapter-Template for structure
Notes: The blog has the concrete scene (people walking in, coats to the side, "what is happening?"). That vivid detail is already there — just needs expansion into principle + rationale.
3. Principle 2: Nurture Relationships
Status: 🟢 Mostly exists Pages: ~2 · Est. hours: 2.5 · Week: 2
What it needs:
- CoP three-legged stool (community, domain, practice) as the framework
- Why technical fields default to skipping community
- Impromptu Networking as the vehicle
Source material:
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Floodplains-Original — Point 2: CoP legs, Impromptu Networking, "TEAMS, people, TEAMS!"
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Fire-Adapted-Original — CoP perspective section (Wenger-Trayner, domain/community/practice)
Notes: Two posts speak directly to this. Fire Adapted gives the theoretical grounding (Wenger-Trayner), Floodplains gives the practical application. Strong material.
4. Principle 3: Knowledge in the Room
Status: 🟢 Mostly exists Pages: ~2 · Est. hours: 1.5 · Week: 2
What it needs:
- "The knowledge is in the room" as a design philosophy
- Shift & Share mechanics and variations (the "poderator" model)
- Vote-with-your-feet as a signal of distributed agency
Source material:
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Floodplains-Original — Point 3: Shift and Share, poderators, 5-min talks + 10-min Q&A, pod affinity observation
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/INGENEAS-Original — Shift & Share and Share Fair in academic context
Notes: The observation about people sticking to a single pod and developing "affinity" is a small but human detail worth keeping. Don't lose it in the edit.
5. Principle 4: Focus on What Matters
Status: 🟢 Mostly exists Pages: ~2 · Est. hours: 2.0 · Week: 2
What it needs:
- Voluntary networks and the trap of endless addition
- TRIZ as the counterintuitive stop-doing tool
- 15% Solution as the individual agency complement
Source material:
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Floodplains-Original — Points 4 & 5: TRIZ, "elephant in the room" dynamics, 15% solution, agency to stop vs. start
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/INGENEAS-Original — TRIZ in academic context (Day 2)
Notes: Nancy's honest observation that TRIZ "baffled some people" and still worked is important — it models realistic facilitation, not idealized. Keep that candor.
6. Principle 5: Think Portfolio
Status: 🟢 Mostly exists Pages: ~2 · Est. hours: 2.0 · Week: 2
What it needs:
- Portfolio vs. project thinking (the NGO grant cycle critique)
- Ecocycle as the portfolio tool
- Safe-fail experimentation language
Source material:
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Portfolio-Principles-Original — "A Portfolio Perspective" section: Rachel Cardone origin story, Cynefin, NGO narrative critique, "holy pair of impact and scaling up and out"
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Fire-Adapted-Original — Ecocycle section of the strategy gameplan
Notes: The critique of NGO grant cycles ("totally artificial three year grant funding cycle... so why aren't all our problems solved?") is sharp and honest. This is Nancy's voice at its best.
7. Case Study 1: Floodplains by Design
Status: 🟢 Mostly exists Pages: ~8 · Est. hours: 3.0 · Week: 3
What it needs:
- Adapt blog post into case study template format
- Build out the full timeline table
- Add context/stakes section (the "why they engaged you" backstory)
- Get/find photos
Source material:
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Floodplains-Original — Full verbatim post, 7 principles with detail
- 01-Source-Material/Images/Floodplains/ — 3 images: visual notes, 2 workshop photos
Notes: This is the richest blog post. The seven principles map directly to the guide's structure — consider whether this case study should come after the principles section to show them in action together. Named facilitators (Heather, Carol, Courtney, Leah) — check whether to include or anonymize.
8. Case Study 2: Gender & Agriculture
Status: 🔴 New Pages: ~8 · Est. hours: 5.0 · Week: 3
What it needs:
- Self-interview (record + transcribe, ~1.5 hrs)
- Write case from interview using template (~3.5 hrs)
- Permission email to client
- Timeline table
- Emphasis on portfolio mapping story
Source material:
- Nancy's memory and notes — no existing blog post
- 02-Templates/Case-Study-Template for structure
Notes: This is the highest-effort section and the only one requiring client permission. Start permission email early (Week 1 or 2) — don't wait until Week 3. The portfolio mapping story is flagged as the unique angle for this case.
9. Case Study 3: Fire Adapted Communities
Status: 🟢 Mostly exists Pages: ~8 · Est. hours: 3.5 · Week: 4
What it needs:
- Adapt 2-post blog series into case study template
- Build 3-day timeline visual (noted as its own task)
- Strategy Gameplan section — explain the visual tool
- Flesh out "turning points" section
Source material:
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Fire-Adapted-Original — Full Part 2 post: 3-day retreat, 5 anchor questions, structures per question, Kanban, turning points
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Portfolio-Principles-Original — Part 1 rationale; CoP perspective framing
- 01-Source-Material/Images/Fire-Adapted/ — 4 images: FAC photo, strategy gameplan, LS strategy visual, Kanban board
Notes: This case demonstrates the most sophisticated LS use (3-day string, Ecocycle, strategic planning). The "be warned" paragraph about creative destruction is important — keep it. The W3 debrief at the end of the blog is itself a model of the structure.
10. Case Study 4: INGENEAS Global Symposium
Status: 🟡 Partial Pages: ~8 · Est. hours: 4.0 · Week: 4
What it needs:
- Combine main INGENEAS post + follow-up post into one case
- The academic/institutional legitimacy tensions need expanding
- Andrea Bohn's follow-up email is usable content — get permission to reproduce
- Find/confirm additional blog references mentioned in task list
- International angle (Lusaka, global participants, jet lag detail)
Source material:
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/INGENEAS-Original — Full verbatim post including Andrea's follow-up email
- 01-Source-Material/Images/INGENEAS/ — 3 images: 2 symposium photos, TNC LS sequence visual
- Task list notes "pull from multiple blog references" — identify which posts
Notes: Andrea Bohn is named and her email is quoted at length — confirm permission to use. The three debrief tensions (control, time, legitimacy) are the intellectual heart of this case and distinguish it from the others.
11–16. Quick Start Steps (1–6)
Status: 🔴 New Pages: ~1 each · Est. hours: 1.0 each · Week: 5
| Step | Title | Key content needed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Define Purpose | Purpose question framing; "What demands change?" |
| 2 | Select Structures | How to choose from the LS menu; matching to purpose |
| 3 | Prepare | Room setup, materials, briefing your team |
| 4 | Facilitate | In-the-moment principles; adapting on the fly |
| 5 | Follow Up | The Andrea Bohn model; recap emails; next steps |
| 6 | Debrief | W3 with your team; what to capture |
Source material:
- All four blog posts for examples and quotes
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Fire-Adapted-Original — most detailed on preparation and facilitation decisions
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/INGENEAS-Original — Step 5 model (Andrea's follow-up email)
Notes: Step 2 is not explicitly listed in the Master Task List — added here as the logical gap between "define purpose" and "prepare." Confirm whether to include or fold into Step 1 or 3.
17–19. Session Templates (A, B, C)
Status: 🔴 New Pages: 2 / 2 / 1 · Est. hours: 2.0 / 2.0 / 1.0 · Week: 5
| Template | Format | Key content needed |
|---|---|---|
| A: Half-Day | ~3–4 hrs | Sample string, timing, room setup notes |
| B: Full-Day | ~6–8 hrs | Sample string, breaks, energy management |
| C: 90-Min Online | 90 min | Virtual-specific considerations, tech setup |
Source material:
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Floodplains-Original — one-day format reference
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Fire-Adapted-Original — three-day format; Kanban as session management tool
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/INGENEAS-Original — multi-day academic format
Notes: Template C (online) has no direct blog post source — draw from Nancy's broader experience. Virtual facilitation is a distinct challenge worth a real note or two, not just "use the same structures on Zoom."
20. LS Cheat Sheet
Status: 🟡 Partial Pages: ~2 · Est. hours: 2.0 · Week: 5
What it needs:
- Quick reference for each LS used in the guide (not all 33)
- Name, purpose, group size, time, best for networks
Source material:
- www.liberatingstructures.com — each structure has a page
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/INGENEAS-Original — Andrea's email lists structures with URLs; good starting checklist
- All four blog posts — structures referenced in context
Notes: Prioritize the ~12–15 structures actually used across the four cases rather than all 33. The INGENEAS follow-up email is essentially a draft of this.
21. Checklists
Status: 🔴 New Pages: ~1 · Est. hours: 1.0 · Week: 5
What it needs:
- Pre-event checklist (room, materials, tech)
- Day-of checklist (facilitator reminders)
- Post-event checklist (follow-up, debrief, harvest)
Source material:
- Synthesize from all four case studies
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Fire-Adapted-Original — Kanban model suggests checklist structure
22. Visual Templates
Status: 🔴 New Pages: ~2 · Est. hours: 2.0 · Week: 5
What it needs:
- Blank Strategy Gameplan template
- Blank Ecocycle template
- Session flow diagram template
Source material:
- 01-Source-Material/Images/Fire-Adapted/strategygameplanwecocycle.jpg — Nancy's actual gameplan visual
- 01-Source-Material/Images/Fire-Adapted/FACKANBAN.jpg — Kanban model
- May need Canva work (Week 5–6 design phase)
Notes: These are likely Canva deliverables, not Obsidian writing. Flag for design phase.
23. Conclusion
Status: 🔴 New Pages: ~1 · Est. hours: 0.5 · Week: 5
What it needs:
- Callback to the introduction's opening problem
- Invitation to keep going / join the LS community
- Connection to Keith's book
Source material:
- Synthesize from all four blog posts — Nancy's own voice is the source
- 01-Source-Material/Blog-Posts/Portfolio-Principles-Original — "Work, learning, doing –> all is ready for liberation" is a strong closer
24. About the Author
Status: 🟡 Partial Pages: ~1 · Est. hours: 0.5 · Week: 5
What it needs:
- Bio, focus areas, contact/website
- Photo
Source material:
- fullcirc.com — existing bio
- Nancy's existing materials
PERMISSIONS TRACKER
| Item | Who to contact | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gender/Ag case study | Client (name?) | ⬜ Not started | Send email Week 1–2, don't wait |
| Andrea Bohn email (INGENEAS) | Andrea Bohn | ⬜ Not started | Email reproduced in full — confirm OK |
| Named facilitators (Floodplains) | Heather, Carol, Courtney, Leah | ⬜ Not started | Blog post is public; confirm comfort with case study |
| Keith coordination | Keith McCandless | ⬜ Not started | Book timing + donation mechanics |
OPEN QUESTIONS
- [ ] Is Step 2 (Select Structures) its own Quick Start step, or folded into Step 1 or 3?
- [ ] Which additional blog posts does the INGENEAS case need? ("pull from multiple blog references" in task list)
- [ ] Do the Visual Templates get created in Obsidian or go straight to Canva?
- [ ] Should Case Study 1 (Floodplains) come after the Principles section, as a capstone showing all five in action?
- [ ] Named facilitators in Floodplains post — include or anonymize?
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