Level Playing Field Theory.
How level playing fields can change the world.
Good Social Design Creates Level Playing Fields where Everyone Plays a Role.
We live in a world that struggles to capitalise on its inherent ability to bring people together around shared objectives and responsibilities.
Instead, we have allowed a top-down hierarchical approach to dominate that is unnatural and counterintuitive in the real world.
When it comes to generating better solutions to our most pressing social problems a hierarchical approach can be highly counterproductive.
It limits our ability to learn from our mistakes.
It mismanages resources.
It hoards power and will not share it.
It creates inequality.
It creates gaps in our social systems.
Social mobility in this context is a myth.
Social innovation lacks impact.
War and civil unrest are symptomatic.
It believes that collateral damage is acceptable.
It believes itself to be beyond reproach.
It ignores the evidence.
Yet is there a more effective way to carry out our aims and objectives and fulfil our responsibilities?
The Level Playing Field Theory looks to readdress this imbalance in very simple terms and to remind the world of it’s true capacity to manage change, and it’s impact is already present in the world.
Let’s work together to create a new design culture.
“What is missing from the policy analyst’s tool kit - and from the set of accepted, well-developed theories of human organisation - is an adequately specified theory of collective action whereby a group of principals can organise themselves voluntarily to retain the residuals of their own efforts.”
Elinor Olstrom
The Unwritten Rules of Level Playing Field Theory
It’s not hard to recognise Level Playing Field Theory in action
We meet in the middle
Because hierarchy can be so damaging, people meet in the middle. It is symbolic.
We have a clear, shared goal or challenge to achieve
Any goal or objective needs to be clear. People often use the acronym, SMART. It says things need to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time Specific. Whatever brings people into the middle it needs to be focused.
Everyone has a role to play
Everyone will always have a role to play. Some will carry greater expertise at any one time but finding time to teach others will make you better at what you do.
Some of us have a greater level of responsibility
Many of us carry various responsibilities, some are vast and challenging but Level Playing Field Theory requires us to be transparent about this so others know what is on the table. Actually, if done well, everyone present will ensure you can meet the expectations placed on you as this forms part of the challenge - to ensure everyone can meet their obligations.
Everyone should be open to learning from each other (learning relationships)
Learning Relationships are a foundational part of Level Playing Field Theory. It means every interaction requires us to listen and share what we know.
The arrangement is always temporary
People come together around a specific challenge. Whether it is putting up a new building, responding to a disaster or coming together to try and find better solutions to a pressing social issue it will always be a temporary arrangement.
The Power of Learning Relationships
At the heart of Level Playing Field Theory are real people living real lives in a real world. Life can be very hard and things can change very quickly, and we need to create better opportunities to connect. Learning Relationships can be healing. Many believe we are designed to be social.
Co-regulation.
“Childhood trauma is relational trauma… you can’t heal relational trauma by yourself. It has to be healed in relation.”
Joyelle Brandt
We can already see the theory at work across the globe.
See how in a crisis we bypass the hierarchical approach to really get things done.
Sometimes we come together to take on a pressing issue in our community in a more organised and systematic way. We also design our social products as level playing fields.
During the Covid-19 epidemic we created a Level Playing Field to explore solutions. We actually bypassed many of the rules created by the hierarchical system to make it work.
All around the world people come together to help people build their own homes. Everyone gains from sharing in this way. You will often see this level playing field cropping up across the globe.
We also come together and organise ourselves around environmental issues. Whilst we expect mainstream systems to resolve things we’ll often just act ourselves to much greater effect.
Necessity
By design
Compassion
Frustration
So, what are the ideal circumstances to trigger a Level Playing Field?
Necessity.
Because circumstances are urgent and require a quick and collective response. We try to use the top-down systems but are quickly reminded that they are ineffective and will not enable us to make the difference we desperately need to make. We shift very quickly away from them and bypass them without recourse. But in time, once we have met our objectives, things go back to the way they were.
Compassion.
There are times in our lives and our world when people come together out of compassion to help others. Again, we bypass the damaging effects of our hierarchical systems and reach out to others when and where it really matters.
Frustration.
Sometimes we are so fed up with governments and local systems around the world that start doing things our own way.
By Design.
If we chose to, we can create the conditions for Level Playing Fields to thrive. Welcome to Latitude.
Latitude and finding applications for the Level Playing Field Theory.
At Latitude we look to create social products that act as Level Playing Fields by design.
How do mainstream hierarchical systems respond to level playing fields?
According to Level Playing Field Theory, level playing fields present no challenge to hierarchical systems. You can embed new processes and ideas into them because they have huge blind spots.
But it is common to challenge mainstream systems head-on to try and insist they manage change and find solutions because they hold the resources. But they don’t respond very well to this - in fact, they can’t make those changes! Only Level Playing Fields can.
