[4] The Four Rules
The Four Rules is a version of [4] The Quad frame — the fourth systems shape of Semantic Ontology Framework (SOF). The Four Rules outline a sequence of principles — each applied to a specific step in the growth cycle of the Quad — that should govern the management of human systems.
Rules
The Four Rules should be applied in sequence — each corresponding to a step in the growth cycle represented by the Quad — as follows:
- People over systems: Always make room and empower people to allow their human capacity and sovereignty to emerge.
- Respect the system, but don’t get entangled: Respect and acknowledge the tension in the system, but use it creatively and collaboratively to grow new potential.
- Create simple, shareable, revelatory improvements: Distill contributions for mobility with a core of human identity and wrap it in something tasty and beneficial. Design [3] Seed-Change that catalyses sea-change.
- Invest your change as broadly as possible: Spread the fruit of your contribution as far as possible with as few barriers as possible and expect it to evolve as it takes root and grows in new places.
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Origin
The Four Rules were developed based on The Hacker Ethic, adapted by Chris Castiglione from the earlier 1984 book Hackers by Steve Levy. Steve Levy’s book contains 6 tenents of a “hacker ethic” that Castiglione condensed into four.
The Four Rules, which eventually gave rise to [4] The Quad, were first articulated in the ebook Squared and the conference talk “Vision Can Do Anything” by Ben Cheek in 2012 when he was part of the GoAheadLaunch start-up consultancy. During the research and writing for the book, a strong correlation was discovered between the four rules of The Hacker Ethic and the ethical teachings and demonstrations of Jesus.