Public Solutions Operating System

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The same kind of logic that powers our computers can power solutions to community problems!

Communities that have successfully resolved thorny problems —such as siting a new landfill, improving local health care, or cleaning up brownfields —underscore several important lessons about how to take on challenges:

  • One or two leaders from government or the community stepped up and convened their neighbors to solve the problem;
  • The leaders made sure to engage all those in the community with a stake in the issue;
  • Leaders found or created neutral territory where people could work together on the problem without feeling intimidated.

A closer examination of these problem-solving experiences reveals other characteristics that should work in almost any community. Taken together, these characteristics amount to an "operating system."

In computer terminology, an operating system is the logical process that allows for the sharing of resources (hardware, software, memory) so that tasks can be performed smoothly and stably. In public problem solving, this operating system allows for the sharing of leadership, time, ideas, and other resources (infrastructure, policies and practices, institutions) to address public issues.

Governments' traditional operating systems have relied on hierarchy and control in order to make, implement, and enforce policy to solve problems. Today, accelerating change, entrenched and overlapping political jurisdictions, and far more complex problems require a better operating system to meet our public challenges. This is not a matter of government reform, but of better "governance" — the combined efforts of public and private institutions and individual citizens to solve community problems with innovation, fairness, and integrity.

Once communities embrace a better operating system, the resulting network of people and institutions can be called on to tackle other problems.

Operating System Components

The operating system involves the following six steps with continuous feedback among them. While they work in sequence, they also work together. Without one component, system logic is lost. The components are:

  1. Sponsors identify and raise an issue or opportunity that calls for a collaborative response.
  2. Assessment is made on the feasibility for collaboration and who needs to be involved.
  3. Leader(s) convene all needed participants.
  4. Participants adopt this framework for addressing the issue.
  5. Conveners and participants frame (or reframe) the issue for deliberation.
  6. Neutral forum/facilitator designs and conducts a process to negotiate interests and integrate resources.
  7. Written agreement establishes accountability.

Notable aspects of this system include:

  • Engagement of all sectors of the community in problem solving
  • Emphasis on the role of convener for leaders
  • The need for credible, neutral forums such as universities, civic centers, or other places

This is an open source system. Those using the system can adapt it to respond to issues and challenges, as well as to take into account context and conditions, so long as the principles are adhered to.

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