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Diagnostics — Integration Guide

The Core Model defines the structural foundation of cooperation.
Extended Human Dynamics describes the human and political forces that shape how cooperation is experienced.
System Modes define how we act on the system over time.

The Diagnostics section — starting with this Integration Guide — explains how to use these three parts of HCS together in a coherent way.

It is not a new model.
It is a navigation pattern that keeps:

  • the Core Model clean and universal,
  • Extended Dynamics grounded in structure rather than personality or vague “culture”,
  • System Modes anchored in real observations rather than wishful thinking.

The goal is to make cooperation understandable and actionable without oversimplifying human systems.

The Integration Principle: The 3-Lens Check

To diagnose any cooperative system, you must locate it in Time, Structure, and Experience.
Use this algorithm in order.

Step 1: Locate in Time (System Mode)

Question:
"What is the dominant activity required right now?"

  • Are we designing? (Setup)
  • Are we repairing? (Stabilization)
  • Are we optimizing? (Growth)
  • Are we fighting/unsafe? (Conflict)
  • Are we questioning our existence? (Reset)

Why start here? Because fixing a "Role" (Structure) is useless if the team is in "Conflict" and refuses to speak to each other.

Step 2: Locate in Structure (Core Model)

Question:
"What mechanism is broken or missing?"

  • Use the Pyramid to find the level (1–3).
  • Use the Matrix to find the specific function (e.g., Coordination, Feedback, Purpose).

Why do this second?
This is your "mechanical" baseline. Most "people problems" are actually just invisible structural gaps.

Step 3: Locate in Experience (Extended Dynamics)

Question:
"Why is the repair being resisted?"

  • Is there a political blocker? (Extended Conditions)
  • Is there a lack of safety or belonging? (Extended Needs)
  • Is the "Shadow System" overriding the formal rules?

Why do this last?
Use this to explain friction, not to explain mechanics.

The Cross-Contamination Risks

The biggest failure in diagnosis comes from using the wrong lens for the problem.

Error Definition Signal (What you hear) The Fix
Psychologizing Structure Blaming a person's "personality" for a structural gap. "Bob is power-hungry." (Reality: Bob has no clear decision rights, so he grabs them). Fix the Role (Level 2). Don't coach Bob yet.
Bureaucratizing Trust Trying to fix a lack of safety/trust with more process. "People aren't being honest. Let's make them fill out a 'Honesty Form' every week." Fix the Relation (Conflict Mode). Stop adding forms.
Ignoring the Mode Applying "Growth" tools to a "Stabilization" problem. "We are drowning in bugs, so let's adopt the Spotify Model!" Stabilize First. Simplify, don't scale.

Integration by System Mode

Here is how the 3 Lenses interact within each specific mode:

In Setup Mode

  • The Goal: Design the Structure (Core) to meet the Needs (Extended).
  • Integration Action: "We know this team has low trust history (Extended), so we will design very explicit decision rules (Core) to reduce anxiety."

In Stabilization Mode

  • The Goal: Repair the Structure (Core) while respecting the Friction (Extended).
  • Integration Action: "The 'Planning' function (Core) is broken. People are resisting fixing it because they fear accountability (Extended). We will start with a 'safe-to-fail' experiment to lower fear."

In Growth Mode

  • The Goal: Expand the Structure (Core) to feed Growth Needs (Extended).
  • Integration Action: "The team craves Mastery (Extended). We will decentralize decision rights (Core) to give them room to grow."

In Conflict Mode

  • The Goal: Contain the Structure (Core) to heal the Relation (Extended).
  • Integration Action: "The structure is technically fine, but safety is zero (Extended). We will pause the 'Process Improvement' work and focus purely on 'Listening' until safety returns."

In Reset Mode

  • The Goal: Dissolve the Structure (Core) to honor the Reality (Extended).
  • Integration Action: "The market has changed (Extended Condition). We must declare the old Purpose (Core) dead so we can build a new one."

Summary

The Integration Guide is your safety check.
Before interfering in a human system, ask:

  1. Is this the right Time? (Mode)
  2. Is the Machine working? (Structure)
  3. Are the Humans safe/willing? (Dynamics)

Only when you have an answer for all three can you move to the Diagnostic Workflow.