Glossary
The Human Cooperation System (HCS) defines a shared language for describing cooperative work systems.
This glossary serves as the legal dictionary for the system, preventing the drift of meaning that causes most organizational confusion.
It supports consistency across:
Core System Terms
| Term |
Meaning |
Disambiguation (Don't confuse with...) |
| Human Cooperation System (HCS) |
The operating system of cooperation. It describes the "physics" of how alignment, trust, and adaptation function structurally. |
Not "HR Policy" or "Culture Deck." It is a mechanical description of work, not a list of values. |
| Core Model |
The structural heart of HCS: the Matrix and Pyramid. It defines the minimum viable requirements for cooperation. |
Not "The Whole System." It ignores politics/feelings to focus on structure. |
| Matrix |
The 5×5 map crossing Conditions (vertical) with Needs (horizontal). Each cell is a Function. |
Not a "Maturity Model." You don't "graduate" from the Matrix; you maintain it. |
| Pyramid |
The dependency model (Levels 1–5). Shows that higher functions (Coordination) depend on lower foundations (Purpose). |
Not "Hierarchy." Level 1 is not "lower status," it is "foundational importance." |
| Level Rule |
The law: "You cannot stabilize a system by fixing a level above the lowest unstable level." |
Not "Waterfall." You can work on all levels, but you must stabilize bottom-up. |
| Encapsulation |
Reducing interdependence by creating strict boundaries and interfaces. (Good for scale/stability). |
Not "Silos." Encapsulation is intentional/strategic; Silos are accidental/toxic. |
| Integration |
Managing interdependence by aligning meaning and negotiation. (Good for complexity/innovation). |
Not "Meetings." Integration is about shared consciousness, not just talking. |
Extended Dynamics Terms
| Term |
Meaning |
Disambiguation |
| Extended Human Dynamics |
The study of how political and psychological forces distort the Core Model in reality. |
Not "Soft Skills." These are hard constraints (power, fear) that block structure. |
| Political Field |
The force field of power, legitimacy, and resource control. It answers "Who can really stop this?" |
Not "Office Politics." It is the physics of authority, whether formal or informal. |
| Psychological Field |
The force field of safety, identity, and belonging. It answers "Is it safe to be here?" |
Not "Therapy." It focuses on systemic conditions for safety, not personal pathology. |
| Collective Condition |
A pattern that exists regardless of the individuals (e.g., "This team punishes failure"). |
Not "Individual Attitude." You cannot fix this by firing one person. |
| Individual Need |
What a specific person requires to engage (e.g., "I need autonomy"). |
Not "Entitlement." Valid human requirements for motivation. |
System Modes
| Term |
Core Question |
Distinction |
| Setup Mode |
"What must be true before we start?" |
Not just "Kickoff." It is architectural design of the social contract. |
| Stabilization Mode |
"How do we make normal work reliable?" |
Not "optimization." It is about stopping the bleeding/chaos. |
| Growth Mode |
"How do we extend autonomy and speed?" |
Not "Scaling." Growth is about capacity; Scaling is about size. |
| Conflict Mode |
"How do we restore safety and truth?" |
Not "Fighting." It is a safe container for dangerous truths. |
| Reset Mode |
"Does this system still have a reason to exist?" |
Not "Pivot." A Pivot changes strategy; a Reset questions the existence of the team. |
Diagnostic Vocabulary
Terms used specifically in the Diagnostic Workflow and Integration Guide.
| Term |
Definition |
| Structural Hypothesis Contract (SHC) |
The mandatory exit artifact of an HCS diagnosis. It defines the Problem, the Structural Move, and the Falsification Criteria. HCS authority stops here; execution begins after. |
| Structural Move |
The specific category of intervention required to fix a function. The 5 moves are: Decouple, Couple, Explicate, Sanction, Dampen. |
| Falsification Criteria |
The specific, observable signal that determines if the SHC was wrong. If this signal does not change, the diagnosis is falsified. |
| Lowest Unstable Level |
The deepest point in the Pyramid where the system is failing. (e.g., If Purpose (L1) is unclear, that is the LUL, even if Planning (L3) is also messy). |
| Video Camera Rule |
The discipline of recording only observable facts (Step 1 of Diagnosis) before adding interpretation. |
| The Shadow System |
The informal network of influence and decision-making that overrides the formal Org Chart. |
| Function vs. Practice |
Function = What the system needs to do (e.g., Coordinate). Practice = How we do it (e.g., Standup). Never confuse the two. |
| Zombie Cooperation |
A state where the "contract" is dead (no purpose/trust) but people keep going through the motions. Requires Reset. |
Relationships to Other Frameworks
| Term |
HCS Perspective |
| 3SF (3-in-3) |
A delivery framework. HCS provides the operating system that makes 3SF possible. |
| Agile / Scrum |
Level 4 Practices. They fail if Level 1 (Purpose) or Level 2 (Trust) are missing. HCS explains why Agile fails. |
| Psychological Safety |
A Level 2 Condition (Safety). HCS locates it structurally, so it's not just a "feeling" but a system requirement. |
| Systems Thinking |
The parent discipline of HCS. HCS is Systems Thinking applied specifically to the problem of working together. |
Common Distinctions (The "Not That" List)
Use this table to correct category errors.
| Concept A |
Concept B |
The Difference |
| Cooperation |
Collaboration |
Cooperation = The system of alignment/trust (The "Physics"). Collaboration = The act of working together (The "Activity"). HCS governs the physics. |
| Trust |
Safety |
Trust = "I predict you will do what you say." Safety = "I predict I won't be hurt if I speak up." You can have Trust without Safety (e.g., in a rigid army). |
| Authority |
Power |
Authority = The right to decide (Formal). Power = The ability to mobilize/stop action (Actual). HCS Diagnostics look for Power. |
| Symptom |
Root Cause |
Symptom = "Meetings suck." Root Cause = "We lack Shared Understanding (Level 2)." |
Reference Purpose
This glossary exists to:
- keep diagnostic conversations grounded and precise,
- prevent "concept creep" (where words lose their meaning),
- and bridge the gap between structural design (The Matrix) and human reality (Dynamics).