The Wisdom Web

When to use it

Use for a group project, a shared plan, or a choice involving several constraints and affected people.

How to use it

1. Write one decision in the center, narrow enough to act on. “Choose a demonstration for Friday” works better than “Make our project perfect.”

2. Add branches for options, people affected, available time, materials, evidence, and constraints. Keep facts and questions visibly different, using labels or line styles rather than relying on color.

3. Invite each participant to add information. Ask quieter members directly whether a branch is missing. Record disagreements accurately instead of erasing one view to create an appearance of agreement.

4. For each option, add a possible benefit, a cost or risk, and the evidence supporting both. Identify dependencies: an appealing idea may require permission or equipment that is not yet available.

5. Agree on a small number of decision criteria, then compare the options against the same criteria. A large cluster of notes is not a vote and does not show which evidence is strongest.

6. Choose the next step and a person responsible. Preserve unresolved questions with a check date. Update the web when new information arrives rather than treating the first draft as a final verdict.

A worked example

A practical illustration of the method.

Invented example: A team considers a garden model, a poster, and a live demonstration. The web shows that the demonstration needs an unavailable room, while the model fits the deadline and lets each member contribute. The team selects the model and records the room constraint rather than declaring demonstrations bad projects.

Use it thoughtfully

Letting the loudest person write everyone’s view.

Mistaking quantity of notes for quality of evidence.

Finishing the map without choosing a concrete next action.

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