This document discusses the concept of "Communities of Trust" and how they can be built through cooperation rather than regulation or standardization. It outlines three levels that structure work - contracts, processes/tools, and individuals/interactions. While regulation and standardization aim to increase security and confidence, cooperation is needed to build trust at the team level. The document draws parallels between cooperation in human and animal societies, discussing concepts like reciprocal altruism. It also summarizes findings from a Google study that identified psychological safety - where all members speak proportionately and with social sensitivity - as key to building effective teams.

1. Communities of Trust –
from regulation to cooperation
Hias Wrba, Berlin 2017

2. Communities of Trust
The Agile Manifesto
• Individuals and interactions over processes and
tools
• Working software over comprehensive
documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan

3. Communities of Trust
Three levels structuring work
Contracts
Framework Agreements, Quotes, Statements of Work,...
Processes & Tools
Regular Meetings, Artifacts, Standards, Selection &
Configuration of Tools,...
Individuals & Interactions
Communication, Feedback, Expertise, Discussions,
Conflicts, Wishes, Hopes, Fears, Politics,...

4. Communities of Trust
Three levels structuring work
Contracts
Processes
& Tools
Individuals
& Interactions
Promise of
Regulation
Increases perceived
security
Organizational
Level

5. Communities of Trust
Ausgangssituation und Herausforderung
Seemed easy on
paper...

6. Communities of Trust
Cone of Uncertainty
known
known
unknown
unknown
known
known
unknown
known
known
unknown
unknown
unknown

7. Communities of Trust
Cone of Uncertainty
High Textuality High Textuality
A lot of room for interpretation No room for interpretation
Problem!

8. Communities of Trust
Three levels structuring work
Contracts
Processes
& Tools
Individuals
& Interactions
Promise of
Standardization
Increases confidence
Unit/Tribe
Level

9. Communities of Trust
Three levels structuring work
Contracts
Processes
& Tools
Individuals
& Interactions
Promise of
Cooperation
Increases trust
Team
Level

10. Communities of Trust
Cone of Uncertainty
But where could that
work...

11. Communities of Trust
Cone of UncertaintyCharles Darwin
Competitive – „Survival of the fittest“
Malthusian – „Struggle for existance“
Gladiatorial – „Red in teeth and claw“

12. Communities of Trust
Cone of UncertaintyTournament Species

13. Communities of Trust
Cone of UncertaintyTournament SpeciesBertrand Russel
All human activity is
prompted by
desires:
• Acquisitiveness
• Rivalery
• Vanity
• Love of Power

14. Communities of Trust
Cone of UncertaintyPair-Bonding Species

15. Communities of Trust
Cone of UncertaintyRichard Ryan
& Edward L. Deci
Three innard human needs:
- Competence
- Relatedness
- Autonomy

16. Communities of Trust
The prisoners dilemma
C = Cooperate / D = Defect
C D
D
C 1 + 1
2 + 2
0 + 3
3 + 0
C
D

17. Trenches – Gunner Story
Defecting in the cold war
2 + 2

18. Trenches – Gunner Story
Cooperating across trenches
1 + 1

19. Kooperieren oder Defektieren?
A Tit for Tat
Be nice: cooperate, never be the first to
defect.
Be provocable: return defection for
defection, cooperation for cooperation.
Don't be envious: focus on maximizing
your own 'score', as opposed to ensuring
your score is higher than your 'partner's'.
Don't try to be too clever: or, don't try
to be tricky. (Quelle: Wikipedia)
Robert Axelrod

20. Nichts Gutes – außer man tut es!
Kooperation im Tierreich
Reciprocal Altruism
builds
Communities of Trust

21. Communities of Trust
Shared Understanding
Less
Problem

22. Communities of Trust
Project Aristotle
• Combining the best people?
• Introverts work better with other
introverts?
• Teams are more effective when
everyone is friends away from work?
NOPE
NOPE
NOPE
WELL…

23. Communities of Trust
Project Aristotle
Evidence for a collective intelligence factor in the
performance of groups
Studie Carnegie Mel und MIT, Science 29, Oct. 2009
• Every member speaks in roughly the same
proportion (moderated or not)
• High social sensitivity of all members
• A sense of confidence that the team will not
embarrass, reject or punish someone for
speaking up
 Psychological Safety

24. Communities of Trust
Project Aristotle

25. • Be nice – assume good intentions
• Be provocable – stand your ground
• Dont be envious – nobody has to win
• Don‘t try to be too clever – no method
is an end in itself
Communities of Trust
Tit-for-Tat in real life

26. What are your experiences?
Kontakt:
hello@hiaswrba.net
@screaminHias