Basic Terminology
The Decent Framework™ is built on top of a rich catalog of terms.
Here are a couple "need to know" definitions to effectively participate in discussions:
Decent Framework™
A set of tools and strategies designed to govern operations with a Structural Operating Model™.
Decent
The shorthand notation for the Decent Framework™.
Decentralized Entity
An autonomous unit with the authority to operate independently within a defined scope. The namesake of the DEC-ENT Framework™.
Structural Governance™
An organizational design principle that relies on structure to fill gaps, rather than process.
Structural Operating Model (SOM)™
An organizational design strategy that maps value relationships within a system to determine structure.
Officer
An entity that has been formally entrusted and authorized to command a specific scope. Officers are grouped by their roles into the following role types: Owner, Steward, Agent, or Customer based on their output types.
Owner
An officer who’s primary output is a directive or mandate for enterprise operations. Owners are typically Board Members, but are collectively thought of as the shareholders.
Steward
An officer who is primarily responsible for creating requirements as an output, which act as inputs for other scopes. Stewards are best thought of as leaders and policy makers, who collectively create "business requirements".
Agent
An officer that is primarily responsible for creating value-based outputs, based on business requirements. Agents are best thought of as delivery-oriented leads.
Customer
An officer who’s primary output is an opportunity cost for the enterprise to solve. Customers complete the system, tieing the Owner's capital investments to capital returns brought by the customer.
Scope
The fundamental unit of value in the Decent Framework™. A scope represents a bounded domain of value with a specific output.
Atomic Output
The smallest output that yields a complete, standalone unit of value. In most cases, this usually maps to an output that is created by a team - which is then consumed by other groups. However, certain outputs from individual contributors - or even from larger departments, could be considered atomic outputs. An output is considered atomic when it can no longer be reasonably split without losing value, or the act of splitting the output would result in multiple, closely related outputs.
True Scope
A bounded domain of value that yields an atomic output - most closely thought of as a team. Conversationally - true scopes are referred to as just 'scopes', and is the assumed unit of scale when 'scope' is noted.
Sub Scope
A bounded domain of value that yields an incomplete output - most closely thought of as an individual, a program, or an asset. Sub scopes may contain larger groups of resources in certain cases - depending on the complexity of teh atomic output.
Super Scope
A bounded domain of value that yields multiple atomic outputs - most closely thought of as departments or platforms. Super scopes are used to group scopes for efficiency and alignment, which provides a mechanism for implementing shared standards, policies, and processes.
Value
Any resulting product of converting an asset. Capital can be converted into materials, materials can be converted into services, services can be converted into capital, and any number of combinations or alternatives - all are considered value.
Value Chain
A set linked scopes that convert capital into a solution, then revenue, and ultimately back into capital.
- See also: Value Stream
Value Stream
Value streams do not exist under the Decent Framework™. Value is deliberate, finite, and bounded.
- Referring to Value Streams could result in an embarrassing nickname.
Opportunity Cost
The point at which capital is released to solve a problem.
Iteration
The act of aligning value to a given value proposition (solution). In other words, delivering on expectation - how an MVP is turned into a full-fledged offering.
Innovation
The creation or recovery value - pivots to keep the doors open, or creating a solution that supports a new revenue stream.
Enablement
Deferred accountability - typically when the originating scope lacks authority to enforce or implement an output.
Empowerment
Delegated authority - formal recognition of support to implement an output.
Operational Terms
A few standalone terms.
Risk
An ever-present threat to value, value creation, or customer well-being. Risk is another side-effect of structure, like process, but instead of contributing to the creation of value - it detracts from or destroys value.
Process
Process is a side-effect of scope interaction (structure). Simply put, process is a systematic set of instructions to guide how value is converted.
Governance
The obligation to account for capital, decisions, and performance - and the structure used to do so.
Enterprise
A system that leverages capital to solve an opportunity cost problem in order to generate a return. An enterprise is a value engine.
Decent Culture
A few terms that do not appear in the official framework - but may pop up in conversation.
In The Cave
A reference to Plato's "Allegory of The Cave". If one is said to be "in the cave", then they have not yet discovered the truth - and may even resist it once shown.
Passenger
Someone who doesn't know or care about legacy governance inefficiencies - they're just along for the ride.
- See also: In The Cave
Peacock
Someone who has a reputation of being wasteful, inefficient, or naive about resource allocation - generally reckless.
Vampire
Someone who is known to promote approval processes, alignment meetings, consensus, or committees - generally, a blocker.
TLC
A nickname given to someone who intentionally or accidentally referred to a Value Stream instead of a Value Chain. This nickname serves as a reminder to "don't go chasing waterfalls", and that these are not the "rivers and lakes you're used to".
Puppeteer
Someone who intentionally tries to pull strings or influence decisions, strategies, or outputs for other scopes - one who overreaches.
Squatter
Someone who refuses to release control of a scope they do not own.
Benchwarmer
Someone who owns a scope, but has neglected or abandoned it.
Foreman
Someone who should own a scope, but hasn't been made an owner.
Skipper
Someone who works on many scopes, owns none, and is the only one who sees the big picture.
Zombie
Someone who is thought of as a scope owner, but for a scope that is not formally acknowledged - all work, no glory.
Ghost
Someone who doesn't appear to own or work on any scopes.
Champion
Someone who just wants clear direction and the ability to do their job.
Proclaimer
A nickname given to someone who confuses iteration with innovation, or dismisses the difference. This nickname is a reminder that "I will walk 500 miles and I will walk 500 more just to be the man who walked a thousand miles" and nothing more.
Decenter
A play on words - a supporter of the Decent Framework™ or Decent principles, but also a nod to being a 'dissenter'.