SENSE: a human-first way to co-create organisational design
- Adam Hardisty
- Sep 2
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 23
Change lands when people help design it. SENSE is our simple, flexible workshop framework for doing exactly that - turning lived experience into shared insight, then into design and momentum. It’s free to use, adapt, and share.
Why we made this (and why it’s free)
Too many org design efforts jump straight to structures and miss the human story underneath. SENSE gives you a plain-English route from how work really happens to what needs to change—co-created with the people who’ll live it. It’s part of way.open: tools we share because good ideas get better when more people use them.
What SENSE is (the one-liner)
A human-first model and workshop flow to co-create organisational design—useful in org design, operating model work, or leadership/culture change. It’s not a survey or diagnostic; it’s a structured conversation that builds trust, insight, and belief.
The five steps (at a glance)
Story — surface lived experiences; how work really happens, including informal norms and blockers.
Envision — imagine aspirational ways of working, not just boxes and lines.
Name — define the key shifts: roles, relationships, rhythms.
Shape — co-create the tangible design: principles, interfaces, drafts.
Energise — identify behaviours, rituals, and leadership signals to embed change.
How to run it (fast)
Who: cross-functional teams, impacted groups, or leadership cohorts.
Format: a 2–4 hour workshop, in-person or virtual.
Facilitator: internal change leads or externals; the guide works for both.
Inputs: the strategic intent and any constraints; optional inputs like an operating model canvas or your change grid.
Outputs: cultural insights, priority shifts, behavioural signals/rituals, and feedback on draft structures.
Inside the pack
You’ll get a short summary deck and a facilitation guide with step purposes, sample prompts, and activities for each phase—story circles, future headlines, shift mapping, interface mapping, and ritual design. Each step includes tips and variations so you can tailor it to your context.
Pro tips from the field
Create psychological safety - this is about surfacing truth, not defending a design.
Use visuals - boards, metaphors, and live clustering keep energy high.
Capture as you go - Miro/Mural or a physical wall; don’t lose the gold.
Close with commitment - “What will you do differently tomorrow?”
And if things get spicy: keep dialogue productive, address resistance with empathy, and refocus on the shared outcomes. The guide includes specific moves for tricky moments.
Where SENSE fits
Run it as a way.open standalone (self-serve), or plug it into deeper work with us via way.lead (leadership behaviours/culture) and way.works (hands-on delivery). Either way, the aim’s the same: clarity, co-ownership, and change that people believe in.
Take it, use it, tell us what you changed
SENSE is built to be adapted. Use it as-is, tweak it for your team, and send improvements back so the next team benefits too.
Ready? Download the SENSE Framework pack and facilitation guide
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit “© Way Collective — CC BY 4.0”).
Logos aren’t included. Third-party content is excluded.
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