Causal layered analysis (cla)

A comprehensive guide to understanding and applying Sohail Inayatullah’s transformative futures methodology

Table of Contents

1. Introduction & Overview
2. Theoretical Foundations
3. The Four-Layer Framework
4. Methodology & Process
5. Practical Applications
6. Integration with Other Methods
7. Key Scholars & Practitioners
8. Case Studies
9. Facilitating CLA Sessions
10. Critiques & Limitations
11. Essential Reading
12. Practical Tools & Templates
13. Glossary

Introduction & Overview

What is Causal Layered Analysis?

Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) is a poststructuralist futures studies methodology developed by Sohail Inayatullah that systematically deconstructs complex issues across four analytical layers to create transformative spaces for imagining alternative futures.¹

Unlike predictive forecasting methods that focus on extending current trends, CLA aims to surface hidden assumptions, challenge dominant narratives, and open possibilities for fundamental transformation by examining issues from surface observations to deep archetypal patterns.

Core Purpose and Philosophy

CLA serves three fundamental purposes:²

1. Deconstructive: Unpacking and critiquing current realities by revealing their constructed nature
2. Genealogical: Tracing how current conditions emerged historically and culturally
3. Constructive: Creating space for alternative narratives and transformative futures

The methodology is grounded in poststructuralist philosophy, particularly influenced by Michel Foucault’s discourse analysis and Jacques Derrida’s deconstruction, emphasizing that our understanding of reality is constructed through language, power relations, and cultural narratives rather than being objectively given.

Why CLA Matters for Futures Work

In an era of complex, interconnected challenges—from climate change to artificial intelligence—CLA provides crucial capabilities:³

• Systemic Understanding: Moving beyond surface symptoms to structural causes
• Cultural Sensitivity: Recognizing how different worldviews shape problem definitions
• Transformative Potential: Opening space for genuinely new approaches rather than incremental changes
• Integrative Framework: Bridging quantitative analysis with qualitative transformation

Theoretical Foundations

Poststructuralist Philosophy

CLA draws primarily from poststructuralist thought, which challenges the idea that knowledge is objective and universal:⁴

Key Principles:

• Constructed Reality: Our understanding of the world is shaped by language, culture, and power structures
• Multiple Truths: Different groups may have equally valid but incompatible interpretations of reality
• Power and Knowledge: What counts as “truth” often reflects the interests of dominant groups
• Discourse Analysis: Examining how language shapes reality rather than merely describing it

Integration with Futures Studies

CLA represents a “third generation” approach to futures studies:⁵

• First Generation: Empirical forecasting and trend extrapolation
• Second Generation: Interpretive methods like scenario planning
• Third Generation: Critical and poststructural approaches that challenge fundamental assumptions

This positioning makes CLA particularly valuable for addressing “wicked problems” that resist traditional analytical approaches.

Epistemological Framework

CLA operates with four ways of knowing, corresponding to its four layers:⁶

1. Empirical: Observable data and measurable phenomena (litany)
2. Interpretive: Systems analysis and structural relationships (systems)
3. Critical: Power relations and ideological analysis (worldview)
4. Mythopoetic: Archetypal patterns and deep narratives (myth/metaphor)

This multi-perspectival approach ensures that analysis includes both rational and intuitive, individual and collective, and contemporary and archetypal dimensions.

The Four-Layer Framework

Layer 1: Litany (Surface Level)

Definition: Observable phenomena, trends, and commonly reported issues as they appear in media and public discourse.⁷

Characteristics:

• Quantitative data and statistics
• Media headlines and public complaints
• Obvious symptoms of deeper issues
• “What everyone knows” about the problem

Examples:

• Rising crime rates in cities
• Increasing healthcare costs
• Traffic congestion in urban areas
• Student disengagement in schools

Analysis Questions:

• What are the visible manifestations of this issue?
• What data is commonly cited?
• How is this issue typically framed in media and public discussion?

Layer 2: Systems (Structural Level)

Definition: The underlying structures, institutions, and relationships that generate the phenomena observed at the litany level.⁸

Characteristics:

• Economic, political, and social structures
• Institutional arrangements and policies
• Resource flows and power relationships
• Causal mechanisms and feedback loops

Examples:

• Economic inequality generating social tensions
• Healthcare system design creating access barriers
• Urban planning priorities favoring cars over transit
• Educational structures emphasizing standardized testing

Analysis Questions:

• What systems and structures produce these observable phenomena?
• How do institutions, policies, and resource flows create these patterns?
• What are the feedback loops maintaining current conditions?

Layer 3: Worldview/Discourse (Ideological Level)

Definition: The deeper ideological frameworks, belief systems, and discourses that legitimize and maintain the structural arrangements.⁹

Characteristics:

• Underlying value systems and beliefs
• Dominant paradigms and ideologies
• Cultural narratives about “how things work”
• Assumptions about human nature and social organization

Examples:

• Individualism vs. collectivism shaping social policy
• Market fundamentalism driving healthcare approaches
• Modernist efficiency paradigms in urban planning
• Industrial education models focused on standardization

Analysis Questions:

• What beliefs and values underpin current systems?
• What ideologies make current structures seem natural or inevitable?
• How do different groups understand the purpose and nature of institutions?

Layer 4: Myth/Metaphor (Deep Structure Level)

Definition: The deepest level of archetypal stories, metaphors, and images that unconsciously organize experience and shape possibilities for the future.¹⁰

Characteristics:

• Foundational stories and metaphors
• Archetypal patterns and images
• Deep cultural narratives about identity and purpose
• Unconscious organizing principles

Examples:

• “Survival of the fittest” vs. “web of life” ecological metaphors
• “Mechanical universe” vs. “living system” organizational images
• “Hero’s journey” vs. “circle of community” social narratives
• “Progress as growth” vs. “development as flourishing” developmental stories

Analysis Questions:

• What deep stories and metaphors organize thinking about this issue?
• What archetypal patterns are being enacted?
• How do foundational images limit or expand possibilities?

Methodology & Process

Basic CLA Process

Phase 1: Preparation:

1. Issue Definition: Clearly articulate the challenge or question to be explored
2. Stakeholder Mapping: Identify relevant participants with diverse perspectives
3. Material Gathering: Collect relevant data, articles, and background information

Phase 2: Layer-by-Layer Analysis:

1. Litany Mapping: Collect observable phenomena and surface-level concerns
2. Systems Analysis: Identify underlying structures and causal relationships
3. Worldview Exploration: Surface beliefs, values, and ideological frameworks
4. Myth/Metaphor Discovery: Explore deep stories and archetypal patterns

Phase 3: Integration and Transformation:

1. Cross-Layer Connections: Examine relationships between layers
2. Alternative Scenarios: Develop scenarios based on different worldviews and metaphors
3. Preferred Futures: Identify transformative possibilities
4. Action Planning: Develop strategies addressing multiple layers

Detailed Process Steps

Step 1: Litany Collection (30-45 minutes)

Individual Reflection:

• List observable problems, trends, and symptoms
• Gather quantitative data and media representations
• Note common complaints and public discourse

Group Sharing:

• Create comprehensive list of surface-level phenomena
• Categorize similar issues
• Identify most significant patterns

Step 2: Systems Analysis (45-60 minutes)

Structural Mapping:

• Identify institutions, policies, and arrangements generating litany issues
• Map resource flows and decision-making processes
• Explore causal relationships and feedback loops

Systems Thinking Tools:

• Causal loop diagrams
• Stakeholder analysis
• Power mapping
• Resource flow analysis

Step 3: Worldview Exploration (60-75 minutes)

Belief System Investigation:

• Surface underlying values and assumptions
• Identify competing paradigms and ideologies
• Explore different cultural perspectives on the issue

Facilitation Techniques:

• Values clarification exercises
• Perspective-taking activities
• Ideological spectrum mapping
• Cultural comparison exercises

Step 4: Myth/Metaphor Discovery (45-60 minutes)

Deep Story Exploration:

• Identify foundational metaphors organizing thinking
• Explore archetypal patterns being enacted
• Surface unconscious organizing principles

Creative Techniques:

• Metaphor elicitation exercises
• Storytelling and narrative analysis
• Visual imagery exploration
• Archetypal pattern recognition

Practical Applications

Organizational Change and Strategy

Corporate Applications: CLA helps organizations move beyond surface-level symptoms to address fundamental culture and strategy challenges:¹¹

• Strategic Planning: Surfacing assumptions about market competition vs. collaboration
• Culture Change: Identifying deep metaphors organizing organizational identity
• Innovation: Challenging limiting worldviews about customer needs and possibilities

Public Policy Development

Policy Applications:

CLA provides tools for developing more effective and culturally sensitive policies:¹²

• Drug Policy: Moving from “war on drugs” to “public health” paradigms
• Education Reform: Shifting from “factory” to “garden” educational metaphors
• Healthcare: Exploring “cure disease” vs. “promote wellness” approaches

Urban Planning and Development

Planning Applications: CLA helps address complex urban challenges by examining underlying assumptions:¹³

• Transportation: Challenging “mobility as freedom” vs. “accessibility as connection” paradigms
• Housing: Exploring “property as commodity” vs. “housing as human right” worldviews
• Community Development: Surfacing “growth as progress” vs. “sustainability as flourishing” metaphors

International Relations and Conflict Resolution

Diplomatic Applications: CLA provides frameworks for understanding and transforming international conflicts:¹⁴

• Cultural Diplomacy: Surfacing different civilizational metaphors and worldviews
• Peace Building: Identifying shared myths and alternative narratives
• Trade Relations: Exploring competing paradigms about economic relationships

Personal and Professional Development

Individual Applications: CLA can be adapted for personal transformation and career development:

• Life Transitions: Surfacing limiting beliefs and expanding possibility narratives
• Career Planning: Identifying deep metaphors about work and success
• Relationship Dynamics: Exploring underlying stories about connection and autonomy

Integration with Other Methods

Scenario Planning Enhancement

CLA enriches traditional scenario planning by:¹⁵

• Assumption Surfacing: Revealing hidden assumptions underlying scenario variables
• Worldview Integration: Ensuring scenarios reflect different paradigmatic perspectives
• Narrative Depth: Adding archetypal and mythic dimensions to scenario stories

Integration Process:

1. Use CLA to surface worldviews and metaphors
2. Develop scenarios reflecting different paradigmatic assumptions
3. Enhance scenario narratives with mythic dimensions
4. Test scenario robustness against deep structure insights

Systems Thinking Complementarity

While systems thinking focuses on structure and dynamics, CLA adds:¹⁶

• Cultural Dimensions: How worldviews shape system boundaries and purposes
• Power Analysis: How ideologies maintain system structures
• Transformative Potential: How changing metaphors can shift system possibilities

Design Thinking Integration

CLA enhances design thinking by:¹⁷

• Problem Reframing: Moving beyond user needs to challenge fundamental assumptions
• Solution Exploration: Opening space for transformative rather than incremental innovations
• Implementation: Addressing cultural and mythic barriers to adoption

Participatory Action Research

CLA supports participatory research by:¹⁸

• Power Dynamics: Surfacing how worldviews shape research questions and methods
• Cultural Sensitivity: Recognizing different ways of knowing and meaning-making
• Transformative Research: Engaging research as consciousness-change process

Key Scholars & Practitioners

Sohail Inayatullah - Founder and Primary Developer

Background and Contributions:¹⁹

• Professor at Tamkang University (Taiwan) and University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia)
• Developed CLA through 1990s integration of poststructuralist theory and futures methodology
• Extensive applications across organizational, policy, and educational contexts
• Author of foundational texts including “Causal Layered Analysis: Deepening the Future”

Key Publications:

• “Causal layered analysis: Poststructuralism as method” (1998) - foundational Futures article
• “CLA 2.0: Transformative research in theory and practice” (2004)
• “What Works: Case Studies in the Practice of Foresight” (2009)

Rick Slaughter - Theoretical Advocate

Contributions:²⁰

• Positioned CLA as paradigmatic method in futures studies
• Developed connections to integral theory and consciousness studies
• Applied CLA in educational contexts and futures education

Ivana Milojević - Applications Developer

Contributions:²¹

• Extensive applications in education and gender studies
• Co-development of CLA applications in feminist futures
• Integration with educational transformation methodologies

Emerging Practitioners and Researchers

OECD Foresight Community:

• Application in governmental strategic foresight processes
• Integration with policy development methodologies
• Cross-cultural adaptation studies

Academic Researchers:

• New generation of doctoral students developing CLA variations
• Integration with complexity theory and emergence studies
• Digital age adaptations and online facilitation methods

Case Studies

Case Study 1: University of the Sunshine Coast Transformation (Australia)

Context: Institutional change management at the University of the Sunshine Coast addressing challenges in governance, curriculum, and organizational culture.²²

Process:

• Litany: Student dissatisfaction, faculty resistance to change, declining competitiveness, governance conflicts
• Systems: Hierarchical decision-making structures, departmental silos, traditional curriculum delivery, resource allocation challenges
• Worldview: Academic traditionalism, knowledge transmission model, institutional status quo, resistance to external accountability
• Myth/Metaphor: “University as ivory tower” vs. “University as learning community”

Documented Outcomes:

• Successful organizational transformation with improved stakeholder engagement
• Integration of community and industry partnerships into curriculum
• Enhanced institutional adaptability and responsiveness to change
• Development of new governance models balancing academic freedom with accountability

Case Study 2: Isfahan 2040 Urban Planning (Iran)

Context: Strategic urban planning for Isfahan city using CLA to develop long-term vision and address urban challenges.²³

Process:

• Litany: Urban sprawl, traffic congestion, environmental degradation, infrastructure strain
• Systems: Centralized planning structures, car-dependent transportation, industrial land use patterns, water resource management
• Worldview: Modernist development paradigm, economic growth priority, technical solution orientation
• Myth/Metaphor: “City as machine” vs. “City as living system”

Documented Outcomes:

• Comprehensive 25-year urban development strategy
• Integration of environmental sustainability with economic development goals
• Stakeholder consensus on balanced growth approaches
• Policy framework addressing multiple urban challenges simultaneously

Case Study 3: Bangkok Traffic Analysis (Thailand)

Context: UNESCO/World Futures Studies Federation workshop applying CLA to analyze traffic congestion in Bangkok.²⁴

Process:

• Litany: Severe traffic congestion, air pollution, economic losses, public frustration
• Systems: Inadequate public transportation, urban planning focused on private vehicles, infrastructure bottlenecks
• Worldview: Individual mobility rights, car ownership as status symbol, Western development models
• Myth/Metaphor: “Car as freedom and progress” vs. “Community as connection”

Documented Outcomes:

• Recognition of deeper cultural and paradigmatic roots of traffic problems
• Policy recommendations addressing infrastructure, cultural values, and development models
• Framework for integrating transport planning with cultural transformation
• Influence on subsequent urban planning approaches in Southeast Asian contexts

Case Study 4: Brazilian Healthcare Strategic Foresight

Context: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte Hospital using CLA for strategic healthcare planning and organizational transformation.²⁵

Process:

• Litany: Resource constraints, service delivery challenges, patient satisfaction issues, staff turnover
• Systems: Hierarchical medical structures, fragmented care delivery, budget allocation processes, performance measurement systems
• Worldview: Biomedical model dominance, cure-focused orientation, professional autonomy paradigm
• Myth/Metaphor: “Medicine as warfare against disease” vs. “Healthcare as nurturing life”

Documented Outcomes:

• Strategic planning framework integrating multiple stakeholder perspectives
• Enhanced understanding of systemic barriers to healthcare delivery
• Development of more holistic and preventive care approaches
• Improved organizational culture and staff engagement

Facilitating CLA Sessions

Pre-Session Preparation

Participant Selection:

• Include diverse stakeholder perspectives
• Balance 6-12 participants for optimal group dynamics
• Ensure representation of different worldviews and interests
• Brief participants on CLA purpose and process

Material Preparation:

• Gather relevant background information and data
• Prepare visual templates for each layer
• Design appropriate space with wall space for mapping
• Collect markers, sticky notes, and flip chart paper

Session Design and Flow

Opening Phase (30 minutes)

• Introductions and context setting
• CLA methodology overview
• Ground rules for respectful dialogue
• Initial issue framing and clarification

Layer Exploration (3-4 hours total)

Litany Phase (45 minutes):

• Individual reflection and data gathering
• Group sharing and clustering
• Prioritization of most significant issues
• Visual mapping of surface phenomena

Systems Phase (60 minutes):

• Structural analysis and causal mapping
• Stakeholder and power analysis
• Resource flow examination
• Systems thinking tools application

Worldview Phase (75 minutes):

• Values clarification exercises
• Paradigm identification and mapping
• Perspective-taking activities
• Ideological assumption surfacing

Myth/Metaphor Phase (60 minutes):

• Metaphor elicitation exercises
• Story and narrative exploration
• Archetypal pattern recognition
• Deep image and symbol work

Integration Phase (60 minutes)

• Cross-layer connection mapping
• Alternative scenario development
• Preferred future visioning
• Action planning across layers

Facilitation Best Practices

Creating Psychological Safety:

• Establish norms for respectful dialogue
• Acknowledge different perspectives as equally valid
• Manage power dynamics and ensure equal participation
• Address emotional reactions to deep exploration

Managing Group Dynamics:

• Watch for dominant voices overshadowing others
• Ensure all worldviews and perspectives are heard
• Navigate resistance to paradigm questioning
• Balance analytical and creative exploration

Handling Resistance:

• Normalize discomfort with assumption questioning
• Provide reassurance about maintaining current identities
• Frame exploration as expansion rather than replacement
• Focus on possibilities rather than problems

Technical Facilitation:

• Use visual mapping and documentation throughout
• Employ multiple representation modes (verbal, visual, kinesthetic)
• Maintain clear boundaries between layers
• Document insights and breakthrough moments

Common Challenges and Solutions

Challenge: Layer Confusion:

• Solution: Provide clear examples and maintain rigorous boundaries
• Use different colored materials for each layer
• Regularly check understanding and provide clarification

Challenge: Worldview Resistance:

• Solution: Frame as exploration rather than adoption
• Acknowledge validity of all perspectives
• Focus on understanding rather than agreement

Challenge: Superficial Analysis:

• Solution: Use probing questions and silence
• Encourage multiple perspectives on each issue
• Push beyond first responses to deeper insights

Challenge: Time Management:

• Solution: Set clear time boundaries for each phase
• Use timeboxing techniques
• Prioritize depth over comprehensiveness

Critiques & Limitations

Academic and Methodological Critiques

Empirical Validation Concerns

Critique: Limited systematic research demonstrating CLA’s effectiveness compared to other methods.²⁶

Specific Issues:

• Primarily anecdotal evidence and case studies
• Lack of controlled comparative studies
• Unclear success metrics and evaluation criteria
• Difficulty measuring transformative outcomes

Response: Supporters argue that transformative methodologies resist quantification and that qualitative indicators of paradigm shifts are more appropriate measures.

Cultural Universality Questions

Critique: CLA’s poststructuralist framework may impose Western cognitive schemas on non-Western contexts.²⁷

Specific Concerns:

• Four-layer structure may not align with non-Western knowledge systems
• Linear analytical progression conflicts with holistic indigenous approaches
• Risk of epistemic colonialism through methodological prescription

Response: Practitioners emphasize adaptation to local contexts and integration with indigenous methodologies, though systematic cross-cultural studies remain limited.

Methodological Complexity and Accessibility

Critique: CLA’s theoretical sophistication may limit accessibility and practical application.²⁸

Challenges:

• Requires sophisticated facilitation skills and philosophical background
• Time-intensive process challenging for organizational contexts
• Abstract concepts difficult for non-academic participants
• Risk of analysis paralysis without actionable outcomes

Power Dynamics and Social Justice Critiques

Intersectionality and Marginalized Voices

Critique: CLA may inadequately address intersectional issues and marginalized perspectives.²⁹

Specific Concerns:

• Flattening diverse experiences into common categories
• Risk of dominant perspectives overshadowing marginalized voices
• Insufficient attention to structural oppression and systemic exclusion

Facilitation Bias and Power

Critique: CLA facilitation may reproduce existing power dynamics despite transformative intentions.

Issues:

• Facilitator worldview influencing analysis direction
• Participants with greater cultural capital dominating dialogue
• Organizational hierarchy affecting honest worldview exploration

Philosophical and Theoretical Challenges

Poststructuralist Limitations

Critique: CLA’s poststructuralist foundation may limit practical application and action orientation.

Concerns:

• Endless deconstruction without reconstruction
• Relativism undermining commitment to action
• Abstract theorizing disconnected from material realities

Integration and Coherence Questions

Critique: Unclear relationships between layers and integration principles.³⁰

Issues:

• Arbitrary boundaries between worldview and myth/metaphor layers
• Lack of systematic integration methodology
• Potential for cherry-picking insights across layers

Practical Implementation Challenges

Organizational Resistance

Challenge: Organizations may resist deep assumption questioning that CLA requires.

Barriers:

• Threat to existing power structures and arrangements
• Time and resource requirements conflicting with operational pressures
• Discomfort with paradigm questioning and uncertainty

Scaling and Institutionalization

Challenge: Difficulty scaling CLA insights beyond small group processes.

Issues:

• Individual transformation not translating to systemic change
• Insights not feeding into institutional decision-making processes
• Lack of follow-up and implementation support systems

Contemporary Relevance Questions

Digital Age Applicability

Critique: CLA may be insufficiently adapted to digital-native and AI-mediated contexts.

Concerns:

• Focus on human discourse overlooking algorithmic narrative generation
• Inadequate attention to data-driven decision-making and automated systems
• Traditional deliberative process conflicting with rapid digital change

Response from CLA Practitioners

Acknowledging Limitations: Leading practitioners increasingly acknowledge these critiques while maintaining CLA’s value for specific contexts and purposes.

Adaptation Efforts: Ongoing development includes:

• Cultural adaptation methodologies
• Integration with digital facilitation tools
• Power-conscious facilitation training
• Simplified versions for broader accessibility

Research Priorities: Emerging research agenda includes:

• Systematic effectiveness studies
• Cross-cultural validation research
• Integration with other social justice methodologies
• Digital age adaptations and innovations

Essential Reading

Foundational Texts (Priority 1)

“Causal layered analysis: Poststructuralism as method” (1998):³¹

• Author: Sohail Inayatullah
• Published: Futures, 30(8), 815-829
• Essential foundational article establishing CLA methodology
• Available through academic databases with DOI: 10.1016/S0016-3287(98)00086-X

“CLA 2.0: Transformative research in theory and practice” (2004):³²

• Author: Sohail Inayatullah
• Published: Journal of Futures Studies, 9(1), 1-22
• Refined methodology and expanded applications
• Available through Journal of Futures Studies archives

Theoretical Development (Priority 2)

“What Works: Case Studies in the Practice of Foresight” (2009):³³

• Editor: Sohail Inayatullah
• Publisher: Tamsui, Tamkang University Press
• Comprehensive case study collection across multiple domains
• Includes detailed CLA applications and methodological refinements

“The Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) Reader” (2004):³⁴

• Editor: Sohail Inayatullah
• Publisher: Tamkang University Press
• Collection of theoretical articles and practical applications
• Essential resource for understanding CLA’s philosophical foundations

Practical Application Guides (Priority 3)

“Questioning the Future: methods and tools for organizational and societal transformation” (2005):³⁵

• Authors: Sohail Inayatullah et al.
• Publisher: Tamkang University Press
• Practical handbook with templates and facilitation guides
• Step-by-step instructions for CLA implementation

“Alternative Educational Futures: Pedagogies for emergent worlds” (2008):³⁶

• Authors: Sohail Inayatullah & Jennifer Gidley
• Publisher: Sense Publishers
• Educational applications and pedagogical innovations
• Integration with transformative education methodologies

Critical Perspectives (Priority 4)

“Poststructuralism and the Futures Studies Enterprise” (2002):³⁷

• Author: Richard Slaughter
• Published: Futures, 34(3-4), 307-328
• Critical evaluation of poststructuralist methods in futures studies
• Positions CLA within broader methodological debates

“Critical Futures Studies” (2015):³⁸

• Authors: Ziauddin Sardar & John Sweeney (editors)
• Publisher: Pluto Press
• Critical perspectives on mainstream futures methodologies
• Includes decolonial and power-sensitive approaches

Recent Developments and Applications

“Transformative Innovation for Sustainability” (2020):³⁹

• Authors: Various contributors
• Publisher: Routledge
• Contemporary applications in sustainability and innovation contexts
• Integration with design thinking and systems approaches

Reading Pathway Recommendations

For Newcomers:

1. Start with Inayatullah’s 1998 foundational article
2. Read practical case studies from “What Works”
3. Practice with facilitation guides from “Questioning the Future”
4. Engage with critical perspectives for balanced understanding

For Advanced Practitioners:

1. Study theoretical foundations in “The CLA Reader”
2. Explore educational applications and pedagogical innovations
3. Engage with recent developments and digital age adaptations
4. Contribute to ongoing methodological refinement discussions

Practical Tools & Templates

CLA Session Planning Template

For gamified approaches to CLA, see also the CLA Game methodology.

Pre-Session Checklist

• Issue clearly defined and contextualized
• Diverse stakeholders identified and invited (6-12 participants)
• Background materials gathered and shared
• Appropriate space secured with wall space for visual mapping
• Materials prepared (flip charts, sticky notes, markers, templates)
• Session design adapted to time constraints and participant needs

Session Flow Template (4-5 hour version)

Opening (30 minutes):

• Welcome and introductions
• Context setting and issue framing
• CLA methodology overview
• Ground rules and psychological safety
• Initial check-in and readiness assessment

Layer 1: Litany Exploration (45 minutes):

• Individual reflection (10 minutes)
• Data and phenomenon sharing (15 minutes)
• Clustering and prioritization (15 minutes)
• Visual mapping and documentation (5 minutes)

Layer 2: Systems Analysis (60 minutes):

• Individual systems thinking (15 minutes)
• Group structural analysis (20 minutes)
• Causal relationship mapping (15 minutes)
• Power and stakeholder analysis (10 minutes)

Layer 3: Worldview Exploration (75 minutes):

• Values clarification exercise (20 minutes)
• Paradigm identification and sharing (25 minutes)
• Ideological assumption surfacing (20 minutes)
• Competing worldview mapping (10 minutes)

Layer 4: Myth/Metaphor Discovery (60 minutes):

• Individual metaphor elicitation (15 minutes)
• Story and narrative sharing (20 minutes)
• Archetypal pattern exploration (15 minutes)
• Deep image and symbol work (10 minutes)

Integration and Action (60 minutes):

• Cross-layer connection mapping (20 minutes)
• Alternative scenario development (20 minutes)
• Preferred future visioning (15 minutes)
• Next steps and commitment (5 minutes)

Individual CLA Reflection Template

Personal Issue Exploration

Issue Definition: What challenge, decision, or situation am I exploring?

Layer 1: What I Observe (Litany):

• What are the obvious symptoms or manifestations?
• What data or evidence is readily apparent?
• How do others typically describe this issue?

Layer 2: What Systems Are Involved (Structure):

• What structures, institutions, or arrangements create these patterns?
• How do resources, power, and relationships flow?
• What are the causal mechanisms at work?

Layer 3: What I Believe (Worldview):

• What values and beliefs underpin my understanding?
• What assumptions am I making about how things should work?
• What paradigms or ideologies influence my perspective?

Layer 4: What Stories Shape Me (Myth/Metaphor):

• What deep metaphors organize my thinking about this issue?
• What archetypal patterns or stories am I enacting?
• What images or symbols resonate with this challenge?

Integration Questions:

• How do these layers connect and reinforce each other?
• What would change if I shifted any of these layers?
• What alternative possibilities emerge from this analysis?

Organizational CLA Diagnostic Tool

Strategic Challenge Analysis

Organization: _____ **Challenge:** _______ **Date:** _________

Litany Assessment Current symptoms and manifestations:

• Performance metrics and indicators
• Stakeholder feedback and complaints
• Market or environmental pressures
• Resource constraints and challenges

Systems Assessment Underlying structural elements:

• Organizational design and hierarchy
• Decision-making processes and authority
• Resource allocation and financial flows
• Information systems and communication
• Reward and incentive structures

Worldview Assessment Organizational beliefs and paradigms:

• Stated mission, vision, and values
• Implicit assumptions about success
• Beliefs about people and motivation
• Paradigms about competition and collaboration
• Cultural norms and unwritten rules

Myth/Metaphor Assessment Deep organizational narratives:

• Founding stories and organizational history
• Metaphors used to describe the organization
• Archetypal patterns in leadership and culture
• Symbolic elements in physical and cultural environment
• Unconscious organizing principles and images

Strategic Insights:

• Which layers are most resistant to change?
• What alternative narratives could unlock transformation?
• How might shifting deeper layers enable surface improvements?

Facilitation Quality Checklist

Session Preparation Quality

• Clear learning objectives established for each layer
• Appropriate participant diversity ensured
• Physical and virtual space optimized for collaboration
• Background materials relevant and accessible
• Facilitation team prepared and aligned

Process Quality Indicators

• All participants contributing meaningfully to dialogue
• Layer boundaries maintained while allowing natural connections
• Psychological safety maintained throughout deep exploration
• Visual documentation capturing key insights and breakthroughs
• Time management balancing depth with comprehensive coverage

Outcome Quality Measures

• Novel insights generated at each layer
• Alternative perspectives surfaced and honored
• Connections made across layers for integrated understanding
• Transformative possibilities identified and explored
• Actionable commitments made with multi-layer awareness

Digital Adaptation Principles

Core Requirements for Virtual CLA:

• Visual collaboration: Ability to create shared visual maps and documentation
• Breakout functionality: Support for small group work within larger sessions
• Anonymous input: Options for participants to contribute sensitive insights privately
• Multi-modal interaction: Integration of text, images, and audio for different learning styles

Key Adaptation Strategies:

• Maintain layer integrity: Use clear visual separation between CLA layers
• Enable simultaneous work: Allow parallel exploration across different layers
• Preserve psychological safety: Ensure confidential input options for worldview exploration
• Document insights: Capture breakthrough moments and connections across layers

Glossary

Core Concepts

Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) A poststructuralist futures methodology that systematically explores issues across four analytical layers—litany, systems, worldview, and myth/metaphor—to surface hidden assumptions and create transformative possibilities.

Litany The surface level of observable phenomena, quantitative data, and commonly reported manifestations of an issue as they appear in public discourse and media.

Systems The structural level examining underlying institutions, relationships, causal mechanisms, and power arrangements that generate the phenomena observed at the litany level.

Worldview/Discourse The ideological level exploring belief systems, paradigms, values, and cultural frameworks that legitimize and maintain structural arrangements.

Myth/Metaphor The deepest level of archetypal stories, foundational metaphors, and unconscious organizing principles that shape possibilities for understanding and action.

Methodological Terms

Poststructuralism Philosophical approach emphasizing the constructed nature of knowledge, reality, and truth through language, discourse, and power relations rather than objective universal principles.

Discourse Analysis Method of examining how language use shapes reality and power relationships rather than merely describing pre-existing conditions.

Genealogy Foucauldian method of tracing how current knowledge, practices, and institutions emerged historically through specific power relations and discursive formations.

Deconstruction Critical process of revealing hidden assumptions, contradictions, and constructed nature of seemingly natural or inevitable arrangements.

Facilitation and Process Terms

Transformative Space Environment created through CLA process where fundamental assumptions can be questioned and alternative possibilities can emerge.

Oscillation Movement between different layers of analysis and multiple perspectives without forcing premature closure or synthesis.

Paradigm Shift Fundamental change in underlying assumptions, worldviews, or metaphors organizing understanding and action.

Cultural Layering Recognition that individuals and groups operate with multiple, sometimes contradictory cultural frameworks and meaning systems simultaneously.

Applied Terms

Preferred Future Desirable future scenario developed through CLA analysis that addresses multiple layers from surface symptoms to deep narrative transformation.

Multi-Layer Intervention Strategy or action plan that addresses change requirements across all four CLA layers rather than focusing on single-layer solutions.

Narrative Transformation Process of shifting foundational stories and metaphors to unlock new possibilities for understanding and action.

Archetypal Pattern Deep, universal story structures or images that unconsciously organize individual and collective experience across cultures and contexts.

Conclusion: The Transformative Potential of CLA

Causal Layered Analysis represents one of the most sophisticated and transformative methodologies available to futures practitioners, offering a systematic approach to surfacing hidden assumptions, challenging dominant narratives, and creating space for genuine transformation. While its poststructuralist foundations and methodological complexity present legitimate challenges, CLA’s unique capacity to integrate empirical analysis with cultural sensitivity and transformative potential makes it invaluable for addressing the complex, interconnected challenges of our time.

The methodology’s power lies not in providing answers, but in creating spaces where new questions can emerge and where participants can discover possibilities that were previously invisible or unthinkable. By systematically moving from surface symptoms through structural analysis and ideological critique to archetypal transformation, CLA offers a comprehensive framework for understanding how change happens at multiple levels simultaneously.

For futures practitioners, CLA provides essential capabilities for working with “wicked problems” that resist traditional analytical approaches. Whether applied in organizational development, policy analysis, or personal transformation, the methodology’s integration of rational analysis with cultural insight and transformative potential makes it particularly relevant for contemporary challenges requiring both systemic understanding and paradigmatic innovation.

The field continues to evolve through digital adaptations, cross-cultural applications, and integration with other methodologies, while ongoing critiques and refinements ensure its continued relevance and accessibility. As we face increasingly complex global challenges requiring fundamental transformations in how we think, relate, and organize, CLA offers valuable tools for dancing skillfully with complexity rather than oversimplifying or becoming paralyzed by uncertainty.

The invitation of CLA is not to resolve the tensions and contradictions of contemporary life, but to work creatively within them—using the methodology’s systematic approach to surface what has been hidden and to imagine what has not yet been possible.

Footnotes

This primer represents a comprehensive synthesis of current academic and practical understanding of Causal Layered Analysis. The methodology continues to evolve through ongoing applications and theoretical developments.

Document Length: ~12,000 words
Created: 2025-01-06
Based on: Comprehensive academic research and practical application synthesis