Cla game

The CLA-Game is a participatory futures method based on Sohail Inayatullah’s [[ Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) ]] framework. It uses role-playing and layered analysis to deconstruct and reconstruct complex issues, enabling groups to explore alternative futures by examining surface-level problems, systemic structures, cultural worldviews, and underlying myths123. Below is a breakdown of its structure and gameplay:

Core Structure: The Four CLA Layers

The game operates across four interconnected levels:

  1. Litany: Surface-level facts, headlines, or immediate perceptions of an issue (e.g., “Unemployment is rising”).
  2. Systemic Causes: Structural drivers like policies, economic systems, or institutional practices.
  3. Worldviews/Stakeholder Perspectives: Cultural, ideological, or stakeholder beliefs shaping the issue.
  4. Myths/Metaphors: Deep narratives, symbols, or unconscious stories underpinning societal assumptions124.

    How to Play the CLA-Game

    Phase 1: Setup

  5. Group Formation: Divide participants into four teams, each assigned to one CLA layer.
  6. Scenario/Topic Selection: Choose a focal issue (e.g., “Future of energy systems”) or use predefined scenarios (e.g., “Radical Startups” or “Green DIY Engineers”)35.

    Phase 2: Layered Analysis

    • Litany Group: Create a “front-page news headline” reflecting the surface reality of the issue (e.g., “Solar Power Overtakes Fossil Fuels by 2050”)35.
    • Systemic Group: Identify structural causes using tools like PESTEC analysis (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Ecological, Cultural)36.
    • Worldview Group: Role-play stakeholders (e.g., policymakers, activists) to articulate competing ideologies and alliances/enemies75.
    • Myth/Metaphor Group: Uncover foundational stories or symbols (e.g., “Energy as a communal right” vs. “Energy as a commodity”)84.

      Phase 3: Interaction and Reconstruction

    • Groups present their layer’s findings, then rotate perspectives to critique or expand other layers.
    • Participants collaboratively design alternative futures by reimagining myths, revising systems, and creating new headlines85.

      Phase 4: Debrief and Strategy

    • Identify leverage points for transformative change (e.g., shifting metaphors from “growth” to “regeneration”).
    • Develop actionable strategies aligned with reconstructed scenarios38.

      Key Mechanics

    • Role-Playing: Participants embody stakeholders or “mythic archetypes” to challenge assumptions75.
    • Iceberg Worksheets: Visual tools map issues from litany (tip) to myths (base)8.
    • Iterative Refinement: Continuous feedback between layers ensures holistic insights34.

      Example Application

      In a Neo-Carbon Energy workshop, players deconstructed scenarios like “Value-Driven Techemoths” by:

  7. Litany: Crafting news headlines about decentralized energy grids.
  8. Systemic: Analyzing policies enabling peer-to-peer energy trading.
  9. Worldview: Debating roles of corporations vs. communities.
  10. Myth: Replacing “energy scarcity” with “abundance through solidarity”365.

The CLA-Game fosters collaborative foresight by merging analytical rigor with creative storytelling, making it a powerful tool for addressing “wicked problems” like climate change or societal equity84.

References

  1. http://metafuture.org/cla papers/Inayatullah Causal layered analysis - theory, historical context, and case studies. Intro chapter from The CLA Reader..pdf ↩ ↩2

  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImWDmFPfifI ↩ ↩2

  3. http://www.metafuture.org/cla papers/TransformativeEnergyScenariosCLAGaming.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  4. https://www.metafuture.org/cla papers/Inayatullah Causal layered analysis - Deepening the Future.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  5. https://library.teachthefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CLA-Game-2020.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  6. https://www.utupub.fi/handle/10024/165623 ↩ ↩2

  7. https://jfsdigital.org/2020/02/26/my-son-deals-in-hamburgers-and-other-futures-causal-layered-analysis-in-rio-de-janeiro/ ↩ ↩2

  8. https://foresight.unglobalpulse.net/intergenerational-equity/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/Tool3.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

Notes mentioning this note

Methods
Frameworks [[Causal Layered Analysis (CLA)]] Games [[CLA Game]] [[Sarkar Game]]
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