We have studied the underlying mechanisms and processes of the WeValue InSitu shared values crystallization at different levels. The Core Concept is that ‘communities of practice’, i.e. groups of people with a ‘practice’ in common - have shared values embodied in the actions they do together. Much is usually tacit, but members can collectively explore, and intersubjectively clarify. With skill ...

The WeValue workshop ‘appears’ as linked activities. (In reality, they provide scaffolding for the other layers of mechanisms). First, the group are settled on their self-identification. Secondly, they communicate deeply tacit snippets of what they value about the group, using photos to aid communication. Thirdly, they find resonating phrases from a WeValue Trigger list (pre-prepared for each subculture). Fourthly, they are guided to intersubjectively discuss tacit-based topics of resonance, and iteratively make meaning of each one until an explicit statement can be made. Lastly, they organise the statements to show how they link, and narrate an overall introduction to their new, bespoke Framework.

Facilitation mechanisms are needed to bring participants into their ‘shared tacit space’, and to make meaning in productive ways. These include encouragement of examples of ‘happenings’; intersubjective explorations of why some examples have ‘importance’; guiding the disentangling of group concepts; reflecting back ideas to produce refinement; and never introducing content but only pathways. As articulation develops, facilitators encourage reflection of phrasing and vocabulary until the group settles on their own bespoke statement for each of their concepts. (Papers # 5,7)

WeValue processes can be viewed in terms of concepts from Polanyi’s Personal Knowledge Theory. This includes micro-processes for internalizing a piece of knowledge; it; comparing to internal knowledge; incorporating or adding it; groping for vocabulary to express it; refining the meaning/ vocabulary, etc.(Papers # 5,7)