Who is inside the system, and under what conditions?
Membership lifecycle
- Entry criteria
- Trial / probation
- Full membership
- Exit (voluntary & forced)
Rights vs obligations
- Decision rights
- Resource access
- Contribution expectations
Artifacts
- Membership Agreement
- Exit & Separation Protocol
Layer Invariants
-
Invariant 1.1: No implicit membership
Membership status must be explicit, documented, and mutually acknowledged. -
Invariant 1.2: Entry and exit are always possible
No member can be trapped indefinitely; exit paths must exist and be defined. -
Invariant 1.3: Rights and obligations symmetry
No rights without obligations, no obligations without corresponding rights. -
Invariant 1.4: Due process for forced exit
Removal of membership requires a predefined, documented process
Explicitness Rules
MUST be explicit
- Membership states (trial, full, exited)
- Entry and exit processes
- Rights vs obligations
- Forced exit due process
Why: unclear membership is the #1 source of abuse and burnout.
MAY be explicit
- Contribution expectations per role
- Time commitments
- Behavioral norms
MUST remain optional
- Personality fit criteria
- Lifestyle choices
- Belief alignment (unless legally required)