Process Design

From Method to Practice

The SiD Process translates the Method into day-to-day practice. Where the Method describes what to do, the Process describes how to organize the work: building teams, involving stakeholders, managing timelines, and structuring deliverables.

A SiD process typically follows four phases: Initiation, Intelligence, Solution, and Execution.

The LEGO-Block Approach

Building a SiD process is like playing with LEGO blocks: you stack standardized pieces on top of each other to make a whole. Each piece is a process step. So each process can be unique while still being composed from standardized components. A set of printable process cards (one per step, color-coded by phase) is available from the ThinkSiD website to support physical process design with teams.

Designing Your Process

Every SiD process is different. Key variables that shape design:

Scale: A neighborhood project requires a different process than a national policy trajectory or corporate strategy.

Resources: Time, budget, team size, and expertise determine how many method cycles are feasible and how deep the analysis can go.

Stakeholder landscape: Number and diversity of stakeholders shapes the participation strategy.

Existing knowledge: If good system analysis already exists, the process can start from a more advanced position.

Building a Team

A strong SiD team includes a process facilitator who guides method cycles and manages group dynamics; domain experts with deep knowledge of specific system aspects (ecology, economy, engineering, social science); creative thinkers who visualize systems and generate innovative solutions; and stakeholder representatives to keep the process grounded in real-world needs. Not everyone needs to be present at every stage: the facilitator and core team stay throughout while experts and stakeholders join at specific moments.

Example: Schiphol Catalyst

The process for developing the most sustainable office building at Schiphol Airport used a three-cycle approach. Session 1: five days with the core team only, building foundational understanding. Session 2: four days with 15 stakeholders, deepening analysis and generating initial solutions. Session 3: four days with roughly 40 stakeholders in revolving groups, refining solutions and building broad support. The result: a catalytic building standard that transformed the entire airport development.