“If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.” – Abraham Maslow [1]
NEW STEEP – Jim Breaux
In Alternative Futures this semester we are finishing up our deep dive into integral theory. One of the tables we reviewed is the basic 4 quadrant (Wilber). A quick survey of the internet reveals the 4 quadrants being applied to various topics such as perspectives of psychologies, behaviors, intelligences, disciplines and organizational management styles among others.
Generally though, the left quadrants (upper and lower) are reserved to classify our interior and the right quadrants are reserved for that which is exterior. And the upper quadrants speak to individual classifications as the lower reference group topics.
Here is a representative 4 quadrant chart (with thanks to the AQAL graphic fromFormlessMountain) which indicates the relative position of (for example) environmental scanning topics.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In the paper A New Framework for Environmental Scanning, Oct. 1999, Foresight Journal, Richard Slaughter lays out a case for environmental scanning that includes the left hand, or interior, quadrants. Dr. Slaughter includes examples of scanning sources for the interior topics and poses pertinent questions to aid in the proper inquiry of each.
If we look at the traditional STEEP categories, Social, Technological, Environmental, Economic, and Political we can see that they fall mostly in the exterior or right hand side of the table. It is possible and some would argue that the thorough scanning of each topic can be “all quadrants”. But what if we started with a new mnemonic? I suggest that if we start with a different mnemonic that the outcome of ES (Environmental Scanning) could more likely include the 4 quadrants.
Here is a simplified 4 quadrant chart specifically for interior + exterior ES framing.
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
These quadrants are briefly described as follows:

UL – Interior Individual, Individual

LL – Interior Group, Communal

UR– Exterior Individual, Objective

LR – Exterior Group, Social

My suggested acronym is ICOS, Individual, Communal, Objective, and Social.
ES topics for each quadrant could include:

  • Individual: Individual Values and Psychology
  • Communal: Group Values & Mores and Cultural
  • Objective: Scientific, Technical, and Measurable
  • Social: Economic, Ecological, and Political

I hope to develop a complete suggested set of starter ES questions for these topics as well as sources as part of my continuing Futures Studies education at the University of Houston, College of Technology.
And
We’ll see you in the Future!
 [1] Thanks to www.brainyquote.com