DisCO Glossary

Introduction

It’s shocking that our mainstream societies have been so removed from the concepts of cooperation, collectivity and caring for each that as soon as we begin to talk about these ideas in any depth, we enter into the often alienating and exclusive realm of jargon. We live in a world in which terms such as “value sovereignty” and “care work” are used and understood by relatively few people, even though they describe concepts that are very basic and human.

This is why education is such an important part of the DisCO Project. We realize that everyone is entering the DisCO with different levels and manifestations of experience and knowledge. However, if we all want to share in the same discussion, it helps to speak the same language. To this end, we’ve put together this glossary to help navigate the sometimes intimidating language used to describe our specific approach to feminiist, commons-oriented cooperativism.

Don’t let this new vocabulary scare you – it just describes concepts that you already feel deep inside, concepts that maybe you haven’t found the words for yet. We have coined some of these terms ourselves, but many will be recognized outside of DisCO as well. Take this language and use it well – it will open up new worlds for you.

Asynchronous communication

Communication that does not happen in real time, such as email, forums or Loomio. This type of communication tends to be more formal and organized around a specific topic. It has a subject, context and invitation to join the discussion. Conversations happen over the course of days or weeks and can be archived as part of the collective’s long-term memory. In the DisCO Coop, most internal asynchronous communication happens over Loomio.

Blockchain

A blockchain is a decentralized, distributed, and oftentimes public, digital ledger consisting of records called blocks that is used to record transactions across many computers so that any involved block cannot be altered retroactively, without the alteration of all subsequent blocks. Read Chapter 1 of the DisCO Elements for a layperson's intro, explainer videos etc.

Carework

Carework is any kind of work that supports the health of the collective without generating income per se. We distinguish between two mutually supporting types of carework. First, there is carework for the health of the collective as a system and entity. This means any kind of administrative or behind-the-scenes productive work that keeps the collective running and functional. Second, there is the carework of supporting the humans in the collective. This very important aspect of carework recognizes that every DisCO is made up of individuals who each need emotional support, understanding, special consideration and a sense of belonging and purpose. Both of these approaches to caring for the collective are so important that they are built into the DisCO model. Read Chapter 6 of the DisCO Elements for more.

CAT (Community Algorithmic Trust)

DisCO’s favorite internet cat! The CAT is an on-chain algorithmic entity that enables the collective’s consent to a set of voluntary, self-organized rules. DisCO’s algorithms support the collective in overseeing, simplifying and carrying out the human-level agreements and rules. Once these algorithms are entrusted to the on-chain entity, it is described as a Community Algorithmic Trust which oversees the health of the collective, i.e. that agreements are being met. ReadChapter 5 of the DisCO Elements for more meaow-tastic revelations.

Commons

Commons are any shared resource that is tended to or maintained by the community and is used subject to agreements or rules established by the community. Public libraries or CSA (community supported agriculture) are examples of commons. For a shhort into, read What are P2P and the Commons, and how do they relate?

For a deeper dive, we recommend avid Bollier and Silke Helfrich's Free, Fair and a Alive: the Insurgent Power of the Commonsas the go-to reference on truly advance commons-thinking.

Community Rhythms ADDLINKS IN WIKI

Community rhythms are agreed-upon, regularly occurring events (tasks, check-ins, meetings, etc.) that encourage and facilitate the smooth functioning of a collective. Examples include a brief daily check-in on a messaging platform by all coop members, weekly check-in reminders of tasks to be done in each working circle, biweekly team meetings, quarterly retrospectives or assemblies to address larger issues, etc.

Cooperative

A cooperative is any self-governed organization or business in which members focus on mutual assistance while working towards a common goal in everyone’s best interest. Read What is a Cooperative? on the International Cooperative Alliance's (ICA) website for a short introduction.

Cooperativism

An approach towards working together that aims for the democratization of ownership and governance. Read Wikipedia's article on the History of the Cooperative Movement. For a more thorough exploreation we recommend reading Nathan Schneider's Everything for Everyone: The Radical Tradition that Is Shaping the Next Economy

Dating Phase

A DisCO dating phase is a predetermined period of time that new members agree to spending working with the collective before becoming official members. Dating phases may be divided into stages, each with its own training milestones designed to ease the new member into the collective’s operations and give them the knowledge and mentoring they will need to thrive and feel comfortable. Different stages of the dating phase may also increasingly grant the dating member different rights and responsibilities. This is also an opportunity for the collective and the prospective new member to make sure that the “vibe” is right and that they are a good fit for each other.

DisCO Ball

This is DisCO’s knowledge base, powered by semantic wiki software. Showcasing the best pattern practices for DisCO development and management, the knowledge base will provide semantic categories linking to further resources and examples (from the various individual, self-hosted wikis of each DisCO LAB). Video tutorials and resources on how to contribute and enrich the DisCO Ball knowledge base will be provided within DisCO Ball to facilitate community content production. DisCO Ball will also be the default user manual for the various platforms developed as part of the DisCO PROJECT (DECK, EXP, BLOCKS, etc) with embedded animated tutorials for maximum accessibility.

DisCO Deck

DisCO’s value tracking platform, the DisCO Deck is the interface and back end for DisCO’s “Community Algorithmic Trust” (the DisCO CAT). It's a user-friendly, accessible online tool with a balanced integration of Web 3.0, distributed ledger and blockchain technologies. The DisCO Deck facilitates value tracking, accounting, and other tools to support DisCO operations with stellar UX and an intuitive graphic interface.

DisCO Experience

The DisCO Experience is the research and pilot program through which the DisCO Floor and DisCO Deck are developed together with real cooperatives. Pilot DisCO LABS ( see below)are experimenting with the DisCO model, tweaking it to their own special needs and requirements and yielding a range of case studies for the development of the DisCO Floor and Deck. The LABS are mentored on the creation of their governance and economic models, DisCO Deck customization, and accessible documentation. DisCO LABS will also play a key role in the co-creation of both platforms. All of this together is the immersive DisCO Experience.

DisCO Floor [ÀDD MATRIX LINKS]]

This is DisCO’s educational web platform. The DisCO Floor houses educational resources for cooperators to set up DisCOs anywhere. Examples: a DisCO learning journey (interactive MOOC course); knowledge base (via semantic wiki) with practical resources and tools; a reference DisCO Handbook; content (articles, videos, audiobooks, infographics); a program to create interactive DisCO governance models; guidance on existing legal structures for co-ops (and considerations for future legal co-op forms); and a directory of DisCO cooperatives worldwide.

DisCO LABS

DisCO Labs are pilot projects experimenting with the DisCO model. DisCO Labs need to present a diverse geographical and cultural focus, as well as a healthy representation of various types of mission-oriented productive work. Any group can choose to become a DisCO and make use of the resources posted in the educational platform and contribute to its development but only selected DisCO LABS will benefit from hands on support from the project team. DisCO LABS should also benefit from financial resources and take part in the participatory action research components. See DisCO.coop's LABS homepage.

DisCO Stack

The DisCO Stack is a toolkit of convivial Free/Libre Open Source Software platforms for people to work together using the DisCO Methodology and resources. The DisCO Stack leverages and customizes existing FLOSS tools into a complementary browser-based framework custom designed for DIsCO needs and value accounting, including tools for: time tracking, synchronous communication, asynchronous communication and decision-making, task management, collaborative writing, file storage, documentation and calendar and scheduling tools.

Federation ADD LINKS

While networks may or may not share common goals, federations are imbued with a shared direction. Scaling replicates the dynamics of colonialism - extending a worldview from a center and razing everything in its path. DisCOs are replicated/altered through a federation protocol capable of achieving critical mass. Each primary node focuses on small group trust, intimacy and mutual support. This is reflected on the 7th DisCO Principle, as well as the DisCO Governance Model's Federation protocol.

Feminist Economics LINKS

This is an approach to economics that factors in all of the unseen labor (traditionally associated with women) that is needed in order to support what one typically thinks of economic activity (traditionally associated with men). Feminist economics focuses on caring for the well-being of the individuals that make up an economic system, valuing and reconizing that carework as equally important as “productive”, income-generating economic activity. The Women's Budget group has excellent introductory resources on Feminist Economics

Free Libre and Open-Source Software (FLOSS)

Open-source refers to software for which the code is available freely and can be redistributed or modified. Our preferred term for it is FLOSS, which stands for Free-Libre and Open Source Software (See here for more info on the term).

Livelihood Work

Livelihood is income-generating work done by the collective.

Lovework

Lovework is voluntary or "pro-bono" work that a DisCO takes on in order to create commons and offer the coop's talent to persons and collectives who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford these services.

MOOC

Massive Open Online Courses are open-access online courses with unlimited participation. In a DisCO context, MOOCs are three-month online courses with webinars, synchronous and asynchronous discussion channels, and supporting materials for prospective DisCO initiators.

Multi-Constituent Membership

DisCOs extend decision making and ownership beyond the company structure, and enfranchise all contributors whether present in all value chains or affected by the coop's actions. Beyond workers, this may include neighbouring communities, suppliers, clients, reproductive and affective labour, financial backers, etc. as constituents.

Mutual Support LINKS

Mutual support means looking after people and being attuned to others’ moods, needs and larger realities beyond the collective. By caring for each other’s well-being, we create a healthy work environment, and supported members have a safe space to express themselves and be heard within the collective. Conflict resolution is also handled through the mutual support system, ensuring the distribution of personal care work.

Node

Nodes are individual, but related "sub-DisCOs" that operate under a shared umbrella, or "Mother" DisCO. Nodes may overlap in terms of members, value accounting, mutual support, etc. They are autonomous on certain Value Flows, (mainly in Livelihood and Love work) but share many Care work commitments with the other nodes. Their shared DisCO structure allows them to be rather permeable to each other and support each other in unique ways.

Open-Value Accounting LINKS

Open Value accounting is a way to capture individual contributions that blend into a unique product, to evaluate these contributions, and to compute equity in the end product, a % for every member.

It preserves the subjective nature of value, it can take, in theory, into consideration all types of value, tangible and intangible. The DisCO Governance Model is an instance of Open Value Accounting. See also Valueflows.

Open Cooperativism [GLosary links]]

An approach towards working together that aims for the democratization of ownership and governance, while focusing on the production of commons. Open Cooperativism is the precursor to DisCO. Read From Platform to Open Cooperativism to check out the differences and commonalities between these two complementary approaches, or this shorter explanation, which includes infographics and a TLDR. DisCO is an evolution of Open Cooperativism in that through its Seven Principles, adds explicitly Feminist Economic, Open Value and Federated principles. Read more on the Seven Principles on Chapter 3 of the DisCO Elements or this wiki's entry on the Seven XXX values.

Platform Cooperativism

Platform Cooperativism seeks to democratize the ownership and governance of the digital platforms that increasingly mediate our daily lives. Check out the Platform Cooperativism Consortium's website for abundant resources on Platform Cooperativism.

Radical Workplace Democracy Internal links

IWorkplace democracy is the backbone of traditional coops. Radical workplace democracy is an approach to workplace governance where communication is informed by complementarynotions of value that reflect our experiences as human beings, in the workplace and beyond. Democracy can't be delegated to voting mechanism or techo-solutions, it needs to incorporate care work and mutual support. DisCO workplace democracy us radical in that it explicitly addresses the invisible biases and tacit power hierarchies that plague many coops and activist projects where these issues are not actively discussed

Social Solidarity Economy (SSE)

Any solidarity-based, non-capitalist and non-authoritarian economic system that includes ordinary people in practices that seek to overcome inequalities and transformatively address economic, social, environmental and political issues. See the ILO's page on the SSE to find out more.

Synchronous Communication [ÌNT LINK]]

Communication that happens in real time with people talking or chatting with each other simultaneously. In an office, this may happen in a meeting room or by the water cooler. A digital collective, however, needs a place to hang out online, send messages, contact any team member directly, or even goof around. For this, it’s useful to have a digital tool specifically designed for online collaborating teams, such as Mattermost.

Value Sovereignty

Is a solidarity-based strategy for economic resistance that allows all members of a DisCO to contribute according to their capacity. All members create value; part of this value is processed through a market interface (the DisCO “business”) and is converted into monetary value, which is then pooled and distributed to benefit all value streams (including carework and lovework). Essentially, the more effort and care put into the collective, the larger the share.