Define continuity
Name what must continue, at what quality, with what protections, and what still requires designated authority.
CHAPTER 8 - PROTOCOL 3
Design for Absence
TIME60-90 minutes
OWNERPrincipal and system team
ARTIFACTAbsence-ready system design + resilience test
- Essential outcomes and safeguards remain clear.
- Decision rights, knowledge, roles, escalation, and feedback are explicit.
- The design develops capacity rather than simply transferring tasks.
- A bounded absence test checks function, experience, and integrity.
Locate dependency
Identify where information, permission, skill, trust, relationships, or follow-through currently center on the leader.
Redesign the architecture
Clarify roles, authority, accessible knowledge, routines, support, escalation, and learning loops.
Run and study the test
Use a planned low-risk absence or simulation, gather evidence, and revise the design.
WORKING ORGANIZER
Run the protocol.
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REFLECTION PROMPTS
- What remains in my head that the system needs?
- Where have I confused availability with effective design?
- What support makes independent ownership fair?
EQUITY GUARDRAILS
- Do not use absence design to normalize understaffing or leader overload.
- Protect confidential, legal, safety, and personnel decisions requiring designated authority.
- Transfer authority, training, time, and support alongside responsibility.