Collaborative Systems and Practices @Case di Quartiere – Brindisi

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On November 14 and 21 2023, I conducted a training course titled “Collaborative Systems and Practices” for the Case di Quartiere network in Brindisi.

The initiative emerged from a shared desire to explore more cooperative, inclusive, and intentional ways of working. It offered a dedicated space for peer-to-peer learning and exchange, with the goal of rethinking and renewing everyday practices within organizations. The training was designed to foster a shift in how teams communicate, make decisions, and build agreements. Participants engaged in practices rooted in openness, active listening, and mutual respect, while reflecting on the role of authentic communication and care in shaping healthier group dynamics.

The program followed an experiential approach that blended theoretical input with practical, hands-on activities. Through exercises and simulations, participants directly explored tools and methods drawn from organizational design, sociocracy, and the digital humanities. Over the two sessions, the group worked on multiple levels—starting from the interpersonal, with check-ins, listening exercises, and emotional awareness, and expanding to organizational dynamics such as power, governance, and decision-making.

Facilitation techniques like rounds, prioritization, and various consent-based models were tested to provide practical strategies for more effective collaboration. A balance between action and reflection guided the entire process. Each concept was introduced through experience, then unpacked and analyzed collectively. This method encouraged genuine engagement, as participants brought curiosity, openness, and generosity to the space, helping build a climate of trust.

Feedback at the end of the course was overwhelmingly positive. Participants valued the opportunity to pause and reflect on their group practices, appreciated the relevance of the tools shared, and highlighted the strength of the relational atmosphere. While the challenge of integrating new practices over time was acknowledged, many left with a renewed sense that more collaborative and effective ways of working are not only possible, but necessary.

The course follows a format we developed at Ecosistemica, together with my colleagues Daniele Bucci and Thomas Kemps.