Potlaanie

Potlaanie is a term used in some strands of contemporary organizational theory and online community discourse to describe a mode of distributed governance in which leadership and decision-support roles rotate among participants. The term is not universally standardized and appears primarily in informal writings and speculative discussions. In potlaanie models, authority is treated as fluid rather than fixed, and decisions are often reached through iterative discussion, asynchronous input, and consensus-oriented processes rather than through traditional hierarchical approval.

Origins and usage: The concept has emerged in environments that emphasize participation and resilience, such as open-source projects and distributed collaboration networks. Advocates view potlaanie as a means to reduce single points of failure and to broaden engagement by rotating responsibilities like facilitation, documentation, and quality review.

Structure and practices: Potlaanie relies on established but flexible processes for submitting proposals, discussing changes, recording decisions, and revisiting outcomes. Roles rotate on a regular cadence, with clear documentation to maintain accountability and traceability across decision cycles.

Advantages and criticisms: Supporters argue that potlaanie can increase inclusivity, adaptability, and knowledge sharing. Critics worry about potential delays, diffusion of accountability, and the need for strong process design to prevent drift from objectives.

Relation to related concepts: It shares elements with sociocracy, holacracy, and consensus decision-making, but typically emphasizes asynchronous collaboration and dynamic role ownership rather than fixed circles. See also potlatch, consensus, and distributed governance.