fourmovement

Fourmovement is a term used to describe a four-phase framework applied across disciplines such as design, education, performance, and organizational development. The concept treats work as a sequence of four movements that can be revisited and iterated rather than following a single, linear path. The four movements are commonly described as: Movement 1, Initiation and framing; Movement 2, Exploration and ideation; Movement 3, Development and refinement; Movement 4, Assessment and iteration. Each movement encompasses a typical set of activities: Movement 1 focuses on clarifying purpose, stakeholders, constraints, and success criteria; Movement 2 emphasizes research, divergent thinking, prototyping, and feedback; Movement 3 concentrates on converging on solutions, testing, and refinement; Movement 4 centers on evaluation, learning, and deciding whether to iterate, scale, or conclude.

Applications of fourmovement vary by field but share a goal of structured collaboration and ongoing improvement. In product design, it can guide sprint cycles and iterative development; in theatre or dance, it can outline rehearsal and staging phases; in education, it supports project-based learning and cyclical assessment. Variants of the framework exist, with different labels for the movements or emphasis on specific activities, but the common thread is an emphasis on iteration and stakeholder feedback rather than a fixed end point.

Origins of the term are informal, arising in practitioner writings, workshops, and online discussions rather than from a formal methodology. As a concept, fourmovement is often compared with other four-phase models such as PDCA (Plan–Do–Check–Act) and design thinking, and critics note that it can overlap with existing frameworks or become vague if not grounded in concrete practices. Proponents argue that the explicit four-part structure helps teams coordinate efforts and track progress across cycles.

See also: PDCA cycle, design thinking, agile methodology, iterative design.