People Convergence Guide

This guide should be used with the methods outlined in Chapter 2  Commit to a Community.

Context

Use this worksheet after completing your Divergence work. It helps you move from many candidate communities toward one group you will commit to for ethnographic exploration. Each section aligns with the four stages of convergence: Compare, Empathize, Assess Access, Select.

1. Compare: Spot Patterns and Weigh Possibilities

Candidate groups under review (from Diverge stage):




Patterns I notice across groups:



2. Empathize: Notice the Emotional Pull

Groups that linger in my mind (name 1–3):



Why these groups feel different:


Signals of empathy I’ve noticed:


3. Assess Access: Can You Actually Reach Them?

Quick access tests I ran (methods + outcome):


Evidence of access:

  • Observable:
  • Reachable:
  • Willing to engage:

Notes on sampling risk / bias:

4. Select Your People

Decision (group chosen):

Rationale (why this group, in 3–4 sentences):


Caveats / working assumptions:

Attachments (Data Room pointers)

  • Comparison board (Miro / doc)
  • Empathy notes
  • Access tracker sheet
  • Outreach messages

Reflection

  • What surprised me during convergence?

  • What assumptions did I update?

  • What’s the next step now that I’ve selected my people?