Layer 5 – Process
0. Introduction
0.1 Purpose
This standard defines the righteous processes for individuals acting in their personal capacity — distinct from role‑bound processes (5.3) or domain‑bound processes (5.4). These are the processes you, as a person, execute in your daily life to make decisions, resolve conflicts, correct yourself, and communicate accountably. They sustain righteousness at the most fundamental level — the individual.
0.2 Process Overview
For you, the player, People Processes are the standardized sequences of activities you follow when you are not acting in a specific professional or institutional role — when you are simply a person navigating life, relationships, and personal choices. These processes are:
- Decision‑Making – How you choose righteously among alternatives.
- Conflict Resolution – How you address and resolve disputes with others.
- Self‑Correction – How you recognize, admit, and correct your own errors.
- Accountability & Communication – How you report your actions and receive feedback.
These processes apply across all your universal roles (parent, spouse, citizen, etc.) but are defined here at the personal level — the common foundation that underlies every role you occupy.
0.3 Relationship to Other Layers
| Layer | How It Relates to Your People Processes |
|---|---|
| Layer 1 (Axioms) | Your personal decisions and actions must never violate foundational axioms. |
| Layer 2 (Core System) | Your personal processes interact with the 25 core institutional systems (e.g., when you file a complaint, seek healthcare, or pay taxes). |
| Layer 3 (Factors) | Your outputs must be verifiable against the 30 core factors (e.g., transparency, accountability). |
| Layer 4 (Structure — Roles) | Your people processes underpin and support all role‑specific duties defined in 4A. |
| Layer 5.1 (Process Framework) | This standard is a direct application of the 5.1 framework to the personal sphere. |
| Layer 6 (Metrics) | Your personal process performance is quantified through Layer 6 indicators. |
| Layer 7 (Restoration) | When your personal processes fail, Layer 7 provides restoration pathways. |
1. Scope
This standard applies to:
- You, as an individual, when making personal decisions, engaging in interpersonal relationships, or conducting personal affairs;
- All universal roles you occupy (parent, spouse, citizen, etc.) insofar as they require personal, non‑institutional processes;
- The design, execution, and improvement of personal processes that are not otherwise covered by 5.3 (Role Processes) or 5.4 (Domain Processes).
2. Normative References
- RSS 37005‑5.1:2026 — Process Framework
- RSS 37004‑A.1:2026 — Role Expression Framework
- RSS 37004‑A.2:2026 — Universal Roles
- RSS 37001:2026 — Axioms
- RSS 37002:2026 — Core System
- RSS 37003:2026 — Factors
- RSS 37006:2026 — Metrics Standard (forthcoming)
- RSS 37007:2026 — Restoration Standard (forthcoming)
3. Terms and Definitions
(For you, as an individual executing people processes)
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Personal Decision | A choice you make in your personal capacity that affects your life, relationships, or responsibilities. |
| Interpersonal Conflict | A disagreement, dispute, or tension between you and one or more other persons. |
| Self‑Correction | The process by which you recognize an error, admit it, and take action to restore right action. |
| Personal Accountability | Your obligation to report your actions, accept feedback, and bear the consequences of your choices. |
| People Process Owner | You — the individual who owns, executes, and is accountable for your personal processes. |
4. People Process Categories
This section defines the four categories of people processes. Each category must be implemented by you in accordance with the Process Framework (5.1).
4.1 Individual Decision‑Making Process
How you make righteous personal decisions.
| Component | Your Application |
|---|---|
| Inputs | The problem or choice before you; relevant information; your values and obligations; advice from trusted sources. |
| Activities | 1. Define the decision clearly. 2. Identify alternatives. 3. Evaluate each alternative against Layer 1 Axioms and Layer 3 Factors. 4. Consult relevant parties (if applicable). 5. Select the right alternative. 6. Document your decision and rationale. |
| Gates | At Step 3 — if no alternative passes the ethical test, stop, escalate, or seek further counsel. At Step 5 — confirm that your choice aligns with your universal role obligations. |
| Outputs | Your decision; documented rationale; communication to affected parties. |
| Controls | Ethical constraints (Axioms, Factors); legal constraints; your personal obligations (to family, community, etc.). |
| Verification | After execution, review: was the outcome righteous? Did you follow the steps? Log the result for future learning. |
4.2 Interpersonal Conflict Resolution Process
How you resolve disputes with others righteously.
| Component | Your Application |
|---|---|
| Inputs | Notice of conflict; the other party’s perspective; your own perspective; relevant history and context. |
| Activities | 1. Acknowledge the conflict promptly. 2. Seek to understand the other party’s position. 3. State your position clearly and calmly. 4. Identify shared interests and common ground. 5. Propose a resolution that satisfies both parties and aligns with righteousness. 6. Agree on a resolution and any follow‑up actions. |
| Gates | At Step 2 — if you cannot understand the other party, seek a neutral third party. At Step 5 — if you cannot reach a resolution, escalate to mediation (per Layer 7 restoration mechanisms). |
| Outputs | A documented resolution; an agreement on follow‑up actions; restored or improved relationship. |
| Controls | Respect for the other party; honesty; transparency; commitment to fairness (Layer 3 Factors). |
| Verification | After resolution, review: was the process fair? Was the outcome sustainable? Did both parties feel heard? |
4.3 Personal Alignment & Self‑Correction Process
How you recognize errors, realign with righteousness, and prevent recurrence.
| Component | Your Application |
|---|---|
| Inputs | A mistake, failure, or divergence from right action (identified by you or brought to your attention); feedback from others; verification results from other processes. |
| Activities | 1. Acknowledge the error without deflection. 2. Understand why it happened (root cause). 3. Accept accountability. 4. Identify corrective actions. 5. Implement corrections. 6. Monitor to ensure the error does not recur. |
| Gates | At Step 2 — if you cannot identify the root cause, seek counsel. At Step 5 — confirm that your corrective actions are proportionate and effective. |
| Outputs | Acknowledgment; corrective action taken; documented lessons learned; restored alignment. |
| Controls | Honesty with yourself; openness to feedback; commitment to growth (aligned with Layer 3). |
| Verification | After implementation, review: is the error truly corrected? Have you changed the underlying behavior or condition? |
4.4 Personal Accountability & Communication Process
How you report your actions, accept feedback, and maintain transparency.
| Component | Your Application |
|---|---|
| Inputs | A request for accountability (from a stakeholder); a scheduled review; a significant personal action or decision you have taken. |
| Activities | 1. Prepare a clear, honest account of your actions. 2. Present your account to relevant parties. 3. Receive and process feedback. 4. Respond to questions and concerns. 5. Document the exchange and any agreed follow‑up. |
| Gates | At Step 3 — if you receive feedback that indicates a problem, trigger the Self‑Correction process (4.3). |
| Outputs | Your account; feedback received; agreed follow‑up actions; updated personal records. |
| Controls | Honesty; completeness; timeliness; respect for the audience. |
| Verification | After completion, review: was the communication complete? Did you receive and respond to all feedback? |
5. Application of the Process Lifecycle (from 5.1)
For each people process category above, you follow the seven‑phase lifecycle defined in 5.1:
| Phase | Your Action |
|---|---|
| 1. Design | Define the process steps (as provided in Section 4) and adapt them to your personal circumstances. |
| 2. Approval | For personal processes, this is self‑approval — you confirm that the process aligns with RSS standards. |
| 3. Publication | Make your process known to those who are affected (family, close community). |
| 4. Execution | Run the process when the situation arises. |
| 5. Monitoring | Use Layer 6 metrics to track your personal process effectiveness. |
| 6. Review & Optimization | Periodically review your personal processes — are they working? Improve them. |
| 7. Deprecation | Retire a process when it is no longer relevant to your life. |
6. Conformance Requirements
To claim conformance to this standard, you (as the player) must ensure that your people processes satisfy the following requirements — each derived from the 5.1 framework:
| ID | Requirement |
|---|---|
| CFR‑5.2‑01 | Each of your personal processes (decision, conflict, self‑correction, accountability) must explicitly define all five components: Inputs, Activities, Outputs, Controls, and Verification Mechanisms. |
| CFR‑5.2‑02 | Each process must include at least one Gate requiring you to stop and make a conscious decision to continue, correct, terminate, or escalate. |
| CFR‑5.2‑03 | Each process must include an in‑process verification check. |
| CFR‑5.2‑04 | Each process must map to your universal roles (4A.2) and, where applicable, to the 21 domains (4B). |
| CFR‑5.2‑05 | Each process must include explicit timing expectations (e.g., resolve conflicts within a reasonable time, respond to accountability requests promptly). |
| CFR‑5.2‑06 | The outputs of your people processes must be quantifiable and evaluable by Layer 6 (Metrics) standards. |
| CFR‑5.2‑07 | Each process must include a clear escalation path for failures, linking to Layer 7 (Restoration). |
7. Relationship to Other Layers
| Target Layer | How Your People Processes Connect |
|---|---|
| Layer 1 (Axioms) | Your decision‑making and conflict resolution controls must never violate foundational axioms. |
| Layer 2 (Core System) | When your people processes interact with institutions (e.g., filing a claim, making a citizen complaint), they must align with the 25 core systems. |
| Layer 3 (Factors) | Your outputs (decisions, resolutions, corrections) must be verifiable against the 30 core factors. |
| Layer 4 (Structure — Roles) | Your people processes are the personal foundation upon which your universal roles (4A.2) are built. Role processes (5.3) will reference and extend these personal processes. |
| Layer 5.1 (Process Framework) | This standard is a direct instantiation of the 5.1 framework. |
| Layer 6 (Metrics) | Your personal process performance is quantified through Layer 6 indicators (e.g., decision quality, conflict resolution timeliness, self‑correction frequency). |
| Layer 7 (Restoration) | If your self‑correction process (4.3) fails, Layer 7 provides external restoration pathways (e.g., counselling, mediation, restitution). |