Draft Merge Tree

How this method works

A convergence method for narrowing several drafts to one without losing the reasons for deletions. Participants create independent drafts with the same heading and a maximum of 2 paragraphs, then note the function of each paragraph on a small card. Every time two drafts merge, record the functions retained, differences retained conditionally, and reasons for deletion in the history sheet. Another participant checks the merged draft for omissions, contradictions, and misreadings before the fixed version moves to the next stage. Finally, return the function cards to each original author to check where their content went. Do not use it for documents requiring statutory version control or approval by a single accountable person, or documents that cannot be reduced to one page.

Phase schedule

Minutes are cumulative from the start of the base plan, not a live timer. Read scaling for any additional time. Phase controls do not advance automatically.

1. Create independent drafts0–20 minutes from the start (20 minutes)

   Action: Build. Participation: Everyone or small groups.

   Shared record

2. Annotate paragraph functions20–35 minutes from the start (15 minutes)

   Action: Record. Participation: Everyone or small groups.

   Shared record

3. Complete five merge/check rounds35–95 minutes from the start (60 minutes)

   Action: Rephrase. Participation: Everyone or small groups.

   Shared record

4. Trace function cards back to their authors95–115 minutes from the start (20 minutes)

   Action: Trace. Participation: Everyone or small groups.

   Shared record

5. Close the differences115–120 minutes from the start (5 minutes)

   Action: Finalise. Participation: Everyone or small groups.

   Shared record

Facilitation steps

1. For 20 minutes, create independent drafts with the same heading and a maximum of 2 paragraphs, and assign branch numbers.
2. For 15 minutes, write each paragraph’s function on a small card, adding its branch and paragraph numbers.
3. For 60 minutes, run five 12-minute slots. Use 7 minutes to merge drafts or perform one check, then 5 minutes to process received check forms and issue a fixed version.
4. For 20 minutes, trace branch numbers backwards from the final draft and report on each function card whether it was retained, kept as a difference, or deleted.
5. For 5 minutes, record unprocessed differences and the fixed-version URL in the history sheet and choose the final custodian.

If something changes

Preparation

Materials

• One shared draft with a branch number per person
• 2 paragraph-number and function cards per person
• One merge-history sheet per group with child branch, parent branch, responsible person, and fixed-version URL
• One check form per person for omissions, contradictions, misreadings, and re-reading checks
• One return-tracing form per person for a broken route
• One device per person that can access every form

Room and setup

• Display the number of merge rounds for the participant count, branch numbers, and the order of checkers for remaining slots on a wall
• Give editing permission only to the left-hand custodian at each merge point. Prepare shared documents that can issue a fixed-version URL automatically or manually at the end of every 12-minute slot
• Before starting, test that everyone can open the fixed version and individual check forms from their own device

Adjust for people and time

Do not run this method with fewer than 2 people, because draft comparison and a check by another person cannot be separated. With 2 people, perform 1 merge and 4 checks; with 3–4, perform 2 merges; with 5–8, 3; with 9–16, 4; and with 17–32, 5. Split every 12-minute slot into 7 minutes for merging drafts or one check and 5 minutes for processing received check forms, recording results, and issuing the fixed version. Carry an unpaired draft forward under the same branch number. If there are 33 or more drafts, narrow them to no more than 32 before starting.

Manuscript's recorded references

These translate the original manuscript's source and rights claims. They remain separate from any current-page notice below; they do not establish new verification.

• Designed by the Taiwa no Fumen editorial team

  This description is original.

Diagram, print, and video language

Original Japanese guide, diagram, and print view. Their labels and print text have not been translated; an English print edition is not provided here.

English video-library navigation. Original Japanese audio, subtitles and transcripts remain labelled Japanese resources. Their translations are separate later work. No remote player is embedded here.

The manual English phase controls are a navigation aid, not a live facilitation timer. Interactive diagram motion remains pending.

Editorial provenance

Stable method ID

draft-merge-tree

Japanese source status

Japanese source: editorially reviewed

Source path

src/content/methods/draft-merge-tree.yaml

Source SHA-256

e7b41aab6600a954381b5eed9ead3ae5083e4a1f55a13f46b30f41e16c0aaadb

English text path

design-lab/drafts/english-site-20261015/batches/M-010-M-011-local-draft-20261017-1445/methods/draft-merge-tree.json

English text SHA-256

d9ba624d500243c95deac80bec66b1b63ec452bb71c46d35518772a5b0e6faf9

Historical fixed-text English acceptance record

draft-not-independently-reviewed

Historical fixed-source recorded publication hold

Source-specific translation/reuse check pending

Original Japanese asset identifiers (not rendered here)

• main: draft-merge-tree-main.svg
• print: draft-merge-tree-print.svg
• thumb: draft-merge-tree-thumb.svg

Japanese source status and logs are provenance only. They do not mean this English text or interface was field-tested. Historical fixed-text acceptance and hold records remain specific to their recorded versions; displaying them neither asserts current acceptance nor resolves source-specific restrictions.