The framework of relational intelligence

The need for contextual, applied research is underpinned by the theory of relational intelligence. Relational Intelligence (RI) is the capacity to map, understand, and act on our connections to the world around us, people, systems, and environments included. At its core, it is a structural capacity: the ability to read relational networks, locate yourself within them, and respond in ways that move things forward.

Relational Intelligence Emerges Out of Human Capacities

Venn diagram of four intelligences — Emotional, Physical, Cognitive, and Relational at the center — showing how RI integrates the others.

Venn diagram showing four types of intelligence: Emotional (responds to the world; uses empathy and attunement), Physical (inhabits the world; uses sensation and perception), and Cognitive (makes sense of the world; uses reasoning and problem-solving). Intuition, stories, and craft emerge at the intersections. Relational intelligence (sees the world, maps, and locates) draws on all these to create another level of function.

Building emotional, cognitive, and physical intelligence improves our ability to feel, think, and do. Building relational intelligence brings these capacities together to see the world we’re operating in. Context is especially important at times of growth and change.

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    RIGHT NOW

    Most organizations are operating almost entirely from cognitive capacity: data, metrics, analysis. The relational layer is there, but it's invisible. As AI absorbs cognitive tasks, RI becomes the irreplaceable human capacity. And as AI systems gain greater access to the physical world and human bodies, the imperative to build on a strong relational, and therefore ethical, foundation will only become more urgent.

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    IN PRACTICE

    RI helps us identify knowledge and capacity gaps so we know which tools to use at the right time. Contextual, applied research uses methods from across the sciences and usually involves synthesizing qualitative data from people connected to the problem space, quantitative data to validate understanding, and developing action-oriented plans that leverage the realities surfaced during interviews.

The Methods

Contextual, applied research brings in methods from across technology, cognitive science, and change management. Here’s how they map to the relational intelligence model.

Build your Physical Intelligence

Learn how people act.

  • Prototyping

  • Documentation

  • Pilot & scaling models

  • Observation

  • User journeys

  • Wireframing & mockups

  • Pre-flights & post-mortems

  • Organizational readiness

  • Screening & recruitment

Build your Cognitive Intelligence

Understand the pieces.

  • Secondary research & lit reviews

  • Content analysis

  • Descriptive statistics

  • Information visualization

  • Market assessment

  • Impact & cost modeling

  • Theory of change

  • Case studies

  • Surveys

  • Synthesis

  • Idea & prototype evaluation

Build your Emotional Intelligence

Learn how people respond.

  • Interviews

  • Focus groups

  • Observation

  • Power & complexity analysis

  • Strengths-based processes

  • Team building

  • Co-design

  • Persona development

Build your Relational Intelligence

See the whole picture.

  • Systems mapping

  • Principles & constraints

  • Go-to-market plans

  • Pilot & scaling models

  • Reporting

  • KPI development

  • Performance & sprint reviews

  • Role & team definition

  • Resource allocation

  • Budgeting & timelines

  • Capacity building

  • Brainstorming

Two women standing in front of a large whiteboard with sticky notes, discussing in an office setting.

Where RI comes from

RI emerged from my every interaction with people, idea, or place. It builds on many forms and fields of research.

A 2x2 matrix. Contextual studies (Account) ethnography, journalism, case studies, qualitative social science; Contextual moves (application); Generalizable studies (theory): physical scie; Generalizable moves (replication): RCTs, product development.

There are also specific organizations and people who I consider especially impactful on my theory and practice.

UCSD's Cognitive Science department taught me how to think about thinking, and Dr. David Kirsh and Dr. Jim Hollan trained me in human-centered design— the foundation everything else is built on.

IDEO and IDEO.org gave me the rare opportunity to apply that methodology alongside the best practitioners in the world.

The National Equity Project's Liberatory Design framework updated my understanding of HCD, particularly by highlighting how it had left out equity.

The scholarship of Corey S. Shdaimah, Roland W. Stahl, and Sanford F. Schram gave me language to understand where my research sits in the broader context.

The scholarship of Linda Tuhiwai Smith showed me why every method needs a theory to underpin it, and how to develop research that provides a fuller picture of the world.

And my teacher, Marza Millar, who explained to me the ancient art of feel-think-do, gave me the simplest and most durable frame for what RI actually does.

AN OPEN INVITATION

Relational Intelligence is intentionally unenclosed. The phrase is used in many fields. This application is meant to function as a common language: available to anyone who finds it useful, not owned by any one person or business.

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