Progressive adoption

FDP Alignment Ladder

Alignment is not binary. It is progressive.

The Alignment Ladder exists to make FDP adoptable without absolutism. No level implies moral superiority. Each level increases clarity and trust. The ladder describes internal practice maturity, not external status or certification.

Level 0 — Awareness

What it means: You understand FDP and reference it informally.

Typical behaviors: Reading FDP; sharing the link; using FDP language to frame expectations.

Level 1 — Commitment

What it means: You publicly acknowledge FDP alignment (individual or organization).

Typical behaviors: Adding an FDP line to LinkedIn; linking to fairdealpolicy.org; referencing FDP as baseline.

FDP-aligned: I collaborate under Fair Deal Policy principles—reciprocity, transparency, proportionality, purpose integrity, human dignity, fair exit.

Level 2 — Transactional Use

What it means: You apply FDP to specific collaborations and proposals.

Typical behaviors: Including FDP in proposals; using FDP to decline misaligned deals; using the Fair Deal Memo template.

Level 3 — Operational Integration

What it means: You embed FDP principles in internal processes and partner practices.

Typical behaviors: Internal partnership checklists; standardized memo use; onboarding collaborators into FDP expectations.

Level 4 — Ecosystem Participation

What it means: FDP becomes a shared baseline across communities, coalitions, platforms, or initiatives.

Note: This level often emerges naturally after sustained use.

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