In practical terms, the IAA is a collective comprised of individuals and various working groups. Each working group has the same mission and operates by the same non-hierarchical principles as the larger body. One type of working group is definined by locality (for example Los Angeles, New York, etc). Another working group would be defined by project - a competition, a newsletter, a radio show, a design project, a body of research. All working groups have a lifespan as long as their relevance: a city may find itself without members, a competition may reach a deadline, or a body of research might be published. These working groups can implement the consensus process in a scaled or improvised form. On the one hand, the process shouldn't become an obstruction to the group's work; but on the other hand, groups shouldn't sacrifice the concerns of individual participants for efficiency. When difficult decisions arise, participants should consider following the process more formally (using Consensus Software, if desireable).
Working groups usually originate informally - through casual discussions between members, or a member with someone interested in participating in a particular project, or as an outcome of a point of discussion at an IAA meeting. The formation of a working group should be announced at the following IAA meeting.
Because of the unique circumstances of each working group, they create schedules, goals, and tactics on their own. The larger IAA does not need to be involved at every step of the process; but things may come up which practically affect the IAA as a whole and these things should be discussed at the next scheduled IAA meeting in addition to a brief report of activity.
The larger IAA does not "check up" on working groups - this is accomplished in the day-to-day operation of these groups where participation in the group is the way to affect its activity. If a member who is not a participant in the group disapproves of what the group has done, that member should be accepting of the tactics in the interest of not assuming a position of power in the IAA.
Finally, the lifespan of a working group might be only a few hours (in the cases of a working group within a working group, formed in order to accomplish a specific task - a rendering, a piece of writing, a purchase). The point is, the groups are flexible and to be trusted.
