Creativity Training
HUMAN SYSTEMS DESIGN
clarity in action
Human systems can be defined as broadly as one likes. In plain language, they somehow include humans. They can be small like one product and its user or large like global communities.
What distinguishes them, e.g., from inanimate systems, is the free will of their participants. Human systems are less predictable because, I believe, every person has a free will and can change their course of action in any moment.
Hence, many, if not all human systems need to be conceived as dynamic, adaptable and self-regulating. They are never closed, but always changing. The purposes they are serving, what is good or bad for them, are also changing all the time.
What I can do for you
Depending on what you know about your problem. Some people know they have a problem, some (think they) know what sort of solution will solve it, some can outline a part of (one) solution. I try to help everyone. An output can be a concept of the solution(s), usually complemented with a possible, probable or preferable realization path. Sometimes I can help in their practical realization.
I really like new, unusual problems. I am confident there are always ways out from them: 'unsolvable' challenges, wicked problems and such like. I enjoy taking different perspectives and exploring possible solutions as comprehensively and creatively as possible.
No one knows everything: where necessary, I cooperate with other professionals, scientists and firms from Finland and other countries. Participatory methods such as crowdsourcing of ideas, futures workshops, Delphi studies etc. can be organized globally with digital means or locally in cooperation with the customer.
Previous customers, experience
The tree above lists what I did in the past, you can also check examples of my thinking in the Ideas section (especially in the Futures subsection). Service design, business design and collaborative networks design were the most frequent categories.
By June 2020, I have helped over fifty relevant customers. Their size varied a lot (some were global leaders), as well as their industries and sectors. The nature of the problems has been changing according to the dominant trends: e.g. globalization, digitization, artificial intelligence, sustainability, self-sufficiency...
It is difficult to compare myself with all other suppliers, but I can share one story.
In 2018, the Global Challenges Foundation announced a contest with USD 5M in awards, of which the absolute winner would have received at least USD 1 M. The task was to suggest a global governance system that would meet a number of criteria, e.g. equality of people, being realistic for the coming decade etc.
A tough challenge and good money, also for scientific, expert organizations and consultancies. I decided to participate. Over 12.000 others also decided so and registered for the contest. Yet only about 2.700 of them submitted their entries. (Here is mine, just in case.)
I did not win, but I was in that top quarter who delivered.
Why Lauras Nareiko
-
Professional futurist. Master's degree in Futures Studies, currently a PhD candidate in Futures Studies in Finland, a country that is a global leader in the field. Knowledge about what is changing and how to influence futures.
-
Good in reaching clarity and formulating high-level questions to answer, which is sometimes half of the solution.
Check, for instance, my Master's thesis about a highly complex theme, briefly presented here.
-
Courage. Practiced at working with impossible problems. Even alone, if no one else is willing.
Can people in totalitarian countries get free? I am working on it.
-
I know how to be creative, not only by using rational tools and frameworks, but also intuitive, spiritual capabilities.
For example, I took part in the Bielefeld challenge that required participants to prove that the city did not exist. (See my entry here.)
Keywords: