Boundaryless Conversations Podcast

One of the most revered names in research and design, Erika Hall, Co-founder of Mule Design, joins us on this podcast to challenge the role of research as we know it. In this episode, she shares deep insights into the challenges of navigating research in complexity, and, on the backbone of systems thinking, offers thought-provoking perspectives addressing the growing tensions between investor-driven narratives and evidence-based practices. She brings forth some hard truths on how organizations cherry-pick data to justify decisions; and uses this to help us understand why a genuine research mindset is one where you’re comfortable being proven wrong. This conversation is a powerful reminder that organizations need to embrace curiosity, to stay grounded and relevant. As the author of ‘Just Enough Research’, Erika, has been a revered design consultant, specializing in asking the hard questions to find the right answers. She takes this episode to show that speed does not equate to better decision-making, emphasizing the need for organizations to focus on thoughtful alignment and genuine learning. She explores themes such as the performative nature of modern business practices, the disconnect between financial storytelling and real-world impact, the difference between delegation and democratization, and how organizations can navigate all this in an interconnected ecosystem. Tune in and learn how to ask the right questions and build an organization that’s based on evidence. Key Highlights 👉 Organizations need to embrace research as an anti-authoritarian practice that fosters curiosity and challenges assumptions. 👉 Speed in decision-making is often performative. Slower, thoughtful preparation can lead to better outcomes and long-term agility. 👉 Modularity and decentralization in organizations require clarity in decision-making and alignment. Delegation of tasks is not the same as true democratization of power. 👉 Financial narratives often drive organizational behaviors, leading to misaligned incentives and decision-making that prioritizes appearances over reality. 👉 Systems thinking and psychological safety are crucial for fostering functional, adaptive teams that can navigate complexity and uncertainty effectively. 👉 Organizations should prioritize incremental improvements and long-term value creation over chasing trends and disruptive innovation for its own sake. Topics /chapters (00:00) Decisions, Not Data: Why Research needs Organizational Readiness - intro (00:43) Introducing Erika (01:50) Evolution of Research (08:06) Impact of Portfolios, Modularity, and Ecosystemic Approach on Research (13:04) Organizational Structure, Coherence, and Control (18:39) The right approach for building capabilities (26:06) Pillars of designing a research-backed organization (32:05) Functioning in complexity with coherence (42:47) Researching an Ecosystem of Interactions (49:38) Synthetic User Interviews (53:31) Breadcrumbs and Suggestions Remember that you can always find transcripts and key highlights of the episode on our website: https://www.boundaryless.io/podcast/hall-erika Episode recorded on Nov 22, 2024 Find out more about the show and the research at Boundaryless at https://boundaryless.io/resources/podcast Get in touch with Boundaryless: Twitter: https://twitter.com/boundaryless_ Website: https://boundaryless.io/contacts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boundaryless-pdt-3eo Music Music from Liosound / Walter Mobilio. Find his portfolio here: https://blss.io/Podcast-Music

A popular practitioner of the systemic approach to business, Jennifer van der Meer, founder of Reason Street, joins us on this episode to explore the intersection of business models, capital structures, and ecosystemic value creation. Highlighting how “in business, the challenge is to move beyond the constraints of financial logic and design for broader, systemic impacts that prioritize the health of ecosystems, communities, and bioregions,” Jen challenges to think beyond the existing frames. While tracing the evolution of business models through distinct eras, she reiterates her belief that business modeling is a creative process where new narratives need to be created that redefine how value is created and distributed. It’s an eye-opening conversation and an important one to remember in an age when businesses are designed to merely meet investor expectations of financial returns rather than take a holistic approach. Starting from Netscape’s IPO in the 1990s, Jennifer highlights the pivotal moments that shifted the focus from static business plans to the dynamic models of today. As an Assistant Professor at Parsons School of Design and an advisor and consultant, Jen always advocates designing purpose-driven systems aligned with larger societal and ecosystemic goals. In the conversation, we touched upon multiple themes, such as the inheritance that financial logic projects on business models, how to look beyond financial capital (and the constraints making it difficult), and the new perspectives likely needed to start designing for a regenerative future. Tune in and join us as we stretch existing business model thinking frames. Key Highlights 👉 Business models should be seen as dynamic, narrative-driven frameworks that evolve with societal and technological shifts rather than static plans. 👉 Designing for surplus rather than value capture allows organizations to prioritize contributions to ecosystems and communities over financial returns alone. 👉 Integrating multiple forms of capital—social, environmental, and intellectual—creates a more holistic business strategy. 👉 Platform cooperatives and alternative ownership structures demonstrate how shared value creation can reduce reliance on traditional financial logic. 👉 AI and blockchain technologies offer transformative opportunities, but their true potential lies in enabling community-driven innovation and operational efficiencies. 👉 Organizations must embrace bioregional learning ecosystems to address complex challenges and tailor strategies to their unique social, cultural, and ecological contexts. Topics /chapters (00:00) Beyond Existing Business Model Frames - Intro (00:44) Introducing Jen (02:05) Evolution of Business Models (07:34) Orientation into ages, frames, and types of Business Models (17:31) Capital Structures and it’s impact on Business Models (21:09) Beyond Financial Capital and Measuring Investments (25:55) Impact of Digital Public Infrastructures (28:16) New Business Approaches and Key Innovations (33:45) Driving Other Forms of Capital (39:14) Speeding the adoption rate of concious business models (43:13) Bringing Diversity in Systems of Value (48:12) Breadcrumbs and Suggestions Remember that you can always find transcripts and key highlights of the episode on our website: https://www.boundaryless.io/podcast/jen-van-der-meer Episode recorded on Oct 23, 2024 Find out more about the show and the research at Boundaryless at https://boundaryless.io/resources/podcast Get in touch with Boundaryless: Twitter: https://twitter.com/boundaryless_ Website: https://boundaryless.io/contacts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boundaryless-pdt-3eo Music Music from Liosound / Walter Mobilio. Find his portfolio here: https://blss.io/Podcast-Music

Roger Martin, one of the world’s most influential business thinkers and former Dean of the Rotman School of Management, joined us on this episode to talk about all things strategy. He breaks down how organizations can keep up with the dynamism and complexity of it all: the evolution of strategy across the decades, digital transformation, decentralization’s impact, and the latest frontier, the rapid adoption of AI and LLMs. He challenges traditional approaches to strategy and impact measurement metrics like OKRs, stating, “Strategy is what you do, not what you say." In this candid conversation, he also dispels the angst surrounding AI taking over strategy roles in organizations, highlighting why AI and LLMs are valuable for rapidly synthesizing information but lack the capacity for generating unique, strategic insights that require human judgment and creativity. Join us for this conversation filled with insights. Known for his practical approach, Roger Martin—who’s authored many bestselling books, including “Playing to Win”—has guided thousands worldwide to make clear, actionable choices that drive competitive advantage. In the conversation, we also touch upon themes of risk-taking and the importance of empowering leaders to think strategically at every level of the organization. He argues that teams should be able to challenge ideas and push boundaries, all of which are vital for sparking real innovation. Key Highlights 👉 Leaders should act as strategic coaches, guiding teams to align with bigger goals and fostering a culture of proactive decision-making. 👉 Finding the right balance between centralization and decentralization empowers teams with autonomy while maintaining a unified direction. 👉 Constructive tension within teams drives innovation by encouraging open challenges to ideas, leading to breakthrough solutions. 👉 Embracing intelligent risk-taking is crucial; it allows organizations to grow and adapt rather than playing it safe and missing out on opportunities. 👉 Avoiding one-size-fits-all frameworks is crucial; each organization’s strategy should be uniquely tailored to its specific context. 👉 AI and LLMs serve as powerful tools for rapid analysis and synthesis but cannot replace, human strategic judgment. Topics /chapters (00:00) Doing Strategy in a World of Ruthless Change - intro (00:55) Roger Martin (02:48) Strategy Evolution over 20 Years (07:21) Centralization vs Decentralization: Where to Apply in the Organization? (16:03) Fragmented Decision Making and Creating Boundaries in Strategy (24:20) Building Entrepreneurship in Organizations (35:09) Collaboration vs. Competition in a High Resource Environment (39:37) Creating Shared Value (46:37) AI, LLMs, and the future of Strategy (57:52) Breadcrumbs and Suggestions Remember that you can always find transcripts and key highlights of the episode on our website: https://www.boundaryless.io/podcast/martin-roger/ Find out more about the show and the research at Boundaryless at https://boundaryless.io/resources/podcast Get in touch with Boundaryless: Twitter: https://twitter.com/boundaryless_ Website: https://boundaryless.io/contacts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boundaryless-pdt-3eo Music Music from Liosound / Walter Mobilio. Find his portfolio here: https://blss.io/Podcast-Music

Have you ever wondered how visualizing complex futures can help you take actions and decisions today? Fabien Girardin and Nicolas Nova, pioneers of the practice of Design Fiction, take us on a journey into it to explain what it is for and what comes beyond it. This episode reveals what it means to create tangible expressions of potential futures while considering its complex relationship with technology, global trends, and societal implications. They share real-world examples of scenario building and discuss how to operationalize future thinking in organizations through the use of co-creation, AI, and other tools. Fabien and Nicolas have spent decades guiding small and large organizations to envision and prepare for future scenarios. They are now working to expand the design fiction practice beyond its initial decades of practice. Their work has helped organizations move beyond abstract predictions by engaging with diegetic and relatable prototypes, creating thousands of tools for strategic reflection. Taking the example of the “IKEA Catalog for the Future,” they highlight how everyday objects can become evocative representations that make future concepts more accessible. This episode will serve as a comprehensive guide to visualizing imagination, including insights into AI's potential role as a creative accelerator in building such prototypes. Tune in to discover actionable methods to help you navigate the complexities of the future before it happens. Discount Code for Listeners! Fabien and Nicolas have been kind enough to offer all our listeners a 20% Discount for the Manual of Design Fiction Book (Paperback Edition): Discount Code: BOUND-7BDS4 Link to the shop with discount: https://books.girardinnova.com/discount/BOUND-7BDS4?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fthe-manual-of-design-fiction Disclaimer: this is not an affiliate link, Boundaryless doesn’t monetize your book purchase. Key Highlights 👉 Design Fiction shifts future thinking from abstract complexities to tangible prototypes, making it easier for organizations to grasp the potential impact of future scenarios. 👉 Using mundane, everyday objects is important to bring complex technological and societal changes to life while making it more relatable. 👉 Building a "Design Fiction muscle" involves integrating future thinking as a regular practice within organizations rather than relying on occasional workshops. 👉 AI is transforming future prototyping by accelerating the process and providing a larger perspective for creative explorations. 👉 To stay ahead of disruption through continuous improvement, it’s important for organizations also to involve diverse perspectives. 👉 Design Fiction can go beyond product and service prototypes to also reimagine organizations themselves. Topics /chapters (00:00) Quote (00:53) Guest Introduction (02:17) Introduction to Design Fiction (06:12) Changes of Design Fiction over the decades (10:56) Methods in deploying Design Fiction (15:36) Being “Diagetic” (18:27) Use Cases, Competitive Advantage, and Motivations for Design Fiction (21:03) Operationalizing Design Fiction Capabilities (27:05) What’s the hard part in adopting Design Fiction (30:56) AI in Design Fiction (37:09) The Implications of Design Fiction (41:52) Future of Design Fiction (45:00) Breadcrumbs and Suggestions Remember that you can always find transcripts and key highlights of the episode on our website: https://www.boundaryless.io/podcast/Girardin-Nova Episode recorded on Oct 01, 2024 Get in touch with Boundaryless: Find out more about the show and the research at Boundaryless at https://boundaryless.io/resources/podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/boundaryless_ Website: https://boundaryless.io/contacts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boundaryless-pdt-3eo Music Music from Liosound / Walter Mobilio. Find his portfolio here: https://blss.io/Podcast-Music