better lives. stronger society / joeri van der steenhoven

@joerivds

Better lives. Stronger society.

MaRS Solutions Lab

How Public Design 2013, Mindlab Denmark

September 3rd, 2013

@joerivds2

Time

Com

plex

ity

Public Systems

Social Challenges

@joerivds3

Challenges for governments

Economic and social challenges increasingly complex Public resources are diminishing

People are better educated and informed than ever before

Technology increases capacity of people to organize themselves

Society operates in networks Public sector operates in silos

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@joerivds4

To tackle complex social challenges and create system change, together with government, ngo’s, foundations, business, academia and the greater community

MaRS Solutions Lab

Chronic disease

Redesign Public services

Youth unemployment

Food

@joerivds5

MaRS Solutions Lab

Wicked problems: there is no agreement on the nature of the problem, and certainly no clear view on what interventions might work to resolve it. (Grint, 2005)

Adaptive leadership: Given their complex, contested nature, adaptive challenges require public managers to engage in the exercise of leadership. (Heifetz, 1995)

@joerivds6

• part of MaRS (independent non-profit)• small core team complemented with secondments, interns &

contractors• three streams of funding:

1. basic funding through a family endowment2. challenge-based funding (partnerships with government,

foundations)3. activity-based funding (grants/fees for service/sponsorships)

MaRS Solutions Lab

@joerivds7

The value of labs

A lab is a dedicated unit that works on complex challenges which require system change

A lab has no answers but a process, a set of methods and tools to find answers to these challenges

A lab provides a common space and support for collaborative experimentation and learning

Al lab introduces new approaches and new (citizen-centered) perspectives

@joerivds8

Design principles

• Start with the citizen, then look at the system

• Create with users and stakeholders , not for them

• Always look for the smallest intervention with the largest possible impact

• No action without reflection, no reflection without action

• Combine to diagnose problems, to galvanize change and to deliver concrete improvements

@joerivds9

Innovators

Key stake-

holdersCapacity

Solutions

DesignDefine

Early Majority

Early Adopters

Prototype Scale

DevelopBuild

evidenceFormulat

eFrame

Public Policy

Syst

em c

hang

e

@joerivds10

Innovators

Key stake-

holdersCapacity

Solutions

DesignDefine

Early Majority

Early Adopters

Prototype Scale

DevelopBuild

evidenceFormulat

eFrame

Public Policy

Syst

em c

hang

e

@joerivds11

Innovators

Key stake-

holdersCapacity

Solutions

DesignDefine

Early Majority

Early Adopters

Prototype Scale

DevelopBuild

evidenceFormulat

eFrame

Public Policy

Syst

em c

hang

e

@joerivds12

Innovators

Key stake-

holdersCapacity

Solutions

DesignDefine

Early Majority

Early Adopters

Prototype Scale

DevelopBuild

evidenceFormulat

eFrame

Public Policy

Syst

em c

hang

e

Hypothesis SynthesisInterventionAnalysis

@joerivds

Better lives. Stronger society.

MaRS Solutions Lab

How Public Design 2013, Mindlab Denmark

September 3rd, 2013