Serendipity Management Master class

Ilkka Kakko! FabLab, Saint Petersburg, Russia 24.10.2013.!

The benefits of coworking

© Lee Fleming 2004 /HBR November 2004!

Discovery consist of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought

Albert  Szent-­‐Gyorgyi  

Postnormal era is here!

•  The “Big Shift” "-  The most useful information is flowing"-  The most dynamic way to motivate is “movement”"-  The driving force is passion"-  The most effective way to organize resources is based on CNOs (Collaborative

Networked Organizations) "-  The competitive edge comes from understanding serendipity and diversity"-  The potential for new ventures is measured by social capital"-  The ultimate happiness is achieved with Work – Learn – Play integration"

•  Pull society!-  Attract - pull instead of push"-  Platforms (virtual and physical) --- to share, to co-create, "

*) Ref: “Postnormal era” was coined by Stowe Boyd, Big Shift is a term by John Hagel et al “The Power of Pull”"

Big Shift ?

"

"

"

"

"

       

h2p://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2013/03/13/sxsw-­‐ausDn-­‐workplace-­‐trends-­‐serendipity-­‐is-­‐the-­‐new-­‐synergy/  

Serendipity

Definition: •  Serendipity is a quality of

mind, which through awareness, sagacity and good fortune allows one to frequently discover something good while looking for something else"

•  In many cases also the process leading to serendipitous findings"

"

Background: •  The Persian fable from 6th

century ”The Adventures of Three Princes of Serendip”"

•  Horace Walpole, Robert K. Merton elaborated further"

"

Work

Learn Play

Examples of serendipity

Science: Archimedes"Columbus"Penicillin"X-rays"Teflon"

Post-It notes"More than 200 examples è"SMS, Viagra, "

Business: •  XeroxPARC, 3M, Pixar,

Google, MIT Media Lab, Virgin, "

•  Ice Hotel (Ice Bars)""

Work

Learn Play

Elements of Serendipity

Elements: •  Unexpected (event,

encounter, use), surprising and odd findings, contradictions "

•  Insight, discovery"

•  (to capture)"

•  Value"

•  Prepared (mind, community, organization)"

The challenge : •  To understand it"

•  To create environments for it"

•  To harness it!"

"

The picture, Stephann Makri / SerenA project!

Plan, design, engineer, manage, harness….. So far I have found several ways to describe it:"

"”Planned serendipity”, Muller&Becker""”Design for serendipity”, Hagel&Seely Brown&Davison""”Maximize serendipity around you”, Nassim Nicholas Taleb""”Engineering serendipity” ""”Cultivating serendipity”""… also serendipity engines, serendipity machines are mentioned"

Coincidensity – diversity and density (Stowe Boyd / Matt Biddulph)"Synchronicity – Joseph Jaworski et al. (Jung….)""My terminology: ""> ”Harnessing serendipity” on individual and community level and"> ”Serendipity management” on institutional and organizational level"

The benefits of coworking

© Lee Fleming 2004 /HBR November 2004!

Discovery consist of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought

Anabel  Quas-­‐  Haase  presentaDon  /  YouTube:  h2p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxMPvTjB3uA#!  

Three types of serendipitous findings

© Lee Fleming 2004 /HBR November 2004!

Business dilemma –” the inbalance of arrows”

Performance/control:

To minimize errors!

Predictability vital!

!

Insights:

Weak ties elementary!

Social capital important!

Work

Learn Play

GLOW; netWork Oasis, Joensuu Science Park!

Definition of Serendipity Management

! “Serendipity management is a comprehensive set of tools and facilitation methodologies, which through:!

!* workspace design, both physical and virtual !!* facilitation of unexpected encounters and !collective insight !

will support the emergence of new combinations of competences and the generation of breakthrough ideas.”!

(h2p://karostech.fi/services/#serendipity)  

How to design for Serendipity – case Oasis

Physical Space: •  Chance encounters ”Coincidensity”!

-  Peripatos"-  Kitchen"-  Serendipity Cafe"-  Temple of Challenge"

•  Space for insight ”Aha, Heureka”!-  Sauna, Katharsis"-  Tandem Chambers"-  Temple of Challenge"

•  Value creation ”Work, work…”!-  Hall of Potential"-  Hall of Results"

Facilitation: •  The code of conduct"

Four zones: privat, semi-privat, semi-public and public"

•  Prepared mind, community, organization!

Work

Learn Play

netWork Oasis, Joensuu Science Park!

How it looks like – netWork Oasis in Joensuu

© Lee Fleming 2004 /HBR November 2004!

Virtual collaboration platforms

Virtual Space:

•  Chance encounters!-  Flow of information!-  Social Media!

•  Engineering (apps)!-  Open or closed !

•  Embedded system!-  Identity !-  ”Digital totem pole”!

Community:

•  Inverse serendipity!

•  Weak ties elementary!

•  Social capital created!

Work

Learn Play

GLOW; netWork Oasis, Joensuu Science Park!

Vital elements of Oasis philosophy

Encourage Diversity: •  “Connecting generations”"•  Combining Arts, Science

and Business"•  Multidisciplinary approach

"

Respect Serendipity: •  Be prepared for the

unexpected, take surprises positively"

•  Communicate with your community"

•  Cultivate personal skills and attitude"

FlexLab opening in Joensuu Science Park, September 2004!

Serendipity management vs project management

© Lee Fleming 2004 /HBR November 2004!

©  Kakko  &  Inkinen,  Science  and  Public  Policy,  36(7),  August  2009,  pages  537–548,  Oxford  University  Press    

Serendipity on personal level

# Be the manager of your calendar!!”Sense of urgency”!

# Change your daily routines every now and then!!”Who can I surprise today”!

# Attend events, conferences, barcamps etc, also those outside your interest zone!

!”Get out of your interest zone”!

# Trust intuition!!”If it feels right, just as well it might be right”!

# Spend time in nature, explore, relax!!”Just do it! Let yourself be insightful”!

!

Serendipity on community level

# Forget networks and networking >> communities rule!!

!”Where do I belong?”!

# Follow your passion!

!”Passion before profit”!

# Focus on your community portfolio!

!”Sharing is caring”!

"

!!

What it takes?

! !

!”There is no more powerful way to attract new ideas and interesting and inspiring people to you, than leading a meaningful life!”!

Muller&Becker 2012!    

Thank you!

For further information: "Ilkka Kakko "

+ 358 50 536 2941!

Twitter: @Serendipitor "

ilkka.kakko@karostech.fi "

www.karostech.fi "

www.respectserendipity.com!