Odesys

Opens the ego & eco Codesigns from the future Dissolves via systems thinking

NEW @ Odesys:

New book: Open Design Systems by A.R.M. (Rogier) Wolfert

Available (from August 2023) as Open Access E-book, see QR-codes below,

and available as a printed book (hard copy) from IOS Press

We open the ego & eco

Odesys stands for Open Design Systems

Here, Design has the meaning in the broadest sense of the word, of devising and developing creative solutions to a wide range of problems (and therefore not the narrow definition of buildings designer). Systems are therefore not limited to just physical systems (“engineering systems”), but are also organizational or planning systems (“management systems”). Odesys follows a system-oriented and model-based approach in which the eco-system in the outside world (‘system-of-interest’) and the ego-system in the inner world of man are integrated. In other words, Odesys aims in its approach to unite the properties of object (feasibility: technical) and subject (desirability: social) and uses the principles of the V-model1The V-model is a graphical representation of a systems development lifecycle. The V-model summarizes the main steps to be taken in conjunction with the corresponding deliverables within product and/or project life cycle development. See e.g., INCOSE: V-Model of Systems Engineering Design and Integration” and/or Prof. Wolt Fabrycky and Prof. Benjamin Blanchard. (eco: ‘open ended’, ‘open space’, ‘open glass box’) and those of the U-model2U-model is a sociotechnical process model proceeding from phenomenological diagnosis of the present state of the organisation to plans for the future. The method draws on the Goethean techniques described by Dr. Rudolf Steiner, transformingobservations into intuitions and judgements about the present state of the sociotechnical system and decisions about the future. The different U-formation stages represent explicitly recursive reappraisals at progressively advanced levels of reflective, creative and intuitive insight and (epistemologies), thereby enabling more radically systemic intervention and redesign. See e.g., Prof. Friedrich Glasl and/or Prof. Otto Scharmer. (ego: ‘open mind’, ‘open heart’ and ‘open will’) for this. Odesys follows the main principles of the Open System Theory3The open systems that we know of are systems that allow interactions between their internal elements and the environment. An open system is defined as a “system in exchange of matter with its environment, presenting import and export, building-up and breaking-down of its material components. Closed systems, on the other hand, are held to be isolated from their environment. Equilibrium thermodynamics, for example, is a field of study that applies to closed systems. The idea of open systems was further developed in systems theory. Here, systems theory is the interdisciplinary study of systems, i.e. cohesive groups of interrelated, interdependent parts that can be natural or human-made. Every system is bounded by space and time, influenced by its environment, defined by its structure and purpose, and expressed through its functioning. A system may be more than the sum of its parts if it expresses synergy or emergent behavior.. Through this eco-ego synthesis, Odesys creates added value in its environment with Open Design Dissolutions4Prof. Russell Ackoff called 4 methods of ‘problem solving’ (1) Absolve (2) Resolve (3) Solve (4) Dissolve. His point was that the further you take your problem solving the more likely you will make the problem go away for ever. There is even an extra twist: Absolving and Resolving don’t count as solving the problem. I’m sure you would agree. Solving, though valid, involves current knowledge.  If there is a known solution you shouldn’t have to waste your time on it. As a manager — a paid problem solver — only Dissolving problems is a worthwhile use of your time. Dissolving requires a open and non-conformist manager that is interested and connected to unknown problems and has the ability to develop new knowledge and prospective expertise for a resilient future. as a result. 

Odesys is an experienced problem solver

She has years of project and asset management experience in the infrastructure sector (transport, water management, energy, telecom) and the built environment (real-estate). She has also been active for many years in ‘learning & development’, ranging from secondary (free school) education to (technical) university MSc and PhD education.

Odesys is a true “codesigner”

Odesys likes to work with organizations that want to put their energy in togetherness, with an open mind and from an open space and creative commons5Collaboration is the sharing of each other’s viewpoints along the axis of the creative common-principles (‘commons’): common purpose (to what, where), common sense (what for, why) common ground (with what, from what). From this common ground, new and future solutions for a specific organisation or grouping (‘community’) can unfold for the benefit of common-wellbeing through synthesis.. Odesys makes compromises and goes for joint synthesis. From this associative power, Odesys works with common sense on each other’s common purpose and transforms impossibilities into resilient and sustainable solutions.

We dissolve via systems thinking

Odesys connects its problem-solving ability from industry with state-of-the-art R&D knowledge and skills from science 

Odesys works according to the principle of so-called “Creative Commons”6Creative Commons  is devoted to educational access and expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share. These Creative Commons are free of charge to the public. and thus provides open access to these systems and (educational) concepts in an open-source manner. Odesys wants to give a “push” to the application of these state-of-the-art developments, and stimulates the potential user to share experiences and take up improvements and/or extensions. Odesys can of course support you and your organization with ‘advice and action’ (A&A) on her products.

Odesys has played an important role in the development of the following Creative Commons

  • The Preferendus for solving ‘a-priori multi-stakeholder design/decision making’ in order to achieve ‘best fit for common purpose’ solutions and/or to smoothen stalled decision-making processes (‘confronting conflict’ & ‘getting into yes’);
  • The 3C-Planner for an optimal and integrative asset management plan in which activities are centred, clustered and calculated at a system level in the most efficient and effective way for all asset managers involved (‘multi-system interventions’);
  • The Mitigation Controller (MitC) for automatically generating the ‘best fit for common purpose’ set of control measures to make probabilistic adjustments to project plans as efficient and effective as possible;
  • The 3-Folder for diagnosing and improving the socio-eco purpose of an organisation so that it is resilient to the future according to the tripartite principles of man, organisation and society (‘3-division’: economic, ecological and isonomic);
  • The Open Design Learning concept (ODLc ) for creative, constructivist and future-oriented education, in which the pupils/students make an ‘ODL response’ based on an ‘experiential & self-chosen’ learning vehicle.

The above systems and/or concepts are based on scientific peer-reviewed publications7For scientific publications and/or other substantive information, please contact Prof.dr.ir. Rogier Wolfert: R.Wolfert@tudelft.nl.

For further info, see www.github.com/TUDelft-Odesys and/or www.open-design.school.

We codesign from the future

Odesys follows a constructivistic and codesign approach with their clients

Odesys stimulates the true problem analysis of its customer through its recent incitements and experiences. This open dialogue often leads to a unique design plan or approach in which her creative commons is not an end in itself, but a possible means. This approach connects the inner organizational learning ego and the outer real world eco. Odesys cooperates with their clients in a living dialogue in- and on-action. This co-reflective dialogue creates an open space where alternative views can co-exist and new insights can be conceived to dissolve their problems.

Odesys designs a common future from a threefold human and world view:

Head..imagination/ Heart..inspiration/ Hands..intuition/ /Economic..association/ Isonomic..equality/ Ecological..manifestation.

The starting point of cooperation is the sharing of each other’s viewpoints along the axis of the common-principles8Common(s) : “belonging to all, owned or used jointly, shared by all or many”, from Latin communis “common, general” (adj.) also served as a noun meaning “common property; state, common-wellbeing. Ensuring the optimum solution originating from equal human starting points (equality, fraternity): common purpose (to what, where), common sense (for what, why) common ground (with what, from where). From this common starting point, new and future solutions for a specific organisation or grouping (‘community’) can unfold for the benefit of common-wellbeing through synthesis9Synthesis : “deductive reasoning”, from Latin synthesis “collection, set, suit of clothes, composition (of a medication),” from Greek synthesis “composition, a putting together”. Deriving the optimum solution by integrating different human preferences (freedom).).   

Odesys is a corruption of the word Odysseus 

Odesys is partly inspired by the stories of Odysseus and three typical expressions/sayings that come from it:

  • ‘An Odysseus ruse, like the Trojan horse‘, meaning a creative way out of a seemingly insoluble problem;
  •  ‘A choice between Scylla and Charybdis‘, meaning how to find/secure the golden mean even in the case where one has to (merely) balance between ‘two evils’;
  • ‘A Cassandra prediction and/or Cassandra information‘, meaning a prophecy of doom that later proves to be correct and in particular based on true relevant information that one should not or does not want to hear.

Odesys likes to share her Odysseus story along her own wanderings: the C-story10Creative Commons, Conscious Critical Commendation Crystalline Cogent Construct Concern Convey Courage Care Curiosity Compile Communicate Combine Compare Compassion…... If you are interested in this please try to connect with us.

Odesys is associated with the following strategic partners: