"It is fairly easy to see that there is no failure that cannot be described as a lack of either integration or development. The key is to find a way to anticipate this beforehand - that's where I help."
Consultant
(Systemic approaches)
Author
(Novels, popular science)
(Systemic approaches)
- Strategy development
- Prozess optimization
- Organisation culture
- Moderation, stakeholder workshops
- etc.
Author
(Novels, popular science)
- The WHY of Life Part 1
- The WHY of Life Part 2
- The WHY of Life - the game
- KNOW-WHY: Systems Thinking and Modeling
- etc.
In 1995, during my studies, I wondered why things had to be the way they were. Intrinsically motivated, I combed through the library and stumbled upon biopsychology, systems theory, sociology, catastrophe theory, and quite a bit of philosophy. Super fascinating, but none of it gave me satisfactory answers—I could always think of examples of why companies, products, economies, or families are not successful.
From this combination, I developed the metasystemic explanation that truly everything—from companies and strategies to individuals—is only successful if it integrates (adapts) and continues to develop (in competition and with change). If something does not develop further, or develops too much, it will not be successful. Does that sound trivial? It is, until we consciously reflect on what, in our particular challenge, is hindering or fostering integration and further development.
What’s essential is that our hormones and neurotransmitters are only designed for this purpose—to make us strive for integration and further development, or, if these are lacking, to make us experience negative feelings. With this mindset, it becomes possible to explain what makes particular recipes for success effective, and what makes them fail.
The collective striving for integration and further development is, in fact, the explanation for the formation and ultimately the failure of cultures—which is also why, in my personal life, I am committed to a transformation towards greater sustainability.
From this combination, I developed the metasystemic explanation that truly everything—from companies and strategies to individuals—is only successful if it integrates (adapts) and continues to develop (in competition and with change). If something does not develop further, or develops too much, it will not be successful. Does that sound trivial? It is, until we consciously reflect on what, in our particular challenge, is hindering or fostering integration and further development.
What’s essential is that our hormones and neurotransmitters are only designed for this purpose—to make us strive for integration and further development, or, if these are lacking, to make us experience negative feelings. With this mindset, it becomes possible to explain what makes particular recipes for success effective, and what makes them fail.
The collective striving for integration and further development is, in fact, the explanation for the formation and ultimately the failure of cultures—which is also why, in my personal life, I am committed to a transformation towards greater sustainability.
Asking about the “why” leads to what is called the "KNOW-WHY mindset."
The KNOW-WHY wave illustrates an event space. As you move up the wave, something develops further towards greater success. Without further development, the wave moves on. Too much development, and something crashes into failure.
With my experiences from many parts of the world (Europe, USA, Africa), I am happy to help others understand the interconnections and the “why”—as a prerequisite for successful action!
The KNOW-WHY wave illustrates an event space. As you move up the wave, something develops further towards greater success. Without further development, the wave moves on. Too much development, and something crashes into failure.
- From this mindset, a questioning technique for exploring interconnections can be derived—the so-called KNOW-WHY Method. We have incorporated this into the Consideo iMODELER software.
- Through workshops (in German and English), I teach this mindset in a practical, everyday way.
- As a scientist, I usually apply the method implicitly to analyze interconnections.
- As a consultant and facilitator worldwide, I also use the method and mindset implicitly, and explicitly when appropriate.
- After several popular science books, I am currently continuing my novel series, which tells the story of KNOW-WHY for our civilization, AI, a family, a company, and much more.
With my experiences from many parts of the world (Europe, USA, Africa), I am happy to help others understand the interconnections and the “why”—as a prerequisite for successful action!