Flow of the original 10-Week ExO Sprint
- Preparation (Pre-Sprint)
Goal: Set up the right environment, define the scope, and assemble the teams.
Activities:
Form teams with diverse expertise.
Select challenges or opportunities to focus on.
Prepare sprint logistics and resources.
Tools: Problem framing, stakeholder mapping. - Weeks 1-2: Ideation & Divergence
Goal: Explore possibilities, identify potential solutions, and expand thinking.
Activities:
Brainstorming sessions.
Create multiple hypotheses and ideas.
Use exponential technologies as inspiration.
Tools: Design thinking (Double Diamond model), mind mapping, future-casting. - Weeks 3-4: Validation & Convergence
Goal: Narrow down ideas based on validation through research, interviews, and data.
Activities:
Engage with potential users or stakeholders to validate problem
definitions and ideas.
Prioritize solutions using decision frameworks like the Impact vs.
Feasibility matrix.
Tools: Lean validation, customer development, MVP (minimum viable product)
design. - Weeks 5-7: Prototyping
Goal: Develop a tangible prototype to demonstrate core concepts and test assumptions.
Activities:
Build rapid prototypes.
Test prototypes with users and gather feedback.
Tools: Prototyping tools (digital or physical), agile development methods. - Weeks 8-9: Testing & Iteration
Goal: Test the prototype in real-world conditions and iterate based on feedback.
Activities:
Conduct real-time pilot tests.
Gather quantitative and qualitative data.
Iterate on the design and features.
Tools: Usability testing, A/B testing, iteration loops. - Week 10: Final Presentation & Launch
Goal: Present the validated prototype and findings to stakeholders, including possible investors or partners.
Activities:
Prepare a compelling presentation highlighting the sprint journey, results,
and next steps.
Plan for scaling and future implementation.
Tools: Storytelling, business case presentation, pitch decks.
Adapting it to sustainability
The sprint builds upon the original ExO sprint framework. It incorporates core sustainability values, principles, theories, tools models and concepts of equity and inclusivity with a focus on developing a Sustainable Transformative Purpose (STP). The STP functions as the guiding mission that aligns all activities with sustainable, long-term impact, replacing the MTP (Massive Transformative Purpose) of the original ExO model.
Sustainability Sprint Overview
Values & Key Principles
The Sustainability Sprint is rooted in values essential to sustainable development, including:
Systems Thinking: Emphasizing interconnectedness and interdependence of social, environmental, and economic systems.
Equity and Inclusivity: Ensuring diverse perspectives are represented and addressing power dynamics within problem-solving.
Resilience and Adaptation: Focusing on creating solutions that are flexible and responsive to evolving environmental and social conditions.
Holistic Impact: Prioritizing long-term, regenerative outcomes that benefit people, the planet, and prosperity equally.
Goals: The primary goal of the Sustainability Sprint is to design innovative, sustainable solutions that address complex social, economic, and environmental challenges. The sprint encourages participants to think beyond short-term gains and instead align their work with broader ecological, community, and economic systems.
Flow of the Sustainability Sprint (10 Weeks)
Note: Fore a detailed, week-by-week sprint flow, task description, please see here
Preparation (Pre-Sprint)
Goal: Establish the foundation, set sustainability objectives, and assemble an interdisciplinary team.
Activities:
Form diverse teams with expertise across sustainability, community engagement, and innovation.
Select critical sustainability challenges, informed by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Conduct stakeholder mapping to identify all entities impacted by the potential solutions, including non-human stakeholders.
Tools: Problem framing, stakeholder mapping, STP workshop (to establish the Sustainable Transformative Purpose).
Weeks 1-2: Ideation & Divergence
Goal: Generate a wide range of sustainable solution ideas, grounded in systems thinking and aligned with the STP.
Activities:
Hold brainstorming and creative workshops that emphasize systemic impact.
Explore multiple hypotheses, considering future trends and sustainability scenarios.
Apply ecological principles and social equity frameworks to expand thinking.
Tools: Design thinking (Double Diamond model), systems mapping, future-casting, scenario building.
Weeks 3-4: Validation & Convergence
Goal: Narrow down ideas based on data, feedback from stakeholders, and alignment with sustainability principles.
Activities:
Engage with end-users, community members, and environmental experts to validate ideas.
Conduct impact assessments to evaluate solutions’ sustainability, social equity, and potential ecological footprint.
Prioritize solutions using criteria such as long-term feasibility, impact, and alignment with the STP.
Tools: Lean validation, equity-centered design, Impact vs. Feasibility matrix, environmental and social impact assessment.
Weeks 5-7: Prototyping
Disrupt Session – giving feedback (external perspective), course correction, pivot
Goal: Develop tangible prototypes that represent the sustainable core of chosen solutions and can be iteratively tested.
Activities:
Build rapid prototypes that incorporate sustainability principles (e.g., resource efficiency, circular economy).
Test prototypes with target communities and stakeholders, focusing on inclusivity and accessibility.
Ensure that prototypes reflect feedback on both ecological and social dimensions.
Tools: Prototyping (digital and physical), circular economy principles, agile development, design for disassembly (for product-based prototypes).
Weeks 8-9: Testing & Iteration
Goal: Conduct real-world testing to gather data and refine the prototype for maximum sustainability and user-friendliness.
Activities:
Pilot the prototype with a focus on real-world sustainability and community engagement.
Gather data from usability tests, interviews, and feedback loops to improve the prototype.
Refine the prototype based on insights into its environmental footprint, accessibility, and adaptability.
Tools: Usability testing, A/B testing, iteration loops, stakeholder feedback mechanisms.
Week 10: Final Presentation & Scaling Plan
Goal: Present the refined prototype and sustainability impact findings to key stakeholders and plan for scaling.
Activities:
Prepare a final presentation, emphasizing the journey, solution impact, and alignment with STP.
Outline a roadmap for scaling, including considerations for partnerships, funding, and sustainability certifications.
Develop a post-sprint plan for continuous improvement and long-term tracking of the solution’s sustainable impact.
Tools: Storytelling for impact, business case presentation, pitch decks tailored to sustainability metrics, partnerships planning.
Mapping Theories/Concepts from the Master’s Program to the Sustainable Innovation Sprint
| Theory | Sprint Component | Application in Practice | Outcome/Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethics | All sprint components. | Embedding ethical considerations, such as ubuntu ethics, throughout the sprint process, including problem definition, solution design, and impact assessment. Ensuring equitable stakeholder engagement and considering the well-being of all beings. | Designing solutions that promote social and environmental justice, equity, and responsible innovation. |
| Relational Approaches to Ontology, Epistemology & Ethics | All sprint components. | Shifting from human-centered to more-than-human-centered design and integrating relational frameworks into problem exploration, stakeholder mapping, and solution development. Emphasizing interconnectedness and understanding the relationships between communities, ecosystems, and stakeholders. | Fostering a holistic and interconnected understanding of sustainability challenges, leading to solutions that consider the well-being of all entities within a system. |
| ‘Mind Maps’ & ‘Mental Models’ | Problem exploration, ideation. | Using mind maps to visually represent complex systems and relationships within the chosen sustainability challenge. Challenging existing mental models and fostering systems thinking. | Developing a shared understanding of the problem and its systemic context, leading to more comprehensive and innovative solutions. |
| Biocentrism & Ecocentrism | Problem definition, solution design. | Framing the sustainability challenge and designing solutions that prioritize the well-being of all living organisms and ecosystems. | Developing nature-centered solutions that contribute to ecosystem health and biodiversity. |
| Coupled Systems Perspectives & Leverage Points | Problem exploration, solution design. | Analyzing the interconnectedness of social and ecological systems in the context of the sustainability challenge. Identifying key leverage points for intervention and designing solutions that maximize impact. | Developing interventions that target high-impact areas and leverage the interconnectedness of systems for transformative change. |
| Paradigm Shift, Paradigm-Opening & Fallacy of Misplaced Concreteness | Problem exploration, ideation. | Encouraging participants to challenge dominant paradigms and assumptions about sustainability, moving towards more holistic and relational perspectives. Recognizing the limitations of human-centric thinking and embracing the complexity of interconnected systems. | Fostering a shift in mindset from reductionist approaches to sustainability towards more holistic and interconnected perspectives. |
| Relational Turn, New Materialism, Ontological Turn, More-Than-Human & Posthuman Perspectives | All sprint components. | Integrating these perspectives into the sprint’s overall philosophy and approach, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human and non-human entities. Moving beyond anthropocentric worldviews and recognizing the agency of all beings and matter. | Developing solutions that are not solely focused on human needs but consider the well-being of all entities within a system. |
| Process Sociology & Processual Theory of Empowerment | Stakeholder engagement, solution implementation. | Using a process-oriented approach to stakeholder engagement, recognizing power dynamics, and fostering empowerment among marginalized groups. | Ensuring equitable participation and decision-making processes, leading to more just and sustainable outcomes. |
| Biocultural Approaches | Problem exploration, solution design. | Recognizing the interconnectedness of biological and cultural diversity in sustainability challenges. Integrating local knowledge systems and traditional practices into solutions. | Developing solutions that are culturally relevant and contribute to the preservation of biocultural diversity. |
| Top-Down & Bottom-Up Frameworks | Problem exploration, solution design. | Integrating both top-down frameworks (e.g., global sustainability goals) and bottom-up approaches (e.g., community-based knowledge) into the sprint process. | Ensuring that solutions are both globally relevant and locally adaptable, addressing the specific needs of the target community. |
| Adaptive Learning Process & Methodological Flexibility | All sprint components. | Embracing an iterative and adaptive approach throughout the sprint, allowing for flexibility in responding to new information and feedback. | Continuously refining the solution and ensuring it remains relevant and effective in a dynamic and complex context. |
| Triangulation | Solution validation, impact assessment. | Using multiple sources of data and perspectives to validate solutions and assess their impact, including scientific research, expert input, and community feedback. | Ensuring the robustness and credibility of the proposed solutions and their potential for positive impact. |
| ‘Thinking Technologies’, Systems Maps, Local Orbits Method & Problem Tree Diagram | Problem exploration, solution design. | Utilizing various visual tools to understand complex systems, identify leverage points, and develop innovative solutions. | Enhancing understanding of the problem’s systemic context and supporting the development of comprehensive and impactful solutions. |
| Iterative Innovation, Design Thinking & Agile/Lean Development | All sprint components. | Applying iterative design and development processes throughout the sprint, emphasizing user-centered approaches and rapid prototyping. | Fostering creativity, experimentation, and continuous improvement, leading to more effective and user-friendly solutions. |
| Transformation Labs, Social Innovation Framework, Social Labs & Experimental Governance | Sprint structure, stakeholder engagement. | Designing the sustainability sprint as a micro-transformation lab, fostering experimentation and co-creation among diverse stakeholders. | Creating a space for collaborative learning, innovation, and experimentation in the context of real-world sustainability challenges. |
| Exponential Organizations & Life-Centered Design | Solution design, implementation. | Adapting the ExO framework to create high-impact sustainability solutions that scale effectively and prioritize the well-being of all living systems. | Developing impactful and scalable solutions that contribute to a more just and sustainable future. |
| Stakeholder Inclusion & Participatory Practices | All sprint components. | Ensuring the meaningful participation of diverse stakeholders throughout the sprint, including marginalized communities and experts. | Fostering collaboration, generating more inclusive solutions, and ensuring that the project benefits all stakeholders. |
| Systemic Innovation & Complexity Science | All sprint components. | Applying a systems thinking approach to understand the interconnectedness of sustainability challenges and designing solutions that consider the complexity of the system. | Developing holistic solutions that address the root causes of sustainability problems and foster transformative change. |
| Innovation Ecosystems | Stakeholder engagement, implementation. | Building and leveraging networks of collaborators and partners within the sustainability ecosystem. | Enhancing the reach and impact of the sprint’s solutions by fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. |
| Circular Economy & Climate Resilience | Problem definition, solution design. | Defining the sustainability challenge and designing solutions that promote circularity, resource efficiency, and resilience to climate change impacts. | Developing solutions that contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future in the face of global environmental challenges. |
| Sustainable Business Models | Solution design, implementation. | Integrating sustainable business models into the proposed solutions, emphasizing circularity, social impact, and long-term viability. | Creating solutions that are not only environmentally and socially responsible but also economically sustainable. |
| Evaluation Frameworks for Measuring Systemic Change & Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) | Solution validation, impact assessment. | Utilizing evaluation frameworks to assess the systemic impact of the proposed solutions and their contribution to transformative change. Applying CLA to understand the deeper layers of the sustainability challenge and develop solutions that address root causes. | Ensuring that the proposed solutions are effective in creating lasting, positive change and contributing to a more just and sustainable future. |
Note: Suggested mapping, some theories/concepts/categories could refer to more than one component, whereas others may may be more relevant to one or more particular segments or aspects of the sprint.