Soft Systems & Rich Notes: Karthik Suresh (Part 1)

Описание: Cyb3rSyn Labs Podcast - Episode 34

Cyb3rSyn Labs Podcast explores multidisciplinary insights that help improve the effectiveness of Tech. Practitioners, Executives and Entrepreneurs.

In this podcast episode, Karthik Suresh walks us through his transition from an engineer to a management consultant and reflects on it using Rich Notes. He critiques traditional management for treating organizations like predictable machines, arguing instead that modern problems are complex human situations with conflicting perspectives. To navigate this "messiness," he developed Rich Notes, a visual technique that uses digital drawing to map mental models and facilitate better communication.

He highlights how this approach moved his clients from confusion to action by focusing on purpose and shared understanding rather than just rigid goals. He also reflects on influential literature, such as "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", to emphasize that creative thinking and artistic inquiry are essential tools for improving real-world issues.

This podcast episode is a visual treat - a MUST WATCH for Silicon Valley executives.

Blogpost about the episode: https://www.cyb3rsyn.com/p/soft-syste...

Chapters:

00:00 Intro Reel
01:42 Karthik’s Career Journey
08:00 COVID & Scaling the Method and Testing If It Really Works
08:47 PhD + Naming the Technique: From Rich Pictures to “Rich Notes”
11:42 Influential Books
16:21 Mainstream Management: The Mechanistic View Under Fire
18:10 Engineers vs. People Problems: Why Solutions Aren’t Enough
19:42 Building “Fit for Purpose” Quality
20:59 Why Traditional Management Fails
24:26 Three Engagement Models: Sage, Guide, or “Partners in Crime”
27:36 Manufacturing vs. Services: Standardization vs. Variety
29:54 Beyond Observation: Language, Thought, and Tools Like Rich Notes
31:34 Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) Explained for Silicon Valley Leaders

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