The Unicist Extreme Design (UXD) Methodology was developed to design solutions in adaptive environments. Adaptive systems have open boundaries, which make them complex and therefore they require a conceptual approach to manage their fundamentals. It is a “Back2Back” methodology to solve complex problems.
The Functionality of the Method
The UXD methodology was created to develop adaptive systems or solutions for complex problems. It is based the use of the conceptual structure that describes the functionality of the adaptive system, which allows designing the actions (UBAs*) that ensure the functionality of the solution.
*Unicist Binary Actions (UBAs) are two almost simultaneous actions that need to be developed in adaptive environments to ensure the achievement of results. Generally, they are the actions that build the maximal strategy and actions that build the minimum strategy.
These UBAs have to pass three tests to be confirmed. These tests are the input for the reflection process that allows redesigning the solutions until they work.
UBAs to Manage Complex Adaptive Systems
Influencing adaptive environments requires the development of simultaneous binary actions (UBAs) to influence each adaptive function of the environment.
It requires defining the ontogenetic maps of the functions that are involved, their maximal and minimum strategies, and developing the consequent UBAs to ensure the generation of results.
The adaptive behavior of social and institutional environments is homologous to the behavior of nature.
Their ontogenetic maps have a triadic structure that requires going beyond dualistic thinking using the unicist logic and developing UBAs.
The UXD-Groups
The UXD-Groups are integrated by two subgroups: one that deals with the design of the solutions and another one that deals with the testing of the solutions. These groups are integrated by three members. If necessary, other members or experts might have transitory roles to deal with specific aspects of the projects.
The activity of these groups is basically virtual unless the solutions require developing physical objects. In this case, the design group works on site while the testing group works in an environment of virtual collaboration.
The Use of Unicist Expert Systems
UXD-Design groups use Unicist Expert Systems that allow making the diagnoses to develop UBAs. The expert systems solve specific problems by managing the root causes of the business functions and developing catalysts to accelerate processes.
They are the expert tools of the Unicist Solution Building Factories that are installed in companies. They make diagnoses and develop strategies, solutions, business objects and catalysts to accelerate the speed of growth of businesses, their processes and their markets.
They are based on the management of the concepts and fundamentals of business functions to develop solutions that include the use of process catalysts to accelerate growth and improve profitability.
The management of adaptive business processes and the use of process catalysts is a turning point in the context of the 4th Industrial Revolution.
The process of UXD-Design:
- Establishment of the objectives to be achieved
- Invitation to participants
- Installation of a solution management system or a substitute
- Definition of the necessary UBAs to achieve the goals
- Development of the first functional prototype of the UBAs
- 1st Test group
- Development of the 2nd prototype
- 2nd Test group
- Development of the 3rd prototype
- 3rd Test in real application
The Members of the Groups
The members of the design group that participate in the development of solutions as well as the members of the testing group that test the solutions also assume a differentiated responsibility within the group, taking one of the following roles:
I) The Coordinator is responsible for guiding the group towards the objectives that have been defined.
The coordinator has the full responsibility for the diagnoses and for achieving the results that have been defined as being possible to be achieved. The participants also have full responsibility for the results after they agreed that such results are possible.
II) The “Fallacy-Shooter” is responsible for assuring the quality of the foundations and justifications in the decision-making processes.
The “Fallacy-Shooter” is the person responsible for guiding the action-reflection-action process in order to improve the accuracy of the diagnoses and of the work processes.
III) The “Ombudsman” is responsible for monitoring the value generation of the design processes.
The “Ombudsman” is responsible for monitoring that the proposals respond to the functional needs of the solutions that are required; s/he guarantees results. The ombudsman represents the “user” and is responsible for generating value to the environment.
Full-time Immersion Clinics (Retreats)
In the case of significant complex problems, it becomes necessary to develop an initial immersion clinic and a closing immersion clinic.
The initial clinic is to define the different functions, processes and aspects included in the unified field of the solution that needs to be designed. These clinics require a 1 1/2 day immersion (including the night).
The closing immersion clinic, on the other hand, is developed after the 3rd pilot test has been concluded, to define the aspects of the final design of the solution. This clinic requires a 2 1/2 day immersion (including two nights).
The participants of these clinics are the members of the design group and the members of the pilot testing group.
UXD-Groups: A Back2Back Methodology
Complex problem solving requires an extreme focus on the concepts of solutions and the development of pilot tests until the functionality of the solutions has been confirmed.
It requires working in the field of what is possible to be achieved and developing the actions that ensure the results that need to be produced.
It implies learning from the pilot tests, which requires a “back2back” attitude among the members of the UXD-Groups. This attitude empowers the development of fully reliable solutions in complex adaptive environments.
Application Fields
Advertising – Business intelligence – Business objects building – Business scenario building – Commercial community design – Complex problem solving – Continuous improvement – Country scenario building – CRM – Educational design – Information technology – Internet design – Knowledge management – Learning process design – Marketing solutions – Marketing objects building – Organizational design – Outsourcing – Product design – Social and business project management – Social lab design – Social objects building – Strategy building – Work process design
The Drivers of the UXD-Groups
The activity of these groups can be focused on making repairs, updates, upgrades or breakthroughs of adaptive systems. The core of their functionality depends on the capacity of their members to manage innovation, aesthetic, creation and improvement.
Innovation
The objective of the UXD-Design is to build a problem-solving innovation. Innovation implies the solution of a problem. The purpose of an innovation is to add value in a given environment.
Aesthetic
The aesthetic varies according to the environment, which implies considering the needs and desires in a particular context as well as what is considered to be harmonic in that particular environment.
Creation
Designs are creations. We use the word creation to name the generation of a new, different, functionality. Creations imply a paradigmatic change. This change can occur at an operational or at a conceptual level.
Improvement
The orientation towards improvement requires the existence of an accepted responsibility and a will, strong enough to deal with the difficulties implicit in every improvement action.
Conclusion
This is a methodology created to design solutions for complex problems. It has been successfully applied in different countries considering their structural cultural differences.
The goals of this methodology are:
- The integration of human efficacy and technology.
- The generation of a knowledge acquisition and knowledge management process.
- The empowerment of the companies’ continuous improvement technology.
Annex
Expert Systems to Sustain Methods
The unicist expert systems are alternative tools for any method that deals with business problem solving or solution building.
They were developed to manage the fundamentals of business processes by managing the root causes of processes to develop solutions in adaptive environments.
With multiple specialized modules to solve specific problems, these systems manage the unified field of the business processes to manage their functionality, dynamics and adaptability.
The Unicist Research Institute