Throughout the development journey of Gemma.App, I’ve encountered a wide range of disciplines and bodies of knowledge that I would never have come across in the context of my sustainability consultancy. The tech and software industries have developed some of the most advanced tools and methodologies for optimising design, development, and project management—approaches that remain largely unknown outside those fields. In fact, I can confidently say I’ve yet to meet anyone outside of software and technology who is familiar with these frameworks, or who understands more than just their names.
As I immersed myself in these concepts, I repeatedly asked: why were we never introduced to these ideas during our formal education or professional training—especially given how transformative they can be when applied to business processes and even daily decision-making?
I’m now beginning a series of posts and blogs to share what I’ve learned—offering concise summaries of the books, research, and resources I explored while building Gemma. My aim is to bring visibility and awareness to these powerful, often overlooked bodies of knowledge that seem reserved for elite software studios, multinational corporations, or government institutions. This series is written specifically for non-technical business owners and professionals who could genuinely benefit from these insights, without needing a background in the technology sector.
While there are many methodologies out there, I’ve selected only the most reputable, practical, and widely adopted ones for this series. The topics I’ll be covering include:
- The Cynefin Framework
- Team Topologies
- Complex Adaptive Systems
I’m sure I’ll continue to discover more fascinating concepts as I move forward, but for now, this series will remain focused on the titles above—each presented with the goal of providing a competitive edge and meaningful improvement in the way you run your business operations. My posts will be bite-sized and typically no longer than a couple of pages. Each concept is introduced gradually, building on the foundation laid in previous posts.
By the end of this series, I hope to help readers explore more informed and insightful answers to questions like these:
- Why do we become overwhelmed as our business grows?
- Is it possible to scale without adding complexity?
- Why do systems break down or change? Is it really our fault—and can we do anything about it?
- Why does long-term, detailed planning so often fail? Is it even possible to plan effectively?
- How can we respond rationally—and even thrive—in times of crisis?
- What is the most effective way for people to work together? What does science say?
In my next post, we’ll dive into the fascinating and essential world of the Cynefin Framework. See you there.