Innovative Public Problem Solving Prof Dr. Arre Zuurmond – Academic director

KAFKABRIGADE

1. Introduction of The Kafka Brigade2. Discuss some example cases3. Share our emergent approach

Our meander together today

• Sandwich shop• Belgian Kafka.be approach• Dutch ‘Lastvanoverheid.nl’ site• Tony Blair’s Stock Taking• The A-team

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KAFKABRIGADE

Origins of KafkaBrigade

• Find solution for 10 wicked cases • first level: case level solutions• second level: category level solutions• third level: capacity level solutions

• Develop method for public domain

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KAFKABRIGADE

Assignment of Ministery of Interior

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• In Holland, when you want to marry, you have to prove in written document:

• your birth certificate• your partners birth certificate• your recent adress• your partner’s recent adress

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KAFKABRIGADE

Example: announcing marriage

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• Kerstens:• disabled (100%) receiving social benefit (UWV)• ‘war-victim’, small additional benefit (PUR)• income tax, small income (50 Euro/week, 10 wk. p.y.)• Problem:• 3 sets of rules that do not work together• one month he gets small allowance of PUR, earns 200• this is added to his payment UWV rights in next month, based

on extrapolation of income (12 times)• he then exceeds income level, and UWV wants back

allowance of last 2 years (20.000 Euro) • YOUR SOLUTION?

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KAFKA BRIGADE

4. Collective Performance Review

2. Exploration

1. Case Research

3. Expert Critique

5. Action Planning

6. Monitoring and Advocacy

The Emergent Approach (2010)

Six Steps in 3-6 Months

KAFKA BRIGADE

Statistical AnalysisPolicy ReviewPreliminary Interviews

Narrative DescriptionProcess MappingFact Checking

Semi Structured Interviews Business Process AnalysisCounterfactualsGenerating Hypothesis

Moderated ExplorationCollaborative InquiryCreative Problem Solving“Pressure Cooker” Method

Case Level SolutionsCategory Level SolutionsCapacity Level Solutions

Checking backIdentifying problemsScaling up replicable fixesEvaluating the process

4. Collective Performance Review

2. Exploration

1. Case Research

3. Expert Critique

5. Action Planning

6. Monitoring and Advocacy

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• Performed approx. 50 case studies (NL, UK)• Succesful action research approach, • Result and action oriented• Close cooperation with academia• Full partnership with local institutions• Recently internationalisation (Kafka.UK)• Adding teaching method (‘train the trainer’)

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The KafkaBrigade after 5 years

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Questions ??