Christian Madsbjerg and Mikkel Rasmussen

Feb 24, 2014

Christian Madsbjerg and Mikkel Rasmussen, Co-Founders at ReD Associates, discuss the importance of using human sciences to solve business problems. They explore the limitations of relying solely on data analysis, the complexity of approaching unknown problems, and the process of understanding consumer behavior through field work and ethnography. They also highlight the four phases of problem-solving and the ability to predict consumer trends.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Introducing Red Associates: A Different Approach to Consulting

02:21 • 6min

Approaching Big Unknowns

08:13 • 13min

Understanding Consumer Behavior and the Limitations of Asking

21:15 • 5min

The Four Phases of Problem-Solving

25:59 • 14min

Discussion on Resources, Appreciation, and Sponsor Mentions

40:13 • 3min

Christian Madsbjerg and Mikkel Rasmussen - The Moment of Clarity: Using the Human Sciences to Solve Your Toughest Business Problems, Co-Founders at ReD Associates where they employ social sciences to study human behavior. Christian Madsbjerg has been leading projects and client programs since ReD’s foundation. He writes, teaches, and speaks about the kinds of methods and reasoning needed for fact-based investigations of human activity, emotions, and decision-making processes. He is the author of books on social theory, discourse analysis, and politics. Mikkel B. Rasmussen, a specialist in innovation strategy, is the Director of ReD’s European division. Mikkel founded Mindlab, the first innovation lab for the public sector in Denmark. His work focuses on helping companies create and implement a direction for the future and figure out where and how to focus innovation. He’s on the board of Copenhagen Clean Tech, numerous startups, and several design policy and management firms. What we learn in this episode: • What are the 3 most common types of problems a business can face and which ones are best solved with human sciences? Problems that are known (algorithmic problems). These can be solved with numerical analysis and spreadsheets. Hypothetical problem. You have seen the problem before and you can create a hypothesis and calculate your way back. Unknown problems. Problems that you aren’t sure even exist, but you tend to know something is wrong. These can only be found out using human sciences and observation. • Is yoga a sport? Well, that decision is up to you. But fitness is now 50% of the sporting industry and women are the largest consumer of sporting apparel. • Why do consumers lie in focus groups? Most people answer questions the way they would like to believe they act. They would like to think they make rational decisions based on analysis. However, science has shown us that the majority of the time this is not true. • ReD makes sense of the culture outside a company utilizing 5 phases: Ask the right question Study consumers in their natural environment Pattern recognition and analysis Insight – what to do with the information gained Make sure that the company can understand the recommendations and be ready to act on it. • If you are a business, stop phrasing your question in business terms – phrase it in personal terms. Turn it into a human question, something that people can experience. Notable Quotables from Christian and Mikkel:

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