Kalle reflects on learning by doing

Kalle Reflects on Learning by Doing

Take away for leaders at all levels everywhere

Leaders everywhere are discovering that the fastest way to master FSSD’s systemic, systematic, and strategic approach is to jump straight into practice. Learning by Doing is not a slogan—it’s how you truly acquire capability, just as you learn chess, skiing, or SWOT analysis by playing, not by reading about it. For leaders who are busy and under pressure, the point of this reflection is simple: compress the lead time to near zero so you can reach improved ROI and healthier bottom lines sooner by doing the right things in the right order. Often, just a few hours sitting in on an ABCD-in-Funnel workshop—ideally one orchestrated by your middle managers—are enough to see the “game” unfold into concrete business opportunities. Once you experience it, much like Hotel California, you can check out but never leave. The logic sticks because it works.

Why many organizations stall at scale

Despite good intentions, most organizations are stuck. They invest heavily in initiatives that don’t scale and, as a result, are doomed in tomorrow’s markets. The most important two reasons for this are (i) unawareness that an Operative System exists to avoid that problem and/or (ii) a failure to get going with the application of the System also at top management levels. Those failures aren’t just PR headaches in sustainability reports. They erode the bottom line through cost surges, stranded assets, and loss of market relevance. The pattern is painfully consistent: efforts remain piecemeal, not systemic; busy teams chase the latest framework or metric but lack a unifying logic that translates across functions, partners, and time horizons.

More i detail:

The FSSD operative system: built for ROI and scale

Crucially, FSSD is not sustainability “add-on” work. It is a way to drive profitability from the outset by aligning stepwise development with future-fit constraints and opportunities. It is easier to implement than most expect, and more engaging to share across co-creating teams, value chains, and broader stakeholder groups. And the science of action research is clear: organizations failing here either are not even aware of the Operative System, or fail to apply it at Top Managment Levels.

Learning by Doing in ABCD-in-Funnel workshops

The ABCD-in-Funnel workshop is the practical engine of FSSD. It equips teams to see the big picture (the Funnel), assess the current state (A, B, C, D steps), and prioritize actions that are both strategically sound and financially attractive. The method is intuitive and quick to learn. More importantly, it rewards repetition: each session compounds knowledge across functions and partners, turning fragmented efforts into coordinated momentum. For leaders, the quickest route to value is to be present—periodically, not constantly—so you can recognize and resource the right moves.

A 10-point readiness checklist

Use this checklist to accelerate your Learning by Doing and convert intent into results – don’t hesitate to ask our AI Robot for advise regarding each point:

– ABCD-in-Funnel basics: Have you explored the FSSD Global homepage and clicked on “Framework”? It offers a clear overview of the operative system’s components and their logical relationships. Familiarity here speeds up workshop productivity.

– Active leadership: Are relevant leaders actively engaged now, or scheduled to be? See the reflection Pitching through the Wall. Top leaders need not join every ABCD session, but periodic participation is essential to secure and sustain strategic funding.

– Systems thinking, done right: Have you read the Reflection “Is Systems thinking Good? Yes, on one Condition?” ‘Systems thinking’ can be vague or impractical—unless it is made systemic, systematic, and strategic. The difference shows up directly in your bottom line.

– Sustainability reporting that pays: Read the reflection on Sustainability Reporting. FSSD helps integrate reporting mandates with business development so reporting becomes a value creator, not an administrative burden.

– Enlightened self-interest: Do you understand how the FSSD operative system improves your bottom line directly and pragmatically regardless of others’ actions? Review the Funnel concept on the FSSD Global homepage. It clarifies how to avoid practices that will become increasingly costly and how to prioritize scalable pathways.

– Choose a clear topic: What are you exploring first—your organization, a region, a product/service, or a process? Specificity helps you become more future-fit while improving financial performance from the beginning.

– Map interdependencies: Which sectors does your topic depend on? Briefly review FSSD sector analyses (e.g., agriculture, forestry, spatial planning, energy, mobility, material flows, infrastructure, human relations) so your ABCD analysis is grounded in real-world context.

– Moderator in action: Read how an effective moderator makes a group function as one brilliant mind using the shared FSSD mental model. See page 45 of the picture book on our homepage for plenary guidance and page 46 for efficient break-out sessions.

– Cross-sector planning: Download the scientific paper on cross-sector planning from our homepage. Aim to bring people who know about (i) Natural Resources, (ii) Engineering, and (iii) Governance into recurring ABCD workshops. This diversity is crucial for robust, scalable decisions.

– Stakeholder cooperation, proven: Read Kalle’s Reflection on Polymers to see multistakeholder cooperation in action—suppliers, producers, clients, scientists, authorities, and a university co-creating a cascade of systemic, systematic, and strategic steps. The shared FSSD mental model makes what seemed impossible, doable.

From insight to momentum: your next steps

– Surf the “Framework” overview at fssd.global to familiarize yourself with the logic.
– Sit in on an ABCD-in-Funnel workshop led by your middle managers; contribute to prioritization so you experience how financial logic aligns with strategic sustainability.
– Revisit the references: doi.org/10.1002/sd.3357 and the picture book pages 45–46.
– Choose one concrete topic and run a short series of iterative ABCD sessions with cross-sector representation. Fund the first tranche of prioritized actions and measure ROI.

Conclusion: the advantage of Learning by Doing

If you are highly occupied and under pressure to deliver, Learning by Doing with FSSD offers the shortest path from theory to tangible value. A few hours invested in ABCD-in-Funnel workshops can unlock a steep learning curve, sharpen priorities, and turn sustainability from a cost center into a growth engine. Once you see the gains—in reduced risks, better margins, and greater relevance—you will not want to leave. That is the point. Strategic sustainability becomes good business, and good business becomes your new normal.

All hot topic Reflections are direct consequences of our Operative System.

For a deeper dive into the science behind the Operative System that informs all Reflections, see the peer-reviewed Open-Source paper with all its references: doi.org/10.1002/sd.3357. For the full title, see footnote below.

Or, for concluding reflections, practical insights and training, click on “Kalle Reflects” to see all reflections.

If you need any further advice, perhaps getting some further references, please send a question to us from the homepage.

Footnote: Broman, G. I., & Robèrt, K.-H. (2025). Operative System for Strategic Sustainable Development―Coordinating Analysis, Planning, Action, and Use of Supports Such as the Sustainable Development Goals, Planetary Boundaries, Circular Economy, and ScienceBased Targets. Sustainable Development, 1C16.