Strategic Sustainability and Systems Understanding in Practice

The Swedish Roadmapper Laboratory starts from a simple premise:

Sustainability transitions are system transtions.
They must therefore be handled as such.

Our working method is shaped by the integration of the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) and system analysis as well as system dynamic understanding, developed within the research at the SustainTrans Research Team at BTH.

We don't start with solutions.

We start with understanding.

1. We Define Sustainability Clearly

We work based on a principle-based, scientifically based definition of sustainability.

This gives:

• clear direction
• visible tradeoffs
• strategic relevance
  
  

We ask:

What does it take to make this system sustainable?

before we ask:

What should we do?

2. We consider organizations and societies as systems

We approach organizations, sectors and societies as complex systems.

We focus on:

• structure
• relationships
• feedback
• dynamics over time

This makes it possible to understand:

why systems behave the way they do – and where change is possible.

3. We connect the organization to the societal transition

Organizations are embedded in larger systems.

We therefore always analyse:

how organizational value creation interacts with societal sustainability transition

This illustrates:

• risks
• opportunities
• strategic positioning
  
  

4. We work strategically, not just a step along the way

Based on backcasting from sustainability principles, we design:

• pathways
• sequences
• transition logics
  

We don't optimize the current reality.

We orient ourselves towards the future.

5. We design for business and credibility

We focus on:

• early solutions with high leverage
• affordability
• practical implementability
  

We are interested in:

credible transitions, not idealized visions of the future.

6. We use models and instruments to support reasoning

We use system models and simulations as:

instruments for structured reasoning and learning

The Roadmapper Tool and tailor-made instruments support:

• exploratory
• dialogue
• strategic thinking

Not prediction.

From Research to Practice

Our work is anchored in research conducted within the SustainTrans Research Team at BTH.

This ensures that our methods are:

• well founded
• kept together
• not ad-hoc
  
  

We Intentionally Operate Between:

academic research and strategic decision-making

This is the role of the Laboratory.

How This Is Applied

We apply this approach through structured engagement formats, including:

• Test Workshops (Level 0)
• Organizational Kick Starts (Level 1)
• Development of Transition Roadmaps (Level 2)
• Simulators and Decision Instruments (Level 3)

These are described in detail under Services