1. Harnessing Serendipity in coworking
Discovery consists of
seeing what
everybody has
seen and thinking
what nobody has
thought
Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Global Oasis Network Coworking Europe 9.11.2012, Ilkka Kakko

2. The history of serendipity
Persian fairy tale ”The travels and adventures of three princes of Serendip”
(Serendip is the ancient name of Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka)
Horace Walpole (1717 -) was fascinated by the tale and started to write
about ”serendipity” in his widespread correspondence
One of the most difficult English words to translate, voted also to TOP 10 in
the most beautiful English words
The phenomena was further elaborated and studied by Robert K. Merton and
various others (et al Royston Roberts)
Global Oasis Network Coworking Europe 9.11.2012, Ilkka Kakko

3. Cases throughout the history
Columbus, Newton, Archimedes, Watt ……
Penicillin, Teflon, Post It, artificial rubber, X-rays, SMS, Viagra, vacination on
small box …..
Google, Pixar, 3M, Virgin, MIT Media Lab …..
List of books: Merton, Roberts, Eyre, Jaworski, Taleb, Hagel et al, Hoffman,
Lane&Becker….
Global Oasis Network Coworking Europe 9.11.2012, Ilkka Kakko

4. Some definitions
”lucky accident” --- too simple, luck overrated
”Finding something valuable while looking for something else” -- better
Original Walpole’s definition driven from the Persian fable:
”They (the princes) were always making discoveries, by accidents and by
sagacity, of things of value that they were not in quest of” (Brewer’s
Dictionaryof Phare and Fable 1977)
Ongoing SerenA research project in U.K. defines it in three elements :
unexpected event or encounter  insight  value
Luis Pasteur: ” Fortune favors a prepared mind”
Global Oasis Network Coworking Europe 9.11.2012, Ilkka Kakko

5. Plan, design, harness ……?
So far I have found several ways to describe it:
”Planned serendipity” Lane&Becker
”Design for serendipity” Hagel et al
”Maximize serendipity around you” Taleb
”Engineering serendipity” ??
”Serendipity machine” ”Serendipity Engine” – these both sound
way to brutal as coming from the past thinking from the industrial age
I use ”Harnessing serendipity” on individual and community level and
”Serendipity management” on institutional and organizational level
Global Oasis Network Coworking Europe 9.11.2012, Ilkka Kakko

6. What are we talking about?
Attitude, mental state
Unexpected events
Preparedness
Insight
Curiosity
Supporting elements – environment, facilitation, interaction, diversity
Synchronicity
Emergence in complex systems
…..
Global Oasis Network Coworking Europe 9.11.2012, Ilkka Kakko

7. The themes to elaborate
1) Unexpected design (physical, virtual)
2) Unexpected encounters
3) On personal level, serendipitous lifestyle
Global Oasis Network Coworking Europe 9.11.2012, Ilkka Kakko

8. Thank You!
Further information:
Oy Karostech Ltd
Contact person: Ilkka Kakko
E-mail: Ilkka.kakko@globaloasis.fi
+ 358 50 536 2941
www.respectserendipity.com; www.globaloasis.fi
Twitter: Serendipitor
In Facebook a great group:
Serendipity Management: http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6655331989
Global Oasis Network Coworking Europe 9.11.2012, Ilkka Kakko