What is Value Sensitive Design ?

As the ESG agenda becomes mainstream we need to understand how to transform four key areas in our organizations

Vasilis Hartzoulakis, PhD

4/15/20234 min read

four boy playing ball on green grass
four boy playing ball on green grass

Introduction

Value Sensitive Design (VSD) is a framework for designing systems that are aligned with human values. It is a multi-disciplinary approach that involves stakeholders in the design process, considering their values, needs, and expectations. The aim is to create systems that promote human well-being and respect fundamental human rights. VSD has been applied in various domains, such as healthcare, education, and technology, and has gained significant attention in recent years.

In this essay, we will explore the principles of VSD and supply guidance on how to implement it in practice. We will discuss four key steps for implementing VSD: discovering the values of your stakeholders, implementing a culture of compassion, hiring the right talent, and implementing metrics that are value-inspired but ensure profitability.

Discover the Values of Your Stakeholders

Before implementing VSD, it's important to understand the values of your stakeholders. Stakeholders can include users, designers, developers, investors, and others who may have an interest in the technology being developed. To discover the values of your stakeholders, you can use a variety of methods, including surveys, interviews, and focus groups. By understanding the values of your stakeholders, you can design technology that not only meets their needs but also aligns with their values.

There are several methods for discovering the values of stakeholders. One approach is to conduct surveys or interviews with stakeholders to gather their perspectives on what is important to them. This can be done through online surveys, focus groups, or one-on-one interviews. Another approach is to observe stakeholders in their natural environment to understand their behaviour and values. This may involve conducting ethnographic research, where researchers immerse themselves in the stakeholders' culture and catalogue their behaviour first hand.

One way to discover the values of your stakeholders is through a value-sensitive inquiry. This process involves asking questions about the values that stakeholders would like to see reflected in the technology being developed. For example, if you're developing a new social media platform, you might ask users about the values they think are important for a social media platform to embody, such as privacy, security, and inclusivity. For example, if a new healthcare application is being developed, stakeholders can be asked about their values about patient privacy, security, and inclusivity.

Another way to discover the values of your stakeholders is through stakeholder mapping. This process involves mapping out the stakeholders involved in the project and finding their values and interests. This can be done through interviews, surveys, and focus groups. By understanding the values of each stakeholder, you can ensure that their interests are represented in the technology being developed.

Once the values of stakeholders have been identified, the values can be prioritized based on their importance. This can be done through a value-ranking exercise, where stakeholders are asked to rank the importance of various values. The results of this exercise can be used to inform the design of the system, ensuring that it reflects the values that are most important to stakeholders.

Implement a Culture of Compassion, Caring, and Love in Your Organization

VSD is not just about designing technology that aligns with human values, but also about creating a culture of compassion, caring, and love within your organization. This culture should be reflected in the way employees are treated and in the design of the technology being developed. By creating a culture of compassion, caring, and love, you can ensure that your employees are motivated to design technology that reflects these values.

To implement a culture of compassion, caring, and love, it's important to start at the top. Leaders within the organization should model these values and make them a priority in decision-making processes. This can be done through training, mentoring, and coaching programs that focus on empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence.

Another way to implement a culture of compassion, caring, and love is to encourage collaboration and teamwork. This can be done through team-building activities and creating a sense of community within the organization. When employees feel connected to their colleagues and the organization, they are more likely to work together to design technology that reflects the values of the organizati

Hire the Right Talent and Implement Processes

The third step in implementing VSD is to hire the right talent and implement processes that promote the values of the organization. Hiring the right talent is critical for creating a culture that is aligned with the organization's values. This includes hiring employees who share the organization's values and are committed to its mission

To ensure that the right talent is hired, organizations can implement processes that promote the values of the organization. This may include creating a job description that reflects the values of the organization and conducting interviews that assess the candidate's alignment with those values. Additionally, organizations can supply training and development programs that promote the values of the organization and help employees understand how their work contributes to its mission.

When hiring employees, it's important to look for individuals who are aligned with the values of the organization. This can be done through interviews and assessments that focus on values, as well as skills and experience. By hiring employees who are aligned with the values of the organization,

Processes can also be implemented to ensure that the technology being developed aligns with the values of the organization. For example, a review process can be implemented to ensure that the design of the technology is in line with the values of the organization. A checklist can also be used to ensure that all aspects of the design align with the values of the organization.

Implement Metrics That Are Value-Inspired but Ensure Profitability

Implementing metrics that are value-inspired but ensure profitability is crucial in VSD. It is essential to ensure that the technology being developed is financially viable while also reflecting the values of the organization not just the values of shareholders or investors. This can be achieved by developing metrics that align with the values of the organization while also ensuring that the technology is profitable.

For example, if a healthcare application is being developed, metrics can be developed that focus on patient outcomes, such as the number of patients who have improved health outcomes after using the application. Other metrics could include patient satisfaction, the number of patients who continue to use the application, and the cost savings achieved using the application.