Understanding why things unfold as they do. Esther van der Valk & Peter van Vliet. Photo TF
Introducing Transitiefocus
Societal transitions are inevitable. The damage they cause need not be.
Transitiefocus is an independent Dutch consultancy specialising in profound societal change. Since 2014 we, Esther van der Valk and Harry te Riele, have supported individuals, organisations, public authorities and cross-sector networks in understanding and navigating the tensions that arise when established societal systems undergo fundamental change. From agriculture and food security to energy, healthcare, democracy and finance, transitions affect far more than technologies, policies and institutions. They challenge people’s identities, livelihoods, relationships and sense of security. We help those involved understand what is happening, why it happens and how to move forward with less unnecessary friction and damage.
What makes Transitiefocus different?
Still from The Talk: crowdsourced deliberation on the future of the municipality of Roosendaal as a whole (2024)
Connecting people and systems. Most approaches concentrate either on systemic change or on individual behaviour. We connect the two. We study how societal developments interact with people’s psychological characteristics, professional positions and responses to uncertainty. This helps explain why transitions accelerate, stall or encounter resistance.
Making cognitive diversity productive. Successful transitions need more than innovators. They also depend on people who maintain, improve or responsibly phase out established systems, alongside those who explore and develop alternatives. Using the AEM-Cube methodology, we help create cognitively complete teams and networks that recognise and value these different contributions. We call this the Human Resources of Societal Transitions.
Turning differences into dialogue. Resistance is not necessarily an obstacle to be overcome. Different perspectives often reveal essential information about what is at stake. We help participants understand one another’s positions, recognise their complementary roles and replace accusation and polarisation with constructive dialogue.
Mobilising collective intelligence. Complex societal decisions require more than expert opinion or conventional public consultation. We design large-scale, structured dialogues involving citizens, professionals, businesses, researchers and policymakers. By combining facilitated dialogue, collective assessment and AI-supported analysis, we help networks develop shared insights and better-informed strategies.
Combining scientific understanding with practical experience. Our approach builds on more than 25 years of experience in transition studies, systems thinking, industrial design, organisational development and human behaviour. We translate complex transition dynamics into accessible explanations, practical instruments and effective interventions.
photo Paul Kampman
Two complementary perspectives
Esther van der Valk and Harry te Riele bring distinctly different but complementary capabilities to Transitiefocus.
Esther van der Valk specialises in coaching, communication, team development and collaboration. She helps individuals and organisations recognise their strengths, work through differences and develop the confidence to operate in changing circumstances.
Harry te Riele, a design engineer by training and a pioneer in Dutch transition thinking, specialises in the dynamics of societal systems, strategic analysis and the interaction between individual behaviour and structural change. His work focuses on explaining why developments unfold as they do and identifying opportunities for effective intervention.
Their own differences mirror a fundamental feature of societal transitions: explorers and optimisers, pioneers and guardians of established practices, all have something valuable.
Please feel welcome to contact us.
