Six Fingers. Strategy and Innovation.

In a world that is becoming increasingly complex and in a time that demands innovation, we help our clients seize the future and take action. We challenge conventional thinking, create perspective, and bring new strategies, scenarios, and innovations to life through products, services, and propositions.

Our team consists of unconventional free thinkers and doers, each with their own expertise. Based in Brainport Eindhoven the Netherlands, we work on a wide range of assignments for clients in the Netherlands and beyond.

Non-linear Thinking

Traditional forms of strategy development carry a high degree of arrogance. The underlying assumption is that there is a role to play in the future and, moreover, that the company will even exist at that time. The existing organization and sector are central, and the strategy is stretched into the future. This is fine, of course, if the current role remains relevant and the existing dominant logic still holds true. Thus, the strategy is, as it is elegantly put, recalibrated.

However, this static way of working creates a significant problem when the future demands a new perspective. We live in a time where systems increasingly influence each other in non-linear ways.

20 June 2024

The Silent Generation

Author: Luuk Huijsmans
With freshly bought apple pies and a can of whipped cream under our arms, we are on our way to the Zonnehof care facility in Tilburg. It’s time for a good conversation over a cup of coffee with the ‘silent generation.’

The silent generation was born between 1928 and 1945. Today, they are between 79 and 96 years old. They grew up during or just after the Second World War and experienced the complex reconstruction of the Netherlands—a period in which they dutifully did what was necessary. In order to build toward a brighter future, hard work was required. Many did not experience any form of luxury or wealth, yet there was no complaining. In contrast to the silent generation, the Baby Boomer generation is otherwise known as the protest generation. The contrast between these two generations’ peaceful and protesting natures led to the name ‘the silent generation.’

16 May 2024

Do you belong to the 2 percent?

Author: Rob Adams

As we age, our brains become less capable of seeing, let alone coming up with, new and innovative solutions. A notable study demonstrating this is research conducted by George Land.

How can you select the right creative engineers and scientists who need to work on groundbreaking innovations? This question preoccupied George Land at NASA in the 1960s.

18 April 2024

Why does the word "non-judgmental" not exist?

Author: Rob Adams
Non-judgmental. A word not recognized by Word. And Van Dale returns the result ‘No result for non-judgmental. The word is misspelled or it is not in the free dictionary.’

Isn’t it strange that judgment exists but non-judgmental does not? As if making a judgment has a right to exist and collecting non-judgmentally does not. Isn’t the problem that situations are already considered with assumptions, standards, and whatnot, causing crucial insights to be unseen, unheard, and uncollected?

25 March 2024

In Conversation with Gen Z

Author: Luuk Huismans
Your teenage daughter is sitting at home on the couch, FaceTiming one of her friends. Slang like “GOAT” and “delulu is the solulu” are hitting you over the head. At this moment, you may feel older than you are. You refrain from asking your daughter what all those things mean, as it would be embarrassing and ‘boomer’. We’ve interviewed a group of young Gen Z-ers to ask the questions you don’t get to ask at the dinner table.

Allow us to introduce Gen Z, also known as the “iGeneration,” born between 1997 and 2010. There are currently around three million Gen Z-ers in the Netherlands who are studying or just starting their careers. Here are some characteristics of Generation Z:

🛜 Known as ‘digital natives’ because they grew up with the internet.
🏳️‍🌈 Embraces and is accustomed to more diversity.
🌩️ Known as a melancholic generation, partly due to concerns about climate and a well-informed understanding of mental health issues.
☯️ Grew up in uncertain times and therefore has a greater need for stability, both socially and financially.
✊Represents strong social and political views and considers these views in day-to-day decision-making.

Six Fingers engaged in a conversation with some Gen Z-ers to find out if they identify with the stereotypes and assumptions about their generation.