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Mind over machine

C.R.O.W.D. the values

"What do you think Dorith would have done in this situation"

C.R.O.W.D. the compass

Section titled “C.R.O.W.D. the compass”

We know that we will be treading ground that is untouched or unexplored and we have therefore designed a compass that can help us set direction in situations where we do not really know where we are going.

Our values ​​are summarized in a C.R.O.W.D. acronym — a compass that can guide our decisions, projects and relationships.

C — Curious

Section titled “C — Curious”

Curious (🇩🇰 Nysgerrig) means that we approach every problem with non-judgmental curiosity and holistic thinking.

We are interested in understanding systemic connections rather than just the isolated individual parts. We can ask questions such as:

  • How will this code affect the entire ecosystem (SDLC) around software development?
  • What are the implicit, unintended consequences of our architecture and design decisions?
  • What specific end-user need is this code a solution to?

In practice:

  • We perform system analysis before technical design
  • We facilitate participatory design with end users
  • We study connections — between teams, functions, users, outcomes.

R — Regenerative:

Section titled “R — Regenerative:”

Regenerative (🇩🇰 Regenerativ) we don’t just try to minimize damage - we actively work to heal and restore.

In software, regeneration means:

  • A green, sustainable perspective — actively limit energy consumption and electronic waste through efficient and backward-compatible code
  • Social restoration — building software that strengthens unity and relationships
  • Financial management — ensure that value is not extracted from the solution but fairly distributed

In practice:

  • We measure and optimize for “green algorithms and infrastructure”
  • We reject profit-maximizing business models that exploit end users or developers
  • We reinvest our profits in supporting people’s total access to common software (FOSS)
  • We develop with a view to long-term system health.

O — Optimize:

Section titled “O — Optimize:”

Optimize (🇩🇰 Optimization) means eliminating waste in all its forms: muda (uselessness), mura (unevenness), muri (overburdenness), technical debt, wasted energy, wasted work effort, and so on…

In practice:

  • We implement one-piece flows to detect the problem early and to minimize work in progress
  • We practice continuous delivery to reduce lead times (the end user’s experienced waiting time from idea to product)
  • We optimize the code to avoid technical debt, reduce the need for maintenance, increase the degree of reusability.
  • We measure and identify cognitive load for development teams
  • We optimize infrastructure for minimal energy consumption

W — Whole:

Section titled “W — Whole:”

Whole (🇩🇰 Helhed) means that we see software development as a systemically living, connected constantly changing ecosystem, not a static product that simply needs to be developed and delivered.

In practice:

  • We build for viability and maintenance, not just for the first delivery
  • We build feedback mechanisms and telemetry into our systems (monitoring, analysis, end-user feedback)
  • We see infrastructure and development as the same system (DevOps)
  • We systematically practice reflection on action to achieve and learn reflection in action
  • We open up so that all stakeholders (employees, users, community) can participate in the decision-making process

D — DORITH: “DO the RIGHT THing”

Section titled “D — DORITH: “DO the RIGHT THing””

DORITH (🇩🇰 Do the Right Thing) is our mascot for integrity. This means that we choose the ethically justifiable path, even if it may be longer or cost more in the short term.

Imagine Dorith as externalized imaginary person of “DO the RIght THing”. Everyone in the team knows her. You can stop in the middle of your work and ask your team - “What do you think Dorith would have done in this situation”.

In practice:

  • We reject projects that harm people or the environment
  • We prioritize well-being and support over addictive or exploitative functions
  • We contribute generously to open source and common goods
  • We maintain 100% personal integrity in data protection and privacy
  • We point out when the organization is derailed from its mission
  • We practice reflective reviews of our ethical decisions

Live the values

Section titled “Live the values”

C.R.O.W.D. the values ​​are not just statements of intent — they shape how we:

  • Hires and develops people who share these values
  • Evaluates projects, customers, business partners based on these values
  • Makes decisions when trade-offs must be made
  • Measuring success through impact and results, not (only) financial profit
  • holding ourselves accountable through annual ethical audits

Every member of our community is expected to understand and recognize these values. They are the foundation of what makes “Mind over Machine” different