Sustainable Organization Framework for Technology Development (SOFT)

An Alternative framework for futuristic technology development organizations

Authors: Aravind S, Team 21n

Updated: April, 2025

Version: 3

First draft: December, 2022

This is a working draft and may have changes in the next revisions. If you are interested in contributing, please email [e-mail]

Why we need yet another model?

Profit as the bottom line

Venture capital-backed organizations inherently oriented toward future exits represent the prevailing model in today's technology startup ecosystem. This approach prioritizes short-term profit over long-term habitability of the planet and well-being of customers. As the world becomes increasingly digitized, there's growing concern about how these profit-driven models impact both humanity and the environment we live in. The proliferation of data-driven systems raises critical questions about whether our technological future should be governed primarily by financial returns or balanced with broader planetary and social considerations.

From survival to self-actualization

Throughout human history, work has evolved from pure survival to increasingly meaningful pursuits as our basic needs have been progressively secured.

• Physiological (Early History): All labor focused on survival; agricultural revolution enabled first specialization.

• Safety (Industrial Era): Factory jobs provided stability but prompted labor movements for better conditions.

• Belonging/Esteem (20th Century): Corporate cultures emerged with team structures; focus shifted to professional development, recognition, and career identity.

• Self-Actualization (Present and Future)

  • Automation liberating humans from routine tasks

  • Increased focus on creativity, innovation, purpose

  • Growing demand for meaningful work that develops human potential

  • Rise of sabbaticals, flexible work, and passion projects

This progression parallels technological advancement and productivity gains that have created unprecedented abundance and free time in developed economies.

Today's workers increasingly seek purpose, impact, and personal growth—factors that pure financial compensation cannot provide. Organizations embracing this reality by designing work that enables self-actualization will likely attract the most talented individuals and foster greater innovation.

The solution

The Sustainable Organization Framework for Technology Development (SOFT) is a proposed alternative organizational framework that seeks to prioritize sustainable and ethical practices that take into account the well-being of individuals, as well as the efficient use of planetary resources for technology development. A SOFT organization is a combination of a cooperative organization and a business incubator with its primary function as building and maintaining technology products including but not limited to computer software and hardware. A SOFT based organization is made up of members that include producers, maintainers, and consumers of the products produced by the organization.

The products produced at a SOFT org operates through a life cycle that ensure efficient production and management. These life cycle stages include conception, development, production, maintenance, and retirement. At each stage, members collaborate using digital collaboration tools to foster rapid development while ensuring optimal planetary efficiency, resource planning, and allocation.

The organizational structure of SOFT promotes a sense of purpose and self-actualization among members, allowing them to work together towards a common goal or develop new innovative software solutions. This model encourages a more sustainable and equitable approach to technology development and production. Any organization can implement the SOFT framework to promote more efficient and cooperative technology production.