I am fascinated and inspired by how systems work, in their composition from small interacting building blocks. This has always applied to computer systems; more and more I also include organisational and social systems in my sphere of interest, in particular where it concerns the university educational system.

After understanding why a system works, or doesn't work, the question of improvement arises. I usually do not take for granted that things must be the way they currently are, even after understanding why they are that way. Change, however, is not easily brought about: in software, the (lack of) maintainability stands in the way, in organisations it is typically inertia and lack of motivation for change.