Lars Barkman
blog / consulting / ventures /

Hi, I'm Lars Barkman

I'm curious about how things work and how to make them better—whether that's designing organizations that actually function, figuring out the right training program for a 50+ desk worker, or thinking about personal finances, hiking, and design.

More broadly, I'm interested in how we choose to live: the systems we build, the habits we form, the trade-offs we make between what we want and what actually matters.

I live in Vaxholm, Sweden with my wife and two teenagers. I spend too much time at a desk, which is why you'll find posts about staying active and trying to maintain some semblance of fitness while juggling work and family life.

Professionally, I work as an independent consultant helping organizations bridge the gap between business vision and technical execution. I work with leaders on enterprise operating models , strategic technology solutions , and engineering leadership .

I'm also building a small product company—a challenge when balancing family and consulting, but one I'm committed to.

If you want to get in touch, you can find me on LinkedIn or reach out through other channels . You can also follow along via RSS if that's more your style.

Blog

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  • Weekly Aerobic Base Training with Integrated Strength and Mobility
    A sustainable weekly training program built on aerobic conditioning through rucking (6 days/week), with bodyweight strength work (3 days/week) and daily mobility. Inspired by Swedish Armed Forces BRAK programs, designed for long-term functional fitness around a full-time work schedule.
  • One Mode and Five Types Is All That You Need
    After working with various organizational models—from matrix structures to Team Topologies—I've discovered a pattern that emerges when organizations successfully implement team-based frameworks: they converge on X-as-a-Service as their primary interaction mode and evolve toward five distinct service types. This approach reduces coordination overhead, creates clear team boundaries, and enables genuine autonomy while maintaining system coherence. The fifth service type—Stewardship Services—treats enterprise design itself as a consumable service, filling a critical gap that becomes apparent at scale.
  • Making Daily Check-ins Meaningful: A Flow-Focused Approach
    Learn a practical 15-minute flow-focused approach to daily check-ins that builds systems thinking, improves team coordination, and drives predictable delivery through strategic work prioritization.

Consulting

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  • Enterprise Operating Models
    I help organizations design operating models that actually work in practice—bridging the gap between strategic vision and daily execution. Focusing on how work gets done, who makes decisions, and how success is measured to create sustainable organizational effectiveness.
  • Strategic Technology Solutions
    I help organizations make better technology decisions by providing vendor-independent guidance on solution architecture, technology selection, and strategic implementation. Focusing on practical solutions that align with business goals while building internal technical capabilities.
  • Engineering Leadership
    I help engineering organizations bridge the gap between individual talent and team performance through interim leadership roles and coaching. Focusing on intentional systems and practices that enable technical teams to deliver consistently while building internal capability and sustainable engagement.

Ventures

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  • Enterprise Architecture Tool
    We're developing a next-generation enterprise architecture tool that democratizes decision-making across business, development, and operations teams—replacing static documentation with living models, collaborative workflows, and implementation support that bridges the gap between strategic vision and practical execution while remaining relevant throughout the entire enterprise lifecycle.
  • Enterprise Operating Model
    We're developing a comprehensive enterprise operating model framework built around human motivation rather than control mechanisms—addressing the disconnect between organizational needs for adaptability and rigid traditional structures by emphasizing autonomy that unlocks innovation, mastery that drives engagement, and purpose that creates alignment to transform workforce potential into sustainable competitive advantage.
© 2026 • Lars Barkman
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