Complexity of implementation of welfare technology for children and youth with functional disabilities in Norwegian municipalities.
Executive Master of Systems Oriented Design
The Oslo School of Architecture and Design
Student: Vitalii Ikoev
Thesis advisor/supervisor: Andreas Wettre
20th of January 2026
This thesis examines the complexity involved in implementing welfare technology for children and youth (0–18 years) with functional disabilities in Norwegian municipalities. Welfare technology has the potential to strengthen independence, communication, participation, and safety, while also supporting families and easing pressure on municipal services.
Holistic service model for implementation of welfare technology (Vitalii Ikoev).
However, implementation is often challenging because it depends on more than the technology itself. This thesis applied participatory gigamapping workshops with municipal and national stakeholders to identify elements of implementation complexity. The findings show overlap with the Holistic Service Model, highlighting the importance of clear roles, leadership anchoring, competence development, crosssector coordination, and systematic evaluation. At the same time, the mapping revealed additional complexity drivers, particularly the need for shared understanding across silos, vulnerability in transitions between life arenas and service stages, and difficulties in operationalizing the child perspective and rights in practice.
The thesis argues that Systems Oriented Design and gigamapping can complement existing implementation frameworks by supporting shared sensemaking, revealing interdependencies, and identifying leverage points for coordinated interventions.