Five years ago I started a journey into what has become my north star, systems thinking. I now know how essential it is to create impact-driven, long-term change. Yet there’s a need for more people to understand what systems change is as, at its core, it is all about collective effort.
To try to explain the concept of ‘systems change’ I thought I would start by unpacking what is a system and, therefore, what it means to think in systems.
“A system is a set of related components that work together in a particular environment to perform whatever functions are required to achieve the system’s objective” (Donella H. Meadows, Thinking in Systems)
A system is an aggregate of connected, interacting parts organised to achieve something, a common purpose. A cell in any organism is a system in itself. Or as individuals, we are a system of organs that work together to keep us alive. As we zoom out, you can start thinking about various natural systems, like the weather system, or ecosystems like a rainforest or a coral reef. At a social level, a system is everything from your family or your local community, to your place of work, the United Nations, the global food or education systems — all of these have multiple moving parts (family members, colleagues and stakeholders, internal and external forces, etc.) guided by a common goal.
Systems thinking is motivated by the desire to understand, design or re-design a system. TED speaker and designer, Leyla Acaroglu, talks about how thinking in systems can change how we see the world and how we see our role in it. To think in systems allows us to see our interconnections to one another, as well as our dependancies on natural systems. The world then becomes a dynamic, constantly evolving system that we are a part of. This mindset can give us the confidence and agency to affect change on ourselves and, as a collective, the world around us.
Therefore, the practice of systems change is about understanding all the moving parts of a system to assess how, where and when to intervene to positively affect a system. It addresses the root causes of complex issues, which are often intractable and embedded in networks of cause and effect.
“Systems Change is an intentional process designed to fundamentally alter the components and structures that cause the system to behave in a certain way” (LankellyChase)
Ultimately, systems change is about adopting the principles of systems thinking in our lives, our work and the way we make choices moving forward. Disrupt Design’s visualisation below is probably one of the simplest ways to understand the shift towards adopting a systems mindset for positive impact:
As systemic thinkers, we believe these principles challenge the way ‘traditional’ consulting operates. Below are some of the learnings gathered along the journey, which serve as guidelines to how we approach our work.
- We see patterns, not problems. We are solution-seekers for the future, not problem-solvers for the now. We map the whole to identify patterns and dynamics that influence systems to behave the way they do.
- We unlock change, don’t impose it. We support people’s ability to change. We advocate self-awareness to unleash each individual’s ability to control and influence. We embrace diversity and learning from anyone in the system.
- We define collaborators, not competitors. We’ll get there faster together. We think about potential ways of collaborating with all stakeholders in the system, rather than whose piece of the pie is larger.
- We aim for progress, not perfection. We believe the best way to influence a system is to work in it, no matter how small or ‘unfinished’ the intervention. We think iteratively and grow. We let go of control, adapt and design for change.
- We seek health, not mission accomplished. We think about transforming broken systems and designing new ones. We work towards sustainable, long-term answers not short-term, quick fixes.
Keep learning?
If you want to know more about what is Systems Change, why it matters and why you should get involved in this way of thinking, here are a few more links we’ve found helpful. Or just contact us...
A guide to Systems Change an in-depth guide to understanding system chang published by Think Tank NPC and Lankelly Chase.
Systems practices, what might these be? an article from system change expert Anna Birney.
Why use systems practice? a short, simple video from Omidyar Group.
Leading systems change: nine strategies to transform the way the world works an article from the sustainability nonprofit Forum for the Future.
Sustainable Systems a 4-part talk from academic Donella H. Meadows that shows systems in action.
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Author: Paulina Lezama
#systemsthinking #systemschange #innovationforimpact #sustainabledevelopment
