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Systems Approaches to Making Change: A Practical Guide
The five approaches outlined in this book offers the systems thinking practitioner a range of interchangeable tools for pro-actively making systemic improvements amidst complex situations of change and uncertainty. Practitioners from all professional domains are increasingly confronted with incidences of systemic failure, yet poorly equipped with appropriate tools and know-how for understanding such failure, and the making of systemic improvement. In our fragile Anthropocene world where ‘systems change’ is often invoked as the rallying call for purposeful alternative action, this book provides a toolkit to help constructively make systems that can change situations for the better. Systems Approaches offers an excellent introduction for those seeking to understand systems thinking and to enact systems thinking in practice. The book helps practitioners from all professions to better understand inter-relationships, engage with multiple perspectives, and reflect on boundary judgements that can inhibit or enhance improved purposeful change. After an editorial introduction to these systems thinking in practice capabilities, successive chapters illustrate five systems approaches, each chosen for having a rigorous though adaptable framework, and a robust long pedigree of application in complex situations. Each chapter illustrates what the approach is about, followed by invaluable tips and insights from experience regarding how the tools might be practiced. Amongst updates from originating authors for this 2 nd edition, each approach has an accompanying postscript on some developments since the 1 st edition.
343 pages, Paperback
Published February 19, 2020
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October 8, 2021
This book covers five different systems thinking approaches for practitioners to get to grips with complex problems and engage with them in a way to make change. At the heart of these approaches are common concepts related to systems thinking;
- That holism, and understanding a system as a whole has different properties than understanding the constituent parts of a system.
- That systems are not 'real' or hard, that they have a boundary created by the observer(s) to understand the system
- That change and the properties of a system or situation are emergent
- That communication, within and without the system, and by practitioners is important, particularly with an awareness of power relationships
The five approaches discussed are;
System Dynamics
Viable System Model
Strategic Options Development and Analysis
Soft Systems Methodology
Critical Systems Heuristics
Of the approaches I have some 'self-taught' familiarity with all of them with the exception of 'Strategic Options Development and Analysis' so I wasn't going in exactly cold. Having read the book do I think I have enough to go on to start using these techniques?
Well yes, and no. There seems to be (for me anyway) a difference in the depth of each approach and the practicality to get started. Some of the approaches seem to be rooted in academic language (not a surprise considering the audience) and some of the sections seem to go into a little to much detail about 'practicalities'. It seems a little 'Goldilocks' for me personally, I wasn't sure any of the chapters were 'just right'.
For instance, the Systems Dynamics chapter felt like it was just getting started before it ended. The 'Viable Systems Model' chapter seemed to be light on actual content related to understanding the model and using it. I found the 'Strategic Options Development and Analysis' chapter the most interesting, which perhaps reflects the fact that this was all new to me, but it did feel very practical with exercises. I am not sure if overall the guide is as practical as it intends but at the same time it does act as a good taster to get in and learn more, with everything being fully referenced for those who want to learn more.
I have found following reading this book, I have been picking things up and using them subconsciously in my own work (for instance recognising a conflict earlier this week was better understood when I considered different people's boundaries).
It's probably not going to be a 'life changing book' but I imagine I will keep this one close to dip in and out of in future.
There's also a bonus point at the end for recognising that systems thinking can be used for oppression. It's troubled me greatly that systems thinking in some ways is 'neutral' but at the same time is so imbued with the values and boundaries of practitioners and others that it can be deployed to cause harm. This, despite the high number of systems thinkers concerned with making the world a better, more inclusive, more richer place to be.
- That holism, and understanding a system as a whole has different properties than understanding the constituent parts of a system.
- That systems are not 'real' or hard, that they have a boundary created by the observer(s) to understand the system
- That change and the properties of a system or situation are emergent
- That communication, within and without the system, and by practitioners is important, particularly with an awareness of power relationships
The five approaches discussed are;
System Dynamics
Viable System Model
Strategic Options Development and Analysis
Soft Systems Methodology
Critical Systems Heuristics
Of the approaches I have some 'self-taught' familiarity with all of them with the exception of 'Strategic Options Development and Analysis' so I wasn't going in exactly cold. Having read the book do I think I have enough to go on to start using these techniques?
Well yes, and no. There seems to be (for me anyway) a difference in the depth of each approach and the practicality to get started. Some of the approaches seem to be rooted in academic language (not a surprise considering the audience) and some of the sections seem to go into a little to much detail about 'practicalities'. It seems a little 'Goldilocks' for me personally, I wasn't sure any of the chapters were 'just right'.
For instance, the Systems Dynamics chapter felt like it was just getting started before it ended. The 'Viable Systems Model' chapter seemed to be light on actual content related to understanding the model and using it. I found the 'Strategic Options Development and Analysis' chapter the most interesting, which perhaps reflects the fact that this was all new to me, but it did feel very practical with exercises. I am not sure if overall the guide is as practical as it intends but at the same time it does act as a good taster to get in and learn more, with everything being fully referenced for those who want to learn more.
I have found following reading this book, I have been picking things up and using them subconsciously in my own work (for instance recognising a conflict earlier this week was better understood when I considered different people's boundaries).
It's probably not going to be a 'life changing book' but I imagine I will keep this one close to dip in and out of in future.
There's also a bonus point at the end for recognising that systems thinking can be used for oppression. It's troubled me greatly that systems thinking in some ways is 'neutral' but at the same time is so imbued with the values and boundaries of practitioners and others that it can be deployed to cause harm. This, despite the high number of systems thinkers concerned with making the world a better, more inclusive, more richer place to be.
Displaying 1 of 1 review