System Change

Systemic change is generally understood to require adjustments or transformations in the policies, practices, power dynamics, social norms or mindsets that underlie the societal issue at stake. It often involves the collaboration of a diverse set of players and can take place on a local, national or global level.

Adam Zeiner and

Restriction as Possibility; Lifestyle as Politics - MOLD :: Designing the Future of Food

Mold thisismold.com

Keely Adler

Places to intervene in a system

Gordon Brander newsletter.squishy.computer

Sam Liebeskind

Forum for the Future

forumforthefuture.org

Adam Zeiner

When we seek to intervene in any system created by someone, it’s not enough to view their decisions and choices simply as the consequences of first-order thinking because we can inadvertently create serious problems. Before changing anything, we should wonder whether they were using second-order thinking. Their reasons for making certain choices... See more

fs.blog • Chesterton’s Fence: A Lesson in Second Order Thinking - Farnam Street

Sam Liebeskind

To understand exactly why this is the case, let’s consider Chesterton’s Fence, described by G. K. Chesterton himself as follows:

There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use

fs.blog • Chesterton’s Fence: A Lesson in Second Order Thinking - Farnam Street

SSam Liebeskind

Don’t remove a fence until you’ve understood why someone put it up in the first place

Best Practices are Useless in Complex Systems

Jen Briselli medium.com

Sam Liebeskind

From service design to systems change

Adam Groves medium.com

Adam Zeiner

the great thing about living in a world of dying systems is that you are uniquely well-positioned to replace suboptimal systems with something superior. New growth takes root best in the decay of its predecessors. For most of the past, if you wanted to create a better future, you had to rally the troops and take someone else’s land or destroy

Creative Destruction • Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #38

Keely Adler

I have heard John McKnight say that advisory groups speak quietly to power, protestors scream at power, and neither chooses to reclaim or produce power. The real problem with rebellion is that it is such fun. It avoids taking responsibility, operates on the high ground, is fueled by righteousness, gives legitimacy to blame, and is a delightful

Sam Liebeskind