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

SSam Liebeskind

classic framework for thinking about managing change

PLACES TO INTERVENE IN A SYSTEM

(in increasing order of effectiveness)

Constants, parameters, numbers (such as subsidies, taxes, standards).

The sizes of buffers and other stabilizing stocks, relative to their flows.

The structure of material stocks and flows (such as transport networks, population age structures).

The lengths of delays, relative to the

donellameadows.org • Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System

Keely Adler

Burnout, then, is an outcome of an interaction between burnout producing environmental factors and individually susceptible workers.

Justin D. Henderson • Self-Care is Not the Solution for Burnout

Keely Adler

The systems analysis community has a lot of lore about leverage points. Those of us who were trained by the great Jay Forrester at MIT have all absorbed one of his favorite stories. “People know intuitively where leverage points are,” he says. “Time after time I’ve done an analysis of a company, and I’ve figured out a leverage point — in inventory

donellameadows.org • Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System

Keely Adler

PLACES TO INTERVENE IN A SYSTEM

(in increasing order of effectiveness)

Constants, parameters, numbers (subsidies, taxes, standards).

Regulating negative feedback loops.

Driving positive feedback loops.

Material flows and nodes of material intersection.

Information flows.

The rules of the system (incentives, punishments, constraints).

The distribution of

donellameadows.org • Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System

Keely Adler

There is a huge problem when it comes to "changing the system":When you go deep and help people reframe the paradigms, myths and worldviews at the core of a system, it's often too abstract and people ask for real-world examples of alternative worldviews. When you give people examples of alternative ways of doing things, they often ask for more... See more

Thomas Klaffke on LinkedIn: #systemchange #change #changemanagement #changecommunication

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

Developing our new Systemic Design Framework

Design Council medium.com

Adam Zeiner

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

Alicia Kennedy thisismold.com

Keely Adler