What is Systems Change? Key learnings So Far…
Learnings from the first month of Forum for the Future’s School of System Change Basecamp
It’s been a little over a month now since I joined the School of System Change Basecamp and already it feels like we have covered so much on this deeply fascinating journey into complexity. It’s been refreshing to see that there are so many people working together to really try and effect change on a large scale and make a difference to the future of our planet. I’ve had some amazing conversations with some inspiring people, been introduced to a whole host of powerful tools and had the chance to get my hands dirty putting into practice what I’m learning during my time on the North Camden Zone project.
This is only the beginning of what I’m sure is a long and winding journey, so I’d like to take this opportunity to document some of my key learnings so far, so I can watch them evolve and develop as I continue along my learning path.
Complicated Vs Complex:
The difference between ‘complicated’ and ‘complex’ was quickly to become very apparent.
We discussed the idea using the analogy of getting to the moon. This is a complicated issue, not a complex one.
Although difficult, there is an answer. With an understanding of scientific principles and a whopping budget, it was an issue that some of the worlds greatest minds could get together and solve.
When thinking of something like homelessness we venture into the field of the complex. It is a multifaceted problem, with no clear solution. There are many factors that create the problem, and solving any of these problems in isolation will not bring us any closer to solving the problem as a whole.
This is where a systemic approach becomes necessary in order to gain an understanding of the system and where our specific problem sits in relation to the wider system.
By doing this we can see the leverage points that will enable us to intervene in an effective manner.
Change Happens Gradually:
We are part of a society used to quick solutions and tangible, quantifiable results, on a easy to swallow timescale.
Creating a real, positive change to a system can take years or decades, and therefore requires a different mindset. It is very much about trial and error, patience and working with emergence. There are no business models and definite frameworks that offer a one size fits all solution.
Change often (but not always) happens gradually and small things can end up causing the biggest changes over the long term.
You Don’t Create System Change, You Create the Conditions for it to Emerge:
‘Things emerge when they suit the conditions’ — Jean Bolton
It’s not that we know that our desired outcomes will happen, but that we know it is the right thing to do.
As we know, systems are huge, complex things. Our challenge isn’t to directly change a system. We need to seed the system with good ingredients. When the conditions are right the system will begin to change by itself.
All systems are wrong, we need to make sure they can adapt:
The idea of creating a perfect system is inherently flawed. All we can do is create the best possible system we can, with the realisation that there will be strengths and weaknesses to any such system.
We can take influence from nature and see how organic, natural systems embrace complexity and change.
By realising this, and seeing the transitory nature of things, we are able to create adaptive systems that continue to change and evolve as needs change and evolve.
Start with the Situation, not the System
Look at the situation you are trying to solve and then zoom out and see how it fits in as part of a wider system.
For example, don’t try and fix the education system but hone in on a specific problem you believe needs attention.
A great example I came across was a specific area in Mexico. Grades had dropped and the government spent loads of time and money trying to improve the school system. When they stood back and took a systemic approach they realised grades had dropped because of ill health. The kids were getting ill because the homes in that particularly area had dirt flooring which caused health issues. This caused the kids to miss a lot of school.
The solution was to issue a free quota of concrete to every household.
With their new hard flooring in their homes, children got sick much less, attended school a lot more and grades went up.
Systems Change is about Boundaries:
Once you start on the path of systems change it can be a real rabbit hole.
Before you know it, that issue you were trying to solve in your local care centre can only be solved by dismantling the entire socio-political capitalist structures brought about by the enlightenment and the industrial revolution.
Knowing where to draw the boundaries is really important to allow you to make progress and be able to start the wheels in motion for real change without feeling overwhelmed.
Alignment Not Consensus:
There seems to be a perception change is impossible when working with large groups of people and large organisations as getting a consensus on everything makes progress impossible.
This is most likely true. The art of systems change seems to lie in alignment and consent and not in consensus.
Using processes such as Deep Democracy, Art of Hosting, and others that put people at the centre can help create alignment. Not everybody has to be in love with an idea, but everybody has to be able to come along on the journey.
This is just the beginning of the journey and the above ideas will no doubt adapt and evolve over the coming months as I delve deeper.
