This week:
- Commissioning Academies
- Systems Thinking
- Systems and Complexity in Organisation
- Systems change
Upcoming events:
Two new commissioning academies: coming this winter!
Exciting News! Introducing two Commissioning Academies.
- We will be offering a new Virtual Commissioning Academy, launching in October, facilitated entirely online
- and an In-Person Commissioning Academy launching in January, with in-person sessions held in Nottingham.
Both offer the same great content, accredited by the PSTA and Cabinet Office.
Join our flagship development program to transform outcomes for the communities we serve!
- Be part of a national network of commissioning practitioners.
- Learn to initiate and lead change across complex systems.
- Develop capabilities to drive real transformation.
- Access expert insights and collaborative learning.
- Apply innovative ideas and approaches to your work.
Here’s what’s in store for you at the National Commissioning Academy:
- Foundation concepts: Working as a system, outcomes thinking, collaborative working.
- Commissioning for outcomes as a system: Systems thinking, asset-based commissioning, trauma-informed practice, prevention and early intervention.
- Creating conditions for change: Systems leadership, coproduction, innovation, and promoting social value.
Expect a transformative experience with masterclass workshops, action learning, expert speakers, peer challenges, practical action planning, and membership in our nationwide alumni community.
Ready to make a difference? Apply now to secure your spot at the Academy! Contact David Mason at david.mason@publicservicetransformation.org
Systems Thinking Apprenticeship (2023)
We are delighted to share the news that there is now a Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship available in England.
Systems thinking practice was developed specifically to address highly complex, adaptive, and dynamic situations. It helps you to model each situation as a system incorporating many different parts, dependencies and relationships. Systems thinking practitioners are uniquely equipped for achieving large-scale transformational change.
If you live in England, you can benefit from the scheme. The Apprenticeship is a two-and-a-half year, day release, post-graduate qualification with government funding of up to £18,000 per person. It is fully supported by expert tutors, comprehensive learning materials, and ongoing action learning.
This is a practice-based, portfolio assessed programme which draws on core systems approaches and practice skills. You’ll be supported in your job to actually put the learning to work right away, and you will be evaluated on how you incorporate your continual learning into your practice.
It’s been designed by practitioners for practitioners — the people who have not just read the books, but have written them. More importantly, these are people who have been there, done it, know about all (or at least most) of the pitfalls, and can guide you away from them.
The professional body for systems practice, SCiO, is providing world-class systems practitioner-tutors, and is supporting the curriculum development and overall approach of the programme. They are acting in collaboration with Cherith Simmons Learning and Development, who provide the apprenticeship. Further details are available here.
If you’re not in England, you can still sign up to individual modules here.
And if you are interested in developing your transformation skills, take a look at the RedQuadrant tool shed. This is a small group action learning journey with Benjamin Taylor, founder of the consultancy RedQuadrant, supported by 24 online modules covering all aspects of organisational transformation. Get a 20% discount by mentioning Enlightened Enterprise Academy.
Link Collection:
My Weekly Blog post:
In our lives, we dread rejection akin to fearing death, fearing isolation from the tribe. Ironically, in the modern world, this fear often inflicts more damage than rejection itself. The apprehension of rejection hinders us from seeking, starting, and achieving our desires. Embracing rejection is crucial for personal development and resilience. Rejection Therapy, though not actual therapy, serves as a lighthearted method for self-improvement. By daily seeking rejection in harmless requests, we confront our fear and realize that rejection is a normal part of pursuing goals. This practice, whether lasting 30 days or a hundred, transforms us, fostering boldness, freedom, and happiness.
How Reality Learns with Nora BatesonA podcast interview with Nora Bateson about her new book ‘Combining’
How Reality Learns with Nora Bateson – by Alexander Beiner
A Green Paper on System Innovation – Winhall and Leadbeater (2020)
Table of Contents
- Step Into It
- Making the case for System Innovation
- Seeing the System
- Working on Three Levels
- Getting into The Washing Machine
- The Keys that Unlock Systems
- Be Part of a Movement
- Closing the System Innovation Gap
- Further reading
Download: PDF Version
Authors:
Jennie Winhall
lCharles Leadbeater
Building Better Systems orginal — The System Innovation Initiative
Launching “Systemic” – A game for applying systems change thinking to policy
Posted by: vanessalefton and alexfleming, 15 November 2023 – Categories:Policy Lab
This blog launches “Systemic” – a game that simulates how policy-making systems function and possible shifts that can be made to improve policy outcomes. Systemic has been inspired by the world of board games, and was co-created by Policy Lab and Matteo Menapace, the co-author of ‘Daybreak’. It forms part of our learning from a project aiming to shift complex systems around multiple disadvantage with the Changing Futures Programme. Serious games are one of Policy Lab’s new experimental methods, set out in the launch of our experimental innovation strategy last year.
Watch skilled academic conversations and multidimensional discussions in action. Develop awareness of how thought diversity and controversial perceptions and opinions become the fertile starting points for deep dives into more insightful and beneficial discussions.
Mini-Courses are FREE for Society members and $25 for non-members. Join today and unlock all benefits!
Select from 11 rich and engaging mini-courses with discussion questions to interact with other students, quizzes to test your knowledge, and selected readings to dive deeper. The first mini-course is free for everyone!
[171 comments in 15 hours – that is fasinating. And so. Many. Bad. Takes. (I guess I’m tired tonight)]
I’m creating a systems-thinking starters kit 🌟 What are your favourite systems-thinking tools and resources? Here are some of mine (I actually use) 👇
See more at:
Welcome to the Systems Change Masterclass! Ashoka – free ten week course
[Oh my. Ashoka! ‘Clearly defined goals’, ‘milestones’, ‘analyse your systemic root causes’ – really?]
Powerful Tools for Scaling Impact in Any Sector
CRAFT YOUR STRATEGY DECK | Free | 10 Weeks |
Available in: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Czech
Enroll now S’inscrire maintenantPřihlásit se do kurzu
Inscreva-se agora Inscríbete ahora
What You Will Take Away
- The practice of using tools to reach a clearly defined systems change goal
- A list of milestones and concrete projects that you want to reach in order to achieve a systems change goal
- Practical worksheets to start flexing your systems thinking muscles
- A customized systems change strategy deck within a pre-designed template
- Tools to engage a broader audience and build a network of allies
Welcome to the Systems Change Masterclass!Powerful Tools for Scaling Impact in Any SectorCRAFT YOUR STRATEGY DECK | Free | 10 Weeks | Available in: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, CzechE
What You Will Take AwayThe practice of using tools to reach a clearly defined systems change goalA list of milestones and concrete projects that you want to reach in order to achieve a systems change goalPractical worksheets to start flexing your systems thinking musclesA customized systems change strategy deck within a pre-designed templateTools to engage a broader audience and build a network of allies
Welcome to the Systems Change Masterclass! | Ashoka | Everyone a Changemaker
Clara Llamas on LinkedIn – who are the scholars of (or close to) ‘Complexity Leadership Theory’?
Dear LinkedIn community,
I wonder if I can pick your brains on scholars of 🌐 Complexity Leadership Theory 🌐 (or close to) that you may know who are relevant and I should add to my emerging list, which at the minute is rather small in length (not in collective knowledge 🎓 ) and includes the following:
Mary Uhl-Bien
Dave Snowden
Michael Arena
Gervase R. Bushe
Keith Grint
Ralph Stacey
Richard Boyatzis
Deborah Ancona
Chris Mowles
Cynthia McPherson Frantz
Any thoughts are super welcome! 💌
In September 2023, Complexability, in collaboration with The Cynefin Co and The Griffith Centre for Systems Innovation, and 100 others engaged in a series of events over a week to explore contemporary social and organisational challenges and issues through the lens of complexity.
Embracing complexity: Insights for resilience in 2023 and beyond
i2S News – Integration and Implementation Sciences, Australian National University
In the LinkedIn Systems Thinking Network group https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2639211/
Gabriele Bammer shares this:
Just out! Oct-Dec 2023 i2S News at https://lnkd.in/gb3bzKTb.
Two key features are: 1) a great video by Gerald Midgley on a #systems theory of #marginalisation with 6 strategies for challenging marginalisation, including amplifying marginalized voices and creating empathic connections, as well as undermining negative stereotypes and 2) ten i2Insights contributions from sub-Saharan Africa covering #decisionmaking, #decolonisation, institutionalisation, #leadership, #researchimplementation, #stakeholderengagement & #teamwork. Countries represented are Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal & South Africa. #I2Sresources
Click to access 2023-10_i2S-news.pdf
What is a Complex System, After All? Estrada (2023)
Foundations of ScienceAims and scopeSubmit manuscript
What is a Complex System, After All?Open accessPublished: 30 May 2023(2023)Download PDFYou have full access to thisopen accessarticleFoundations of ScienceAims and scopeSubmit manuscriptErnesto Estrada
What is a Complex System, After All? | Foundations of Science
From the concept of system to the paradigm of complexity – Morin (1992)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/1061736192900248
Anticipatory Systems, Evolution, and Extinction Cascades | Judith Rosen | ST-ON 2023-10-16
Judith Rosen agreed to give an online presentation for the Systems Thinking Ontario meeting in October 2023, after we converted her in-person meeting at OCADU in August into a discussion circle. Channelling the anticipatory systems approach of her father, mathematical biologist Robert Rosen, Judith has been extended those ideas in her own continuing observation of living systems.
CONTINUES IN SOURCE:
7 everyday patterns to shift systems towards equity
Griffith Centre for Systems Innovation
The role and power of re-patterning in systems change7 everyday patterns to shift systems towards equityGriffith Centre for Systems Innovation·FollowingPublished inGood Shift·4 min read·Oct 25, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/@SociotechnicalSystems/videos
What is Homeostasis? The Wisdom of the Body by Walter B. Cannon (1932)
Human Machine Systems – Concept, application and latest research trends
Socially Distributed Cognition
Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity – Current Landscape
Social Communication by Edward Sapir 1935
Society as a Complex Adaptive System by Walter Buckley 1968
Autonomous Technology: Technics-out-of-control as a theme in political thought, Winner (1978) Part 1
Intelligence as a Planetary Scale Process by Frank et al. (2022) Brainstorming Review
Book Review – The Society of Mind by Marvin Minsky 1985
Nonlinear and Complex Physics Group – Video interviews and overviews from Jean Boulton (2021/2022)
Nonlinear and Complex Physics Group
https://www.youtube.com/@nonlinearandcomplexphysics280/videos
Video interviews and overviews from Jean Boulton (2021/2022)
Ray Ison In Conversation With Jean Boulton
Jean Boulton In Conversation With Mark Hardman
Patricia Shaw In Conversation With Jean Boulton
Mike Jackson In Conversation With Jean Boulton
Kosheek Sewchurran In Conversation With Jean Boulton
Michael Batty In Conversation With Jean Boulton
Danny Burns In Conversation With Jean Boulton
Complexity & the Social World – Chris Mowles in conversation with Jean Boulton
Complexity & The Social World – David Byrne In Conversation With Jean Boulton
Complexity & the Social World – Rika Preiser in conversation with Jean Boulton
Complexity & The Social World – Peter Allen In Conversation With Jean Boulton
Complexity and the Social World: building on the legacy of Allen, Byrne, Stacey and Cilliers
Society as a Complex Adaptive System, Buckley (1968) – David Ing and others
Systems Thinking sociologycomplex-adaptive-systems daviding Aug ’20
For those who ascribe “complex adaptive systems” to mathematicians and physicists at the *Santa Fe Institute* (founded in 1984) 2, it’s worth noting the 1968 article published by Walter F. Buckley.
Society as a Complex Adaptive System, Buckley (1968)Systems Thinkingsociologycomplex-adaptive-systemsAug 20201 / 1Aug 2020Aug 2020davidingAug ’20For those who ascribe “complex adaptive systems” to mathematicians and physicists at the *Santa Fe Institute* (founded in 1984) 2, it’s worth noting the 1968 article published by Walter F. Buckley.
Society as a Complex Adaptive System, Buckley (1968) – Systems Thinking – Open Learning Commons
https://discuss.openlearning.cc/t/society-as-a-complex-adaptive-system-buckley-1968/247
An introduction
https://journal.emergentpublications.com/Article/2f6dedc2-398b-4a98-a697-d19b436c3666/academic
Women pioneers II – Petter Holme
Women pioneers IINovember 10, 2023
Systemic Mirros – Dr. Ir. Mieke van der Bijl-Brouwer & Ir. Carine van Loon (2023)
Mieke writes:
“At the Relating Systems Thinking & Design symposium RSD12, Carine van Loon and I presented a new concept in systemic design, which we refer to as ‘systemic mirroring’: designing an object that provides system stakeholders with a different perspective on the system they are part of. It confronts them with their beliefs about the system and their role in it. We hope that such mirrors support stakeholders in redesigning the system from the inside out. We illustrate the concept with Carine’s graduation project in which she designed a children’s book that reflects the care system around parents with a child with special needs. You can watch our presentation here”
ELAPDIS (Latin American Society for Systems Thinking) with the assistance of Metaphorum are kindly inviting you to join Raul Espejo’s webinar ‘Talking for a better future’ (Conversando para un mejor futuro) which will happen on Friday, November the 10th, 2023, at 11:30 HRS (ARG-BR-CH) 10:30 HRS (VE); 09:30 HRS (COL-PE)14:30 pm (UK). The webinar will be in spanish. Those interested in attending please request the webinar link to Alejandro Ochoa at alejandro.ochoa@elapdis.org).
A system dynamics glossary – Ford (2019)
First published: 07 November 2019
A system dynamics glossaryCompiled by David N. FordFirst published: 07 November 2019
A system dynamics glossary – Ford – 2019 – System Dynamics Review – Wiley Online Library
Metamodern Journal Launch and call for papers
Brendan Graham Dempsey:
10 days ago · 9 likes · 3 comments · Brendan Graham Dempsey
Metamodern Theory and Praxis is a new, peer-reviewed, anti-disciplinary, Open Access journal dedicated to bleeding-edge work in the Human Sciences (Humanities + Social Sciences) and focused on the unfolding paradigm(s) of metamodern theory and praxis.
‘Complexity’ on the NHS England website
Complexity
https://www.england.nhs.uk/spread-and-adoption/further-resources/complexity/
See also:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/spread-and-adoption/seven-interconnected-principles/complexity/
https://www.england.nhs.uk/spread-and-adoption/systems-convening/
Upcoming constellations training and other sessions (paid) from Meus – Ty Francis
https://mailchi.mp/89a7e83a0529/constellations-plusonsystemic-transformation-15102601?e=fe606b74fe
Broken markets and missing money: parliamentary committee hears s151 officers’ concerns – Room 151 https://www.room151.co.uk/treasury/parliam
How ‘ESG’ came to mean everything and nothing https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20231114-how-esg-came-to-mean-everything-and-nothing
www.bbc.comHow ‘ESG’ came to mean everything and nothingBy Kristen Talman
Ten Years of Existential Comics https://existentialcomics.com/comic/524
“I placed too much faith in underpowered studies:” Nobel Prize winner admits mistakes https://retractionwatch.com/2017/02/20/placed-much-faith-underpowered-studies-nobel-prize-winner-admits-mistakes/
Service Designing the Support Economy https://medium.com/@camerontw/service-designing-the-support-economy-c1ff78686aac
“Be Careful!” https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2023/11/be-careful.html?lid=16802
Follow these 4 steps to create psychological safety in your teams https://www.fastcompany.com/90814937/follow-these-4-steps-to-create-psychological-safety-in-your-teams
6 days ago · 25 likes · 11 comments · Venkatesh Rao
Ribbonfarm Studio · 6dA Tale of Two Cycle MemesBy Venkatesh Rao
2 years ago · 217 likes · 70 comments · N.S. Lyons
The Upheaval · Oct 29, 2021The Reality WarBy N.S. Lyons
The Editor’s Corner: Strike Up the Band
The Editor’s Corner: Strike Up the Band
Discourse · 4dThe Editor’s Corner: Strike Up the BandBy Christina Behe
South Cambridgeshire to save £750k from four-day week trial https://www.localgov.co.uk/South-Cambridgeshire-to-save-750k-from-four-day-week-trial/58317?actId=ebwp0YMB8s3Mv0I20l85odUcvuQDVN7aZHxMk8Rn99QejTIJtrjY8MaETqfcos5a&actCampaignType=CAMPAIGN_MAIL&actSource=509889
Feeling Stuck? The Two-Minute Rule Can Help! – Wise & Shine https://wiseandshinezine.com/2023/11/13/feeling-stuck-the-two-minute-rule-can-help/
How Mon Laferte Reinvented Herself On Her New Album ‘Autopoiética’ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-latin/mon-laferte-interview-new-album-autopoietica-1234875273/
The ‘Georgists’ Are Out There, and They Want to Tax Your Land https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/12/business/georgism-land-tax-housing.html
The New York Times · 5dThe ‘Georgists’ Are Out There, and They Want to Tax Your LandBy Conor DoughertyThe ‘Georgists’ Are Out There, and They Want to Tax Your Land https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/12/business/georgism-land-tax-housing.html
Set Taxonomies to Neutral https://humanisticsystems.com/2023/11/11/set-taxonomies-to-neutral/
Chris Naylor: s114 reports don’t deliver sustainable councils, they just make matters worse – Room 151 https://www.room151.co.uk/blogs/chris-nayl
Creating spaces for listening – what does it mean and what does it take? By Charlie Jones, Brigid Russell, and King-Chi Yau – The official blog of BMJ Leader https://blogs.bmj.com/bmjleader/2023/11/10/creating-spaces-for-listening-what-does-it-mean-and-what-does-it-take-by-charlie-jones-brigid-russell-and-king-chi-yau/
Welfare cuts worth billions planned by ministers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67385385
Charities ‘near insolvency’ after subsidising public sector contracts https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/nov/13/charities-near-insolvency-after-subsidising-public-sector-contracts
Effective Altruism Is a Welter of Lies, Hypocrisy, and Eugenic Fantasies https://www.truthdig.com/articles/effective-altruism-is-a-welter-of-fraud-lies-exploitation-and-eugenic-fantasies/
Storytelling for Systems Change: Listening to Understand
The Changing Role of the Monitoring Officer https://lgiu.org/publication/the-changing-role-of-the-monitoring-officer/
Paul Millerd on Twitter – the 30 most popular ideas from The Pathless PAth
Observers Observed: The Ethnographer in Silicon Valley https://crookedtimber.org/2023/11/09/observers-observed-the-ethnographer-in-silicon-valley/
Llamas can mitigate some of climate change’s harmful effects https://www.futurity.org/llamas-climate-change-peru-indigenous-people-2982202/
Regenerating Life Film Premiere Boston Panel
YouTubeRegenerating Life Film Premiere Boston PanelBy Biodiversity for a Livable Climate
Near-extinct species spotted for first time in two hundred years: ‘Nature surprises us’ https://www.thecooldown.com/outdoors/pernambuco-holly-brazil-peru/
How the Tory government declared war on 4 million UK workers
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/red-tape-crisis-choking-britains-self-employed/#Echobox=1699103715-2