On a venerable website, and/but, I believe, a very limited and partial form and presentation of ‘systems thinking’:
via The Systems Thinker – Systems Thinking: What, Why, When, Where, and How? – The Systems Thinker
Author Archives: antlerboy - Benjamin P Taylor
The Map at the Gemba: Harish’s Notebook
In today’s post I am looking at “The map is not the territory.” This is a famous statement that is often cited to indicate that what we have is a model and not the real thing. Another statement that is quite similar is “All models are wrong, but some are useful.” The “map statement” is attributed to the Polish philosopher and the man behind General Semantics, Alfred Korzybski. A lot of Korzybski’s ideas are very well aligned with Cybernetics and Systems Thinking.
Korzybski was inspired by a paragraph in the great Bertrand Russell’s “Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy”. Russell was referring to Josiah Royce’s ideas with a map. Russell wrote:
One of the most striking instances of a “reflexion” is Royce’s illustration of the map: he [Royce] imagines [making] a map of England upon a part of the surface of England. A map, if it is accurate, has a…
View original post 1,299 more words
Systemic change: changing the conditions that hold a situation in place (with a link to Covid-19) | Marcus Jenal
Neutron bombs and suddenly being able to see the key economy (9 Apr., 2020, at Interconnected)
via Neutron bombs and suddenly being able to see the key economy (9 Apr., 2020, at Interconnected)
Neutron bombs and suddenly being able to see the key economy
I grew at the tail end of the Cold War. My unquestioned assumption was that I would probably live out my life in a nuclear wasteland.
One of the things we’d talk about was the neutron bomb. This type of bomb would leave cities buildings intact, and it had very little fallout so the city would be safe to occupy after it was dropped, but the people would all go. Not die, that wasn’t the myth of it, but somehow vapourised — raptured up to heaven, really. It was called the “clean” bomb. The mental image was of an urban Mary Celeste.
Amongst the misery of Covid-19, this horrifically unfair disease, which is too big for me to think about and so I’m feeling my way around it bit by bit, there is the the lockdown.
The lockdown is a neutron bomb for the economy. What if the buildings stay, and the people stay, but the economy vanishes?
continues in source: Neutron bombs and suddenly being able to see the key economy (9 Apr., 2020, at Interconnected)
Understanding Society: Thomas Hughes on electric power as a sociotechnical system
Virtual Book Launch: “The Hidden Power of Systems Thinking” Tickets, Thu 16 Apr 2020 at 16:00 UK time (online)
Virtual Book Launch: “The Hidden Power of Systems Thinking”
Event Information
About this Event
Please join us virtually on YouTube and Facebook live for the launch of the publication of “The Hidden Power of Systems Thinking – Governing in a Climate Emergency”. We have invited panel members from several governance contexts whose experiences are relevant to the book.
‘The authors’ thesis is that it is only through new systems of governance and new ways of thinking and acting that the human world can manage the climate and associated emergencies. It may be that the Covid-19 has knocked some sense into the those maintaining the current world order sufficient to grasp that the systems we have are but the systems we have, all are human inventions, and all can be reinvented. We explore how and why contemporary governance is failing. New elements in a governance system are needed: the biosphere, social purpose and the Technosphere. Failures of governance go beyond damaging our habitat to damaging inequalities in power, wealth and well-being. Preferential lobbying thrives. Ramshackle political processes are no match for these challenges.
Systems Thinking in Practice is now well into its stride in many settings. We have concluded that applied effectively it would provide the answer. This is a big claim. The book is much more than a critique of the status quo. It details 26 principles for systemic governing. These would form the core of amended constitutions. But just as Shakespeare needs a great cast to do justice to his scripts, so these new systems have to be operated by people who understand the theories of systems thinking and how to apply them in practice. The book describes the what and how of recovering systemic sensibility, acquiring systems literacy and investing in systems thinking in practice capability.
The book has been described as a persuasive, lively book that shows how systems thinking can be harnessed to effect profound, complex change. We would welcome, very much, your feedback on these proposals – and those of many others working to create a sustainable and fair world – and how they can be brought to fruition.
After a welcome from our two authors, Dr Kevin Collins will MC
We have lined up a very exciting panel for you, including:
Professor Eileen Munro from the London School of Economics
Professor John Naughton Director, Press Fellowship, Wolfson College, Cambridge
Dr Julian Corner, CEO of Lankelly Chase
And Dr Piret Tõnurist of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
After each panel member shares their points of view, we will open up to questions both via comment or by emailing STEM-News@open.ac.uk and will share an exclusive discount code to give you 20% off your purchase of the book.
If you cannot join us on the day, recordings will be available to watch on YouTube (search for The Open University: STEM) or on Facebook (@theopenuniversitySTEM) and questions sent to STEM-News@open.ac.uk and response sent within a few days.
Nick Ananin’s systems thinking events google map – always updated (and if I have this right, now embedded below)
Values and systems again – GentlySerious – Medium
Why (Intervene in) Systems Changes? – Coevolving Innovations – David Ing
A series of pieces on coevolving.com from January-March of this year, which I’ll be linking out one per week (but all are on David Ing’s blog already). Here is 3/5
via Why (Intervene in) Systems Changes? – Coevolving Innovations
Why (Intervene in) Systems Changes?
With a focus on “ecological systems”, the second of four lectures planned for the Systemic Design course in the Master’s program in Strategic Foresight and Innovation at OCAD University proceeded as a timeboxed presentation: targeting 40 minutes of content (skipping slides to stay within time constraints), followed by 10 minutes of discussion. Since the slides are rich with content and links to sources, students were directed to pay attention to what I was saying, over trying to read the slides projected behind me.
The agenda was in four sections:
- [preamble] Errors, Attention and Traps (Ecological Understanding)
- Systems Changes Learning Circle (Bateson, Gibson, Ingold)
- (Resistances to) Changing as primary system of interest
- A. Socio-Ecological Systems Perspective
- Tavistock Institute (Emery, Trist)
- Organization as primary system of interest
- B. (Social-) Ecological Systems + Panarchy
- Stockholm Resilience Centre (Holling, Walker, Peterson)
- Ecology as primary system of interest
- C. The Ecosystem Approach
- Resilience Alliance (Waltner-Toews, Kay)
- Sustainable development project as primary system of interest
Online, the video is available on Youtube for streaming.
Viewers who prefer to watch video on a disconnected device can download a video file.
| Video | H.264 MP4 | WebM |
| January 31 (1h18m) |
[20200129_OCADU_Ing HD m4v] (HD 2666kbps 1.2GB) [20200129_OCADU_Ing nHD m4v] (nHD 1352kps 637MB) |
[20200129_OCADU_Ing HD webm] (HD VP8 425kbps 292MB) [20200129_OCADU_Ing nHD webm] (nHD VP8 224kbps 156MB) |
Readers who want to follow through on web link references may want to review the slides directly.
The lecture was given twice. The Wednesday full-time section classroom was disrupted by a water supply issue in the graduate school building, so we all decamped to a lecture theatre in the main building. The Friday part-time section proceeded as scheduled, making that audio recording the practical foundation with presentation slides for the web video.
The acoustics in the January 31 session (part-time cohort) was better for the web video. The digital audio for the talk on January 29 (full-time cohort) was in an auditorium with stadium seating, and a microphone. Versions boosted by 3db make quieter sections more audible.
| Audio | ||
| January 29 (54m58s) |
[20200129_OCADU_Ing ErrorsAttentionTraps.mp3] (51MB) |
[20200129_OCADU_Ing ErrorsAttentionTraps plus3db.mp3] (51MB) |
| January 31 (59m37s) |
[2020031_OCADU_Ing ErrorsAttentionTraps.mp3] (55MB) |
[20200115_OCADU_Ing ErrorsAttentionTraps plus3db.mp3] (55MB) |
Before diving into the multiple views on ecological systems, questions as to whether to intervene (as willful action following wei) or to let nature takes its course (as non-intrusive action following wuwei). Moving away from an anthropocentric perspective, illustrating action as part or not part of nature may be clearer in observing the Canadian beaver.
The Systems School Newsletter – and (paid, online) systems change course
“all the learnings to support you through this transition”
goodies in this newsletter
- learning: methods for the systems change framework
- learning: power in the system
- external learning: grounded hosting and engagement online w/ beehive production
+ starts easter monday – act fast!
- let’s experiment!
- facilitation and hosting guides for online events
dear systems community,
i’ve been grateful that in the last few days, my state of being is slowly shifting, from one of despair and overwhelm to inspiration and expansion. this is coming from unexpected conversation, connections and dreaming up the future with others and i’m so grateful for it. in this shift, i’m reminded of this quote from picasso…
inspiration exists, but it must find you working
so we’re transforming here at the systems school. i’m thinking of this less as ‘pivot’ or even adaptation, and more that we’re finding a state of flow within the complexity, bearing witness to the transformation and seeking out the energy and momentum that will carry us forward. it’s presenting us with some pretty incredible opportunities, and we hope you’ll come join us.
yours in learning.
seanna
director, the systems school
upcoming online learning events
systems methods for the systems change framework
an exciting collaboration, with all-star systems thinker dr.fiona mckenzie, director of orange compass https://www.orangecompass.com.au. in this series we’re getting right down to practice. each week, we will teach how to apply a systems method for one aspect of the systems change framework http://bit.ly/systemschangeframework. you will receive facilitation guides to apply the methods, and additional resources to support your learning.
dates: wednesdays 11:00-12:30pm (melbourne time), starting may 6th for 9 weeks
zoom platform, recordings available
sliding scale fees, starting at $350+
- week 1 – introduction to the systems change framework and systemic change
- week 2 – systems practices
- week 3 – purposeful engagement
- week 4 – reflect, learn, adapt
- week 5 – define situation
- week 6 – gain clarity
- week 7 – find leverage
- week 8 – act strategically
- week 9 – ‘ask me anything’ session
power in the system
we’re working with superstar facilitator lina patel (https://au.linkedin.com/in/linaxpatel) to bring you this very special offering. originally planning for an in-person learning event we’re pivoting online to bring this content to you now as we all wrestle with how to engage in these new ways of working.
in this weekly virtual learning series, we will explore and unpack issues of power within the practice of systems thinking each thursday from 11:00am – 12:30pm melbourne time beginning may 28th
- week 1 – how and why is power so critically important to our work in systems?
- week 2 – how can we examine power in systems thinking?
- week 3 – how is power showing up in OUR system? How can we adapt and become more power literate?
register (https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/power-in-the-system-tickets-100456594378)
grounded online hosting and engagement – by beehive productions (https://beehive-productions.net/)
**starts easter monday**
discount available – email seanna(mailto:seanna@thesystemsschool.org?subject=i%20want%20to%20register%20for%20the%20beehive%20course) – we have a group of 3 already registering for a 30% discount
our friends at beehive productions are putting on a great learning series on grounded online hosting and engagement:
“As we find ourselves adapting to a new reality, finding alternative ways to socialize, do our work, and stay in contact with loved ones near and far, many of us are going beyond the initial panic and starting to realize the incredible potential of working online.
How we meet and host each other online is more important now than ever, whether the groups we are hosting are large or small. It can be a deeply meaningful experience or it can be very frustrating. This intensive is designed to minimize the frustration and maximize the value of our online engagements.”
see more details here (https://beehive-productions.mykajabi.com/GroundedResponse)
folks here’s what we know:
- the way we are connecting and working together is rapidly changing and we need to develop skills to do this well
- our meta systems are transforming and breaking open to new possibilities but we need to be active participants in rebuilding these
- we have so much to learn from traditional ways of knowing, now is the time to honour, respect and engage with these practices
- our future possibilities are ALL of ours, to dream into being
incredibly talented folks are coming into conversation to create an experiment and we’d like to invite you to participate. we’re creating a space to engage with everything i’ve noted above, all while recognizing this as an experiment.
we are in it for the learning, not the precision
we are in it for the connection, not the perfected outcomes
we are in it for the momentum building, not the answer
sign me up for the experiment (mailto:seanna@thesystemsschool.org?subject=sign%20me%20up%20for%20the%20experiment)
good practices for hosting online
i recently held a session and share some insight on hosting online, and in preparing for that came across a number of excellent resources others had already put together. check them out:
- the definitive guide to hosting remote workshops (https://issuu.com/muralapp/docs/the_definitive_guide_to_facilitatin)
- ten tools for digital engagement (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/531e5bf9e4b030d9a20a6177/t/5e72a8cddbc5156b756ab5da/1584572631941/10+Digital+Engagement+Tools_MODUS+Engagement+Toolkit.pdf)
- keeping social innovation social (https://www.tacsi.org.au/journal/keeping-social-innovation-social/?)
- collaborating remotely visual cheatsheet (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iLaUVXYkXEHM2FzWyDjddzZnC0emKeNX/view) by nicole howard
here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/16KIKMiLftq54sRGG75BJ1ISFRAJcjMoo/view) are the slides i shared in the session.
please join and contribute – COVID-19 Resources (Systems Community) | Facebook Group
Set up by Rob Young – useful links and a place for systems community conversations
via COVID-19 Resources (Systems Community) | Groups | Facebook
Centre for Systems Philosophy
via Centre for Systems Philosophy
What is Systems Philosophy?
Systems Philosophy is the philosophical component of Systemology, the transdisciplinary field concerned with the scientific study of all kinds of systems. In general terms Systems Philosophy arose out of the need to develop a scientific worldview that reflected the realization that everything in the concrete world is a system or part of one, with “system” being understood as “a whole that functions as a whole in virtue of the relationship between its parts”. The implication of this insight is that to properly understand something we have to understand not only its composition (as in the classical reductionistic approach), but also the relationships between its parts, between the parts and the whole, and between the whole and its environment. This calls for a change in perspective in how we conceptualise, study and engage with the concrete world. The central aim of Systems Philosophy is to articulate the systems worldview and find ways to use it to help solve important problems in science, philosophy and society.
Systems Philosophy arose specifically in the context of a search for a worldview that would appropriately reflect not only the physical complexity of the world but also the meaning, value and dignity of life and culture. The central ambition of systems philosophers from the outset has been to contribute in practical ways to scientific and humanistic efforts to build societies grounded in the values of justice, freedom, social welfare and environmental stewardship.
Key publications – http://www.systemsphilosophy.org/recommended-reading.html
History and development – http://www.systemsphilosophy.org/history-and-development-of-systems-philosophy.html
Scope – http://www.systemsphilosophy.org/scope-of-systems-philosophy.html
ME_WE game | Inspire people to adhere to the new existential concept of the Me-We-World through gamification.
G-Complexity, Quantum Computation and Anticipatory Processes, Nadin (2014) – and the concept of G-Complexity
Dialogue is sought by M. Nadin – https://www.nadin.ws/
Machine Intelligence – A Chimera. AI & Society. London: Springer Verlag (Springer Nature) 2018, pp. 1-28
Rethinking the experiment: a necessary (R)evolution, AI & Society 33:4, pp 467–485. New York/London: Springer. 2018
Rethinking the Experiment. https://arxiv.org/abs/1612.02491
Machine Intelligence – A Chimera. AI & Society. Heidelberg: Springer. DOI: 10.1007/s00146-018-0842-8
http://www.nadin.ws/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Machine_Intelligence_Chimera_AI-society.pdf
Medicine: The Decisive Test of Anticipation, Anticipation and Medicine. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishers, 2016, pp. 1-27 (978-1482208191)
https://www.nadin.ws/archives/2926
G-Complexity, Quantum Computation and Anticipatory Processes, Computer Communication & Collaboration, 2:1, 2014, 16-34. (DOIC: 2292-1036-2014-01-003-18).
https://www.nadin.ws/archives/2220
The Intractable and the Undecidable – Computation and Anticipatory Processes, International Journal of Applied Research on Information Technology and Computing, 4:3, 2013, 99-121.
Predictive and Anticipatory Computing, in Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Technology, Second Edition DOI: 10.1081/E-ECST2-120054027
Copyright © 2017 by Taylor & Francis.
https://www.nadin.ws/archives/2972
via (PDF) G-Complexity, Quantum Computation and Anticipatory Processes
G-Complexity, Quantum Computation and Anticipatory Processes
Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship | SCO – Initial Convening
A little bit of a confusing hodge-podge – a centre set up by Skoll at the Said Business School at Oxford University, which seems to have suddenly sprung to life with both a newsletter (copied at bottom) which links to a blog page (copied below) which has a bit of a different set of links.
via Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship | SCO – Initial Convening
SCO – Initial Convening
Latest blog update from the Skoll Centre’s main research initiative, the Systems Change Observatory.
In March 2019, we had a daylong session that integrated in-person attendance with contributions from participants around the world. This meeting incorporated opinions from previously conducted unstructured interviews to identify the most relevant issues and concerns regarding systems change among this first round of Observatory contributors.
The discussions raised were far from exhaustive. The value of this study lies in starting an exploration of topics that have not yet been systematically studied and understood with practitioners who, despite sharing similar concerns, are approaching problems differently.
Emergent themes
From our discussions, four key themes emerged:
- Definitions and conceptions of systems change
- The intersections of systems change, social entrepreneurship, and scaling solutions
- Implementing systems change
- Measurement and evaluation of systems change interventions.
The first two refer to the connections between systems change, social entrepreneurship and scaling-up an intervention in the social impact space.
The last two themes consider the principles for designing and implementing systems change activities and the challenges in setting up measurement and evaluation instruments for system change interventions. Given the diverse experiences of our interviewees, our findings highlight different mechanisms, challenges and prospects to positively drive and evaluate system change. We will share snapshots on these themes to map relevant issues and spark deeper conversations.
Looking ahead
One of the salient issues in systems change work is the relative lack of over-time data on ventures that pursue a systems approach to social innovation. This limits our understanding of how system change is conceived and pursued to address a wide range of challenges. Beyond this initial study, the SCO intends to explore what happens in the life-course of these ventures, shedding light on aggregate patterns across ventures and over time.
The SCO can contribute by providing key outputs on systems change in action. This includes identifying the skills required to engage in systems change, approaches and pathways to change that organisations follow over time and their experience with implementation. This can help entrepreneurs identify what skills to build and activities in which to engage.
The ambition of the SCO is to add value to the field by keeping in mind the relevance of our research for our stakeholders. We intend to offer value by leveraging our academic skills to undertake translational research in order to produce, compile, and disseminate knowledge that can be useful for academics and practitioners in the field of systems change.
Stay up to date with the latest news and research insights from the Systems Change Observatory, sign up to receive the newsletter.
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