Colors of Influence

17 Feb 2025

This episode of Book Talks features Lynn Rasmussen, founder of The Maui Institue and author of “Seeing: A Field Guide to the Patterns and Processes of Nature, Culture, and Consciousness.” Lynn is a systems theorist and researcher with over 25 years of conversations and collaborations with cutting-edge systems scientists and thinkers. With roots in public health and community service, she applies her knowledge of systems to the environmental, cultural, and economic crises facing her island home. In “Seeing,” Lynn distills the work of hundreds of scientists, theorists, and systems thinkers to the essentials of systems science. She illustrates how nature-based patterns work in everyday life and helps readers to understand how nature’s complex systems work generally, and we can better organize ourselves. Learn more about the book: http://www.seeingfieldguide.com/ Learn more about the Maui Institute: http://www.mauiinstitute.org Book Talks with Colors of Influence focuses on fiction and nonfiction works highlighting issues of diverse identities, equity and inclusion, social justice, Indigenous ways of being, and decolonial approaches to the struggle for liberation. I talk to authors whose works contribute to a nuanced understanding of various cross-cultural contexts of our shared humanity and common dreams. The works featured in this web series reveal essential truths about the authors’ unique perspectives. Submit your book for a review or author interview https://forms.gle/ZrQf6CLQcroLiG6e8 Colors of Influence blog: https://colorsinfluence.blogspot.com Colors of Influence on Reedsy: https://reedsy.com/discovery/user/mai…

Colors of Influence Book Talks: Lynn Rasmussen, author of “Seeing: A Field Guide “Colors of Influence14 subscribersSubscribed1ShareDownloadClipSave19 views 17 Feb 2025This episode of Book Talks features Lynn Rasmussen, founder of The Maui Institue and author of “Seeing: A Field Guide to the Patterns and Processes of Nature, Culture, and Consciousness.” Lynn is a systems theorist and researcher with over 25 years of conversations and collaborations with cutting-edge systems scientists and thinkers. With roots in public health and community service, she applies her knowledge of systems to the environmental, cultural, and economic crises facing her island home.In “Seeing,” Lynn distills the work of hundreds of scientists, theorists, and systems thinkers to the essentials of systems science. She illustrates how nature-based patterns work in everyday life and helps readers to understand how nature’s complex systems work generally, and we can better organize ourselves. Learn more about the book: http://www.seeingfieldguide.com/ Learn more about the Maui Institute: http://www.mauiinstitute.org Book Talks with Colors of Influence focuses on fiction and nonfiction works highlighting issues of diverse identities, equity and inclusion, social justice, Indigenous ways of being, and decolonial approaches to the struggle for liberation. I talk to authors whose works contribute to a nuanced understanding of various cross-cultural contexts of our shared humanity and common dreams. The works featured in this web series reveal essential truths about the authors’ unique perspectives.Submit your book for a review or author interview https://forms.gle/ZrQf6CLQcroLiG6e8 Colors of Influence blog: https://colorsinfluence.blogspot.com Colors of Influence on Reedsy: https://reedsy.com/discovery/user/mai…

(2) Colors of Influence Book Talks: Lynn Rasmussen, author of “Seeing: A Field Guide ” – YouTube

Interview BY

Martin Reeves

December 17, 2024

The Unaccountability Machine with Dan Davies

“What worries me about AI is that we’ve got this huge potential for summarizing information and expanding simple instruction sets but instead we’re going to use it to send more emails.”

The Unaccountability Machine with Dan Davies – BCG Henderson Institute

https://bcghendersoninstitute.com/the-unaccountability-machine-with-dan-davies/

The scientist who made the digital world possible – Part 1

The scientist who made the digital world possible – Part 1 – SC – Simplifying Complexity – Omny.fm

Dr Claude Shannon is one of the most influential scientists you’ve likely never heard of whose work laid the foundations for the information age. 

To explain the significance of Dr Shannon’s impact on modern computing, we’re joined by Jimmy Soni, author of “A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age” and “The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley”.

Written by Jimmy Soni

A Man in a Hurry: Claude Shannon’s New York Years

Insights on work and creativity from the life of mathematician Claude Shannon, the most influential figure you’ve never heard of.

A Man in a Hurry: Claude Shannon’s New York Years

https://jimmysoni.com/claude-shannons-new-york-years/

EVENTS

For events, please click on the flags or group titles below to go to the ones that interest you. Please remember that you can attend online events organised by any of the SCiO groups if they are held in a language you speak/understand (and you are a member if it is a member-only meeting). Further details of events may be available by clicking on the event titles below and you can also book each event directly from the Book now text

Please note that some groups post events and add details quite late, so it is always worth checking the website – also for changes to dates and times. Please click here to see all the events in a browser.

SCiO Belgium		SCiO DACH
SCiO Espana		SCiO Finland
SCiO Ireland		SCiO Nederland
SCiO UK

COURSES

There are now thirteen courses live on our Learning Management System. For UK civil servants the courses will be available through the UK Government’s System Thinking Interest Group’s learning hub.

Best Regards

Steve

SCiO – Systems & Complexity in Organisation

e-mail      steve.hales@systemspractice.org                       

website    www.systemspractice.org  

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SCiO UK

SCiO UK Face-to-Face Open Meeting (Manchester) – March 2025

Mon, Mar 31st, 2025  10:00 – 16:30  GMT

A series of presentations of general interest to Systems and Complexity in Organisation’s members and others.

SCiO organises Open Meetings to provide opportunities for practitioners to learn and develop new practice, to build relationships, networks hear about skills, tools, practice and experiences. This open meeting explores specific application of systems thinking practice methods and learning, with five sessions. The programme for the day is given on the website:

Fundamentals of System Thinking – Matt Lloyd

Psychological safety as a systemic construct: implications for social services – Joan O’Donnell

Multi-Methodology Approaches in System Thinking – Patrick Hoverstadt – Simon MacCormac

To CLD or not, that is the question – Peter Lacey

All welcome; £30; Manchester Business School, Manchester; English BOOK NOW

SCiO UK Virtual Development Event – April 2025

Tue, Apr 8th, 2025  13:00 – 15:00  GMT+1

SCiO’s Development Event offer an opportunity to draw upon the collective expertise of SCiO members in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. By taking Development Events online, using the Zoom meeting platform, we aim to make them accessible to more SCiO members

Development Events are both for members who are just starting out on a journey to explore Systems Thinking approaches, and for those who have many years of exploration and practice.

Members only; FREE; Online event; English; BOOK NOW

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SCiO Nederland

SCIO-NL monthly meeting March 2025 (live in Vianen and in Dutch)

Fri, Mar 7th, 2025  12:30 – 16:00  CET

SCIO-NL komt elke 1e of 2e vrijdag van de maand live bijeen, afwisselend in Vianen (Hagenweg 3c) of in Woerden (Pelmolenlaan 2). Er staan geen vaste onderwerpen op de agenda (daarvoor organiseren we specifieke andere meetings), maar de ervaring leert dat er altijd wel een interessant gesprek op gang komt over een systemisch onderwerp. Toegankelijk voor iedereen die de jaarlijkse fee voor de live-bijeenkomsten (€50,-) hiervoor betaald. En voor gasten. Neem contact op via ed@doitogether.nl als je interesse hebt, maar nog geen lid van de club bent

NL Members + guests; Free; Hagenweg 3c, Vianen, Netherlands;  Dutch;  BOOK NOW

SCIO-NL monthly meeting April 2025 (live in Woerden and in Dutch)

Fri, Apr 4th, 2025   12:30 – 16:00  CET+1

SCIO-NL komt elke 1e of 2e vrijdag van de maand live bijeen, afwisselend in Vianen (Hagenweg 3c) of in Woerden (Pelmolenlaan 2). Er staan geen vaste onderwerpen op de agenda (daarvoor organiseren we specifieke andere meetings), maar de ervaring leert dat er altijd wel een interessant gesprek op gang komt over een systemisch onderwerp. Toegankelijk voor iedereen die de jaarlijkse fee voor de live-bijeenkomsten (€50,-) hiervoor betaald. En voor gasten. Neem contact op via ed@doitogether.nl als je interesse hebt, maar nog geen lid van de club bent.

NL Members + guests; Free; Pelmolenlaan 2, Woerden (At the Office) 5, Woerden, Netherlands;  Dutch;  BOOK NOW

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SCiO Belgium

Open speaker session – Dr. Olaf Hermans (Co-Leadership Automation) – R – Het creëren van eigenaarschap via een massa conversatie proces

Tue, Mar 11th, 2025  19:00 – 21:00  CET

De interactie met grote groepen (klanten, medewerkers, leveranciers, burgers …) is voor veel leidinggevenden een uitdaging. Hoe betrek je grote groepen in het oplossen van probleem én waarborg je dat ze eigenaarschap opnemen?

Dit is de vertrekvraag van Olaf Hermans. Hij ontwikkelde zijn inzichten aan Penn State University (US) waar hij doctoreerde op het thema meta-cognitie en wat klanten en werknemers rapporteren over wat ze echt hebben met merken en organisaties, en hoe ze zich bewust zijn van hun loyale bijdragen aan dat merk, die organisatie en die relatie….

All welcome; Free; Online event; Dutch; BOOK NOW

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 SCiO DACH (Deutschland, Österreich, Schweiz)

Regeneratives Wirtschaften – Hebel und Werkzeuge für Organisationen – Marcel Rößner

Thu, Apr 24th, 2025   19:00 – 20:30  CET+1

Wie können Unternehmen über Nachhaltigkeit hinausgehen und aktiv zur Regeneration ökologischer, sozialer und wirtschaftlicher Systeme beitragen? Und worin liegt überhaupt der Unterschied zwischen Nachhaltigkeit und Regeneration? Dieser Vortrag beleuchtet Grundlagen, aber auch Hebel und Ansätze die Organisationen nutzen können, um diesen Wandel in ihren Strukturen und Prozessen zu verankern.
Marcel Rößner ist ein selbstständiger Organisationsberater, der sich seit 2022 intensiv mit dem Thema regeneratives Wirtschaften beschäftigt. Mit seinem Blog regenerative-unternehmen.de, der 2023 online ging, bietet er eine fundierte Plattform zur Auseinandersetzung mit regenerativen Ansätzen in der Unternehmenspraxis……

All welcome; Kostenlos; Online event; German; BOOK NOW

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SCiO Finland

Kirjakerho: The Fractal Organization

Wed, Apr 23rd, 2025  17:00 – 19:00  EEST

SCiO Finlandin kirjakerho kokoontuu jälleen 23.4.2025 klo 17 alkaen. Tervetuloa mukaan!

Paikka: Aalto yliopiston kampus, Maarintie 8, Espoon Otaniemessä. Tavataan pääaulassa, josta siirrymme yhdessä huoneeseen 1593. Saavuthan ajoissa!

Käsiteltävä kirja: Patrick Hoverstadt: The Fractal Organization: Creating sustainable organizations with the Viable System Model.  Tilaisuuden alustaa ja vetää Jani Mattsson…….

All welcome; Free; 8 Maarintie,  02150 Espoo, Finland; Finnish;  BOOK NOW

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SCiO Ireland

Meetings are not being advertised. Please check Events on the website. Contact SCiO Ireland through https://www.systemspractice.org/community/ireland.

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SCiO Espana

No meetings currently planned March/April. However, a programme is under discussion. Contact SCiO Espana through https://www.systemspractice.org/community/scio-esp.

via Ivo Velitchkov

Entrevistas • Tempo soc. 33 (03) • Sep-Dec 2021 • https://doi.org/10.11606/0103-2070.ts.2021.182052 linkcopy

SciELO Brasil – Observing observers in social systems theory An interview with Hans-Georg Moeller Observing observers in social systems theory An interview with Hans-Georg Moeller

https://www.scielo.br/j/ts/a/NxHpGznhcdZdzKKgpm4Cgdf/?lang=en

March 5, 2025

Content

As India is poised to become the third largest economy, there is a pressing need to look at the state of organisations and people within them. That this constitutes a critical enquiry is evidenced from the low percentage of organised sector workers in the country’s workforce, the dearth of industrial innovation, and other alarming socio-economic indicators. Social research in organisations has looked at the cultural intricacies within organisations, and the challenges hence produced. The differences between East and West is evident from such research, especially relating to organisational behaviour. This is particularly significant because entrepreneurs and the managerial elite are either educated in the West or based on Western paradigms imported by mainstream management education. In our own experience as change practitioners, we have witnessed how such socio-cultural phenomena, largely unacknowledged, impinge on organisational success and individual well-being. We have seen how they hamper knowledge creation, growth and innovation, and lead to stressful workplaces.

Critical studies that foreground decolonisation have called for the uncovering of indigenous knowledge. Western paradigms operate tacitly within organisations and are usually imposed from elite standpoints. While there may be disparate accounts of indigenous knowledge, a coherent perspective, let alone methodology, is largely missing. It is in such a context that we seek to explore a ‘critical organisational praxis’. Here, we invoke Freire’s ideas of dialogue and problematisation, and the principles of organisational cybernetics. We seek to develop a theory of critically intervening in organisations at all levels to improve dialogue, and for ways to enable an interplay between multiple epistemologies (Western and indigenous) that may exist in an organisation.

We envisage the scope of such a praxis to include theoretical research about the nature of the Indian organisation, and the development of methods of intervening at various levels. In this presentation, we put forth our experiences in trying to bring to life some of these ideas while examining the nature of our own work.

Registration link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrc-6orTIpE93LPq621YbrVdLr1sIF4afh

Sujay Dinnalli & Ushma Desai

Sujay Dinnalli

Sujay is Chief Scientific Officer at Efion – a consulting practice focused on helping organisations embrace systemic thinking and enhance participation. He is also an independent researcher looking at approaches to intervene effectively in the Indian / Global South context, informed by critical and cyber-systemic perspectives. In past avatars, he has been an entrepreneur, business process consultant, and electronics & communications engineer.

Ushma Desai

Ushma is an Organization Development and Culture Consultant, committed to radically humanizing organizations. As a woman navigating the cultural and corporate landscape of Indian organizations for over a decade, she has witnessed first-hand the profound impact of power structures, oppression, and disconnection. These experiences form the heart of her approach towards co-creating spaces for safe dialogue and shared meaning-making within organizations. She has a post graduate diploma in Organisational Development and Change from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), and is currently training to complete a diploma in Transactional Analysis from South Asian Association of Transactional Analysts (SAATA).

Exploring a critical organisational praxis – invoking cybernetic thinking, indigenous knowledge and decolonisationMarch 5, 2025ContentAs India is poised to become the third largest economy, there is a pressing need to look at the state of organisations and people within them. That this constitutes a critical enquiry is evidenced from the low percentage of organised sector workers in the country’s workforce, the dearth of industrial innovation, and other alarming socio-economic indicators. Social research in organisations has looked at the cultural intricacies within organisations, and the challenges hence produced. The differences between East and West is evident from such research, especially relating to organisational behaviour. This is particularly significant because entrepreneurs and the managerial elite are either educated in the West or based on Western paradigms imported by mainstream management education. In our own experience as change practitioners, we have witnessed how such socio-cultural phenomena, largely unacknowledged, impinge on organisational success and individual well-being. We have seen how they hamper knowledge creation, growth and innovation, and lead to stressful workplaces.Critical studies that foreground decolonisation have called for the uncovering of indigenous knowledge. Western paradigms operate tacitly within organisations and are usually imposed from elite standpoints. While there may be disparate accounts of indigenous knowledge, a coherent perspective, let alone methodology, is largely missing. It is in such a context that we seek to explore a ‘critical organisational praxis’. Here, we invoke Freire’s ideas of dialogue and problematisation, and the principles of organisational cybernetics. We seek to develop a theory of critically intervening in organisations at all levels to improve dialogue, and for ways to enable an interplay between multiple epistemologies (Western and indigenous) that may exist in an organisation.We envisage the scope of such a praxis to include theoretical research about the nature of the Indian organisation, and the development of methods of intervening at various levels. In this presentation, we put forth our experiences in trying to bring to life some of these ideas while examining the nature of our own work.Registration link:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrc-6orTIpE93LPq621YbrVdLr1sIF4afhSujay Dinnalli & Ushma DesaiSujay DinnalliSujay is Chief Scientific Officer at Efion – a consulting practice focused on helping organisations embrace systemic thinking and enhance participation. He is also an independent researcher looking at approaches to intervene effectively in the Indian / Global South context, informed by critical and cyber-systemic perspectives. In past avatars, he has been an entrepreneur, business process consultant, and electronics & communications engineer.Ushma DesaiUshma is an Organization Development and Culture Consultant, committed to radically humanizing organizations. As a woman navigating the cultural and corporate landscape of Indian organizations for over a decade, she has witnessed first-hand the profound impact of power structures, oppression, and disconnection. These experiences form the heart of her approach towards co-creating spaces for safe dialogue and shared meaning-making within organizations. She has a post graduate diploma in Organisational Development and Change from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), and is currently training to complete a diploma in Transactional Analysis from South Asian Association of Transactional Analysts (SAATA).

Exploring a critical organisational praxis – invoking cybernetic thinking, indigenous knowledge and decolonisation – Metaphorum

Exploring a critical organisational praxis – invoking cybernetic thinking, indigenous knowledge and decolonisation

Attached is the call for papers on SSM in a special issue of Systemic Practice and Action Research.

Abstracts to the editor Frank Stowell frank.stowell@port.ac.uk by the end of March please.

Pam

Pam Hearne

Membership Secretary UKSS

Shared by Christopher Chase in systems thinking network who says:

Great advice for these Uncertain Times from Joanna Macy (that Daniel Christian Wahl recently shared). Feel free to print out or share.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7299798445790314496/

The Invisibility of Infrastructures:

Join The Testing Planet on the 27th of February, from 14:00 GMT

• by Diana Dromey
•  Feb 17, 2025

Expand your testing Universe with Systems ThinkingJoin The Testing Planet on the 27th of February, from 14:00 GMTby Diana Dromey Feb 17, 2025

Expand your testing Universe with Systems Thinking | Ministry of Testing

https://www.ministryoftesting.com/news/expand-your-testing-universe-with-systems-thinking

Long text but still can’t find a way to sign up – maybe eail them css@hull.ac.uk

CSS NewsletterFebruary 2025 Issue – Systems Prospects

Welcome from the Editors Dear ReadersWe take great pleasure to welcome you to the first edition of Systems Prospects for 2025.Systems thinking has become indispensable for navigating the complexities of global uncertainties. The interconnectedness of economies, supply chains, and geopolitical dynamics means that isolated decisions in one region can have cascading effects worldwide. The ongoing energy crisis, inflation, and climate change require solutions that address root causes rather than symptoms, emphasising the need for collaborative, cross-border strategies. Prudence is critical in this context, as hasty or reactive policies can exacerbate instability. Equally important is justice, as systemic inequities must be addressed to ensure sustainable progress.The consideration of regulatory efficiency and effectiveness are crucial in navigating the realities that we encounter. With such considerations in mind, this year’s annual Mike Jackson Lecture will host John Seddon who will speak on rethinking regulation on 7th April 2025. Seddon has received numerous academic awards for his contribution to management science. He won the first McKinsey/HBR Management Innovation Prize for ‘Reinventing Leadership’ in 2010. Our Director, Roberto Palacios Rodrigues, delves more into the subject in this newsletter. For this edition, the thought piece is a review of Rajneesh Chowdhury’s book, Holistic Flexibility for Systems Thinking and Practice, where Rajneesh presents an evolved version of Holistic Flexibility, a conceptual lens that he introduced in 2019 to give systems thinking a cognitive character. The CSS Student Community contribution is by Louise Morton, an early career researcher. Morton’s research explores the use of Digital Agricultural Technology (DAT) to sustainably manage crops and soil carbon. In summary, Morton posits the question: Could a Socio-Ecological-Technical (SET) approach be useful for rural systems too? Finally, we will share a list of exciting events from the Centre and the systems world. If you would like to share any news items or events for inclusion in future newsletters, please contact either Matt Lloyd (m.lloyd-2021@hull.ac.uk) or Rajneesh Chowdhury (Rajneesh.Chowdhury@hull.ac.uk). Happy reading!Warm regardsMatt and RajMatt Lloyd – m.lloyd-2021@hull.ac.uk Rajneesh Chowdhury – Rajneesh.Chowdhury@hull.ac.uk

A Note from the Director of the Centre for Systems Studies The new year is bringing along a number of important projects for the CSS. We have a line of fantastic webinars throughout the year. A systems thinking stream will be part of this year OR Society Conference in Leeds, the Mike Jackson lecture has been confirmed and a number of different collaboration links with different system practitioners and community-based enterprises are taking shape.We have received the invitation from Prof Frank Stowell for contributions to a special issue of Systems Practice and Action Research journal dedicated to the work of Peter Checkland and the Soft Systems Methodology on the 50th anniversary of SSM.As systems thinking ideas are gaining popularity among decision makers in the public sphere, we are working on making sure the systemic principles and ideas take root within the public service and help produce the sort of benefits they are intended to produce in order to enlighten the process of an improved understanding of the many challenges society and organisations face.It goes without saying that we at the CSS are looking forward to engaging with as many of you on projects associated with the development, dissemination, and use of systems thinking. So, please do feel free to contact us with any idea to advance systemic thinking.Roberto Palacios RodriguezR.Palacios-Rodriguez@hull.ac.uk

A Thought Piece from the CSS communityHolistic Flexibility for Systems Thinking and PracticeMy book, Holistic Flexibility for Systems Thinking and Practice, was published last year by Routledge under the Systems Thinking book series, edited by Professor Gerald Midgley. In this book, I present an evolved version of Holistic Flexibility, a conceptual lens that I introduced in 2019 to give systems thinking a cognitive character.The five principles of Holistic Flexibility are as follows:System as becoming suggests a dynamic approach based on the negotiation of boundaries, appreciation of interrelationships and cognizance of emergence.Transformative flexibility based on the trilogy of flexibility in cognition, formulation and substantiation.Responsible practice aimed at addressing problems holistically, meaningfully and sustainably touching both human and non-human dimensions.Spiral of learning embraces single-, double- and triple-loop learning to enhance efficiency, effectiveness and value-centricity, respectively.Pragmatic artistry embraces pragmatism as necessary in dynamic situations and artistry, requiring understanding, elegance and poise.My latest book covers theories and selected case studies that have been developed through my research and practice in Holistic Flexibility. In my research journey, I typically adopted one of the three approaches as listed:Concept development: Concept development has been central to my work. Concepts contribute to direct one’s thoughts and understanding and in grasping complex ideas, and thereby they play an important role in cognition (Carey, 1991). I have relied on an interpretive model (Branch and Rocchi, 2015) of concept development through the collection and analysis of qualitative data – both primary and secondary. The concepts that I have presented, predominantly draw from the case studies that I have discussed in this and my previous book.Case study: The case studies narrate my experience of iterative problem- structuring and problem- solving. My own involvement in the projects, covered in the cases, helped me understand complex social and organizational dynamics in real- life situations and narrate them from a personal perspective. The style in which the case studies are written align with, what Ormerod (2014) would call, “mangle of OR practice” touching upon the dynamic intertwining of material, human and cultural factors leading to personal and experience- based insights.Action research: The case studies presented highlight an action research approach, where the dis­tinction between research and action is overcome (Coghlan and Brannick, 2005). I adopted the nature of what Schön (1983, 1987) calls, a “reflective practitioner” capturing the characteristics of both knowing- in- action and reflection- in- action as a continual process. Action research led me to engage closely with stakeholders that enabled me to understand and document organizational/ social realities and sensitivities.I open the book by setting the context to the discussions presented. I talk about the journey of systems thinking and establish a position for Holistic Flexibility as a conceptual lens that pragmatizes the discipline. Holistic Flexibility takes systems thinking beyond methodologies, frameworks, and prescriptions to pragmatize systems practice. I go on to present a selection of case studies, from my first-hand experience, that demonstrates Holistic Flexibility in practice. The case studies highlight the creative and flexible application of frameworks and methodologies towards achieving systemic outcomes. The discussions help in building towards my argument that systems thinking can be regarded as a cognitive skill. The first three case studies demonstrate the evident application of systems methodologies. This is followed by three other case studies, where I argue for systems thinking to be considered a cognitive skill that does not need be methodology dependent. To demonstrate my argument, I present interventions that were influenced by a systemic mindset and where no systems methodologies are deployed. In the final part of my book, I present a critique of contemporary systems thinking and argue for the necessity of a possible future direction for systems research under the banner of what, I call, conscious systemic leadership (CSL). I highlight a set of research questions that emerge as a result of my auto- critique of the arguments that I have presented in this book.Holistic Flexibility can serve as an inspiration for practitioners to thread disparate strands with analysis and logic and yet transcend the same through lateral thinking and relationality. However, this will not be easy as practitioners are susceptible to the dominant worldviews that pressurize them to think and act with a reductionist and isolationist mindset. Considering the five principles of Holistic Flexibility for systems thinking as a cognitive skill, ten behaviors have been deciphered as a guidance for practitioners. A note on the impeding challenges that practitioners are most likely to face in this journey and how these can be overcome are also provided.Through my discussions, I have argued that the conceptual lens of Holistic Flexibility helps to deploy systems thinking as a cognitive skill, thereby pragmatizing the discipline. Drawing from the influence of the works of Alexander Bogdanov, Charles Sanders Pierce, William James, and John Dewey, among others, Jackson (2023) argues that systems thinking is founded on pragmatist thinking. Holistic Flexibility seeks to catalyze such conversations that argue for a pragmatic stance in systems thinking.I welcome systems thinkers and practitioners to read my book and engage with the possibilities of further research that I have articulated in the last chapter. New perspectives and advancements are particularly important at a time when we see a growing popularity of systems thinking.Rajneesh Chowdhury Rajneesh.Chowdhury@hull.ac.ukReferencesBranch, J. and Rocchi, F. (2015). Concept development: A primer. Philosophy of Management, 14(2), pp. 111– 133. https:// doi.org/ 10.1007/ s40 926- 015- 0011- 9Carey, S. (1991). Knowledge acquisition: Enrichment or conceptual change? In: Carey, S. and Gelman, R. (Eds.) The Epigenesis of Mind: Essays on Biology and Cognition, pp. 257– 291. London and New York: Routledge.Chowdhury, R. (2024). Holistic Flexibility for Systems Thinking and Practice. London and New York: Routledge.Coghlan, D. and Brannick, T. (2005). Doing Action Research in Your Own Organization. London: Sage.Jackson, M. C. (2023). Pragmatism and critical systems thinking: Back to the future of systems thinking. Integration and Implementation Insights. https:// i2i nsig hts.org/ 2023/ 04/ 04/ pra gmat ism- and- criti cal- syst ems- think ing/ amp/ [accessed 10 May 2023]Ormerod, R. J. (2014). The mangle of OR practice: Towards more informative case studies of ‘technical’ projects. Journal of the Operations Research Society, 65(8), pp. 1245– 1260. https:// doi.org/ 10.1057/ jors.2013.78Schön, D. A. (1983). The Reflective Practitioner. New York: Basic Books.Schön, D. A. (1987). Educating the Reflective Practitioner. Hoboken (NJ): Jossey Bass. https:// doi.org/ 10.1002/ chp.475 0090 207Contribution from the CSS PhD communityStudent Thought Piece: A Social-Ecological-Technical Systems (SETs) approach? I have recently discovered Donella Meadows et al. (2004) and her book ‘Limits to Growth – the 30-year update’. As I am sure you will all know, the authors talk about the interconnectedness of social, ecological, and technological systems and how dynamic interaction influences global development, sustainability, and planetary limits. I thoroughly enjoyed discovering about the Gaia principles of James Lovelock in my undergrad work therefore the writing of Meadows et al. (2004) resonates with my thinking that Earth should, by and large, be considered a single living organism with multiple interacting and interconnected systems. Indeed, many systems researchers have evidenced this holistic approach in their own work (Rockström et al., 2009; Jackson, 2019).I am an early career researcher, and my research explores the use of Digital Agricultural Technology (DAT) to sustainably manage crops and soil carbon (University of Hull, 2023). My background is chemical testing, quality management systems and quality auditing but I was given complete autonomy about how to research my topic and quite frankly, like a kid in a sweetshop, I didn’t know where to start. I was drawn to the work of my close friend who was deep into systems thinking, after all, thinking in systems was second nature to me – everything was a system! So, I started to investigate some different approaches. Although my previous life was sat firmly in a positivist paradigm, my research was social science based and very much qualitative analysis in the interpretivist paradigm. Hence, I became very confused; until a lifeline was thrown my way.Someone suggested I should use a socio-technological systems (STS) approach. I thought this was a great idea and with further investigation it seemed to fit well. STS would look at the interactions between the humans and the technologies and the development of that working ‘relationship’ (Ropohl, 1999). As I progressed this line of reasoning, I couldn’t help feeling something was missing – a key component wasn’t considered! The literature review we completed looked at the adoption of DAT’s. It told me that DAT’s were not adopted for several reasons including Technological, Economic, Socio-demographic, political, cultural, and Environmental Factors. And there it was – the environment! An STS approach in my opinion and for my research failed to take the environment into consideration. Not only does the environment being the ‘thing’ that the farmer-DAT system would be working in, but as an interacting ‘thing’ that could assist and, in some cases, resist the interaction of the farmer and their DAT on the land, thereby affecting the desired output. I could only assume that this was the part that was missing for me.Further reading brought me to Social-Ecological-Technical systems (SETs) (Andersson et al., 2024; Barnes et al., 2024) and thence to Donella Meadows et al. (2004) and the interconnectedness of social, ecological, and technological systems. A SETs approach has been used by authors to explore human social and technological system activity and its impact on ecological systems, such as resource depletion, pollution, and biodiversity loss, and how these in turn feedback into social and economic systems. There is an emphasis on the importance of understanding these systems’ feedback loops and unsystematic behaviours to make informed decisions for a sustainable future. An approach like this would fit with my research approach into determining how farmers have implemented DAT’s into their soil management processes (Figure 1), however, as far as I can determine, this approach has mainly been used for urban ecosystem services.In summary, my question for this newsletter is: Could a SETs approach be useful for rural systems too?I welcome any comments and guidance from the CSS community as I explore this further in my PhD research. Please email contact me at:Louise Morton  c.l.morton-2021@hull.ac.uk  ReferencesAndersson, J., Lennerfors, T. T. C Fornstedt, H. (2024) Towards a socio-techno-ecological approach to sustainability transitions. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 51, 100846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2024.100846Barnes, M. R., Friell, J., Runck, B. C., Soldat, D. J., Watkins, E. C Yue, C. (2024) Cultivating connections: Framing turfgrass as a thriving social-ecological-technological system. Crop Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21387Jackson, M. C. (2019) Critical systems thinking and the management of complexity. John Wiley & Sons.Meadows, D. H., Randers, J. C Meadows, D. L. (2004) Limits to growth: the 30-year update. Translated from English by, 3rd rev., expand and updated edition. Chelsea Green.Rockström, J., Steffen, W., Noone, K., Persson, Å., Chapin III, F. S., Lambin, E., Lenton, T. M., Scheffer, M., Folke, C. C Schellnhuber, H. J. (2009) Planetary boundaries: exploring the safe operating space for humanity. Ecology and society, 14(2).Ropohl, G. (1999) Philosophy of socio-technical systems. Society for Philosophy and Technology Ǫuarterly Electronic Journal, 4(3), 186-194.University of Hull (2023) RESEARCH: Environmental technologies and their implications (ETFS).https://www.hull.ac.uk/work-with-us/research/groups/environmental-technologies-and-foodsystems-etfs

Centre for Systems Studies Related NewsAnnual Mike Jackson Lecture with John Seddon: Systems Thinking, Regulation and Public-sector Productivity The annual Mike Jackson Lecture will take place on the 10th April 2025 with a presentation from John Seddon on rethinking regulation. Following a career developing a unique systems approach to the design and management of service organisations, John argues that our current method of regulation is an impediment to productivity and economic growth. His is not an argument for less regulation, it is an argument for a better method, one that dissolves the many problems created by the current method. Suicides make the news; they are extreme events in a culture of low morale. The morale-sapping regulatory bureaucracy is a product of remote top-down management by politicians and regulators. Worse, the specifications requiring compliance are a block to productivity improvement and innovation, based, as they are, on what is often labelled as New Public Management.  John will give practical examples of sub-optimisation resulting from compliance with regulatory specifications and will illustrate the profound productivity and cultural improvements achieved by adopting a systems approach. “It is time to liberate public servants from the prison of suspicion and distrust that our current method of regulation locks them in, demeaning their professionalism and casting them as part of the problem rather than active creators of solutions. To the contrary, the better method of regulation assumes that people are motivated by pride in their work, that they are vocational – they want to serve – and that they are eager and capable of using their ingenuity and initiative to serve that purpose. Their behaviour is a product of the system; it is only by changing the regulatory regime that we can expect a change in behaviour.”  John Seddon is an occupational psychologist and author, specialising in the service industry. He is the managing director of Vanguard, a consultancy company he formed in 1985 and the inventor of ‘The Vanguard Method’, the means by which his organisation helps service leaders transform their organisations from conventional command-and-control designs to systems designs, achieving remarkable results.  Seddon has received numerous academic awards for his contribution to management science. He won the first McKinsey/HBR Management Innovation Prize for ‘Reinventing Leadership’ in 2010.  Seddon’s prominence grew following attacks on conventional management thinking, sometimes referred to as New Public Management, including: the belief in economies of scale, quality standards and much of public sector reform including ‘deliverology’, the use of targets, inspection and centralised control of local services. The Daily Telegraph described him as a “reluctant management guru”.  He has published seven books. In his 2008 book, Systems Thinking in the Public Sector, he provided a criticism of the UK Government reform programme, illustrating the reasons for investment not achieving the desired results and providing examples of effective reform. The Whitehall Effect was published in 2014. In it he articulates a more productive role for government in public-sector reform. His most recent book Beyond Command and Control focuses on the ‘how’ of effective change.

Other Systems Related NewsThe Student CSS CommunityWe think our student community is full of systems curious individuals. We hope to provide an environment where the curious can convene and explore their journey through the Systems Thinking literature and practice. If you are a student, apprentice of early career researcher, we would like to welcome you to our community. If you’d like to get involved, please contact the student organisers:Chris – c.n.abbott-2021@hull.ac.uk  Gemma – gemma.smith-2016@hull.ac.ukJennifer – j.makar-2018@hull.ac.uk Matt –  m.lloyd-2021@hull.ac.uk   Exciting Opportunity to Publish Books on Systems Thinking with RoutledgeGerald Midgley (Centre for Systems Studies, University of Hull) has been running a Systems Thinking book series with Routledge since 2020. At first, they were paperback books aimed at practitioners, priced very reasonably. Then Routledge made a policy decision to stop producing books for practitioners, and they converted the Systems Thinking series into academic monographs: hardback and electronic books priced for purchase by libraries, with the possibility of a paperback after a year if the library version sold well. Now there is some exciting news! Routledge have introduced a new format called “focus books”, which are under 50,000 words, and they will be issued even more cheaply than the original practitioner paperbacks! Opportunities to publish systems books at affordable prices are few and far between. This new development in the Routledge Systems Thinking series is therefore a breakthrough! If you would like to write a book on systems thinking and practice, either in the form of a slim, low-priced paperback for individual purchase, or a more substantial monograph primarily aimed at libraries, please consider the Routledge Systems Thinking series. If you want to discuss an idea for a book, or would like to receive guidelines for writing a book proposal, please contact Gerald Midgley at g.r.midgley@hull.ac.uk Events in the Systems CommunitySystems Thinking – Systems thinking and complexity – incompatible or what? 26th February 2025, 17:30Join us for the online event exploring Systems Thinking and complexity with our guest speakers Mike Jackson & Jean Boulton.Mike Jackson styles himself a systems thinker and Jean Boulton ‘embraces complexity’. Both have written recent and very different books. On the surface of it, they seem to inhabit different worlds. But do they? How do these differing views complement each other? Are there incompatibilities; or is it more of a question of what you are trying to do?Mike and Jean will introduce their perspectives through their books and discuss similarities, differences and whether it matters.Further information and the link to register can be found here Creating the conditions for change: a participatory cybernetic frameworkwith Dr Ann Mulhaney24th April 2025, 12:30 Change in organisations is inevitable, especially in challenging economic and technological times. Enabling the entire workforce to engage in change initiatives not only facilitates buy in but also ensures that their specific knowledge and insights create and embed organisational transformation which will enhance long term viability.There is a plethora of change management literature, with numerous models and theories of change, but few explain how to create and embed the conditions for change that enable stakeholder engagement, coordination of initiatives and sustainability of both the change and the management of change within organisations. Managerial cybernetics is the science of effective organisation, but little work had been undertaken to utilise managerial cybernetics in the design of change intervention which both engages those affected and embraces creativity techniques as part of the change framework.Using action research, this presentation describes a framework for cybernetic participatory intervention that engages stakeholders both in the evolving design and the implementation of change. The framework was developed, refined and applied in a series of situations with increasing levels of complexity involving multiple change initiatives, multi companies and cross industry programmes. The framework embeds creativity tools to both engage stakeholders and enhance understanding of the situational context, allowing for new and enhanced opportunities for change to emerge.This will be an in-person event which can be watched via Teams (so as to give a wider audience access to the event). Ann is an associate professor at Salford Business School and was also an undergraduate with me.  Her specialism is in organisational transformation change and she was also involved in curating the Stafford Beer Collection at LJMU (including transcribing his recordings). Annual Mike Jackson Lecture. 7th April 2025, Middleton Hall, HullThis year’s Annual Mike Jackson Lecture will be presented by John Seddon. 34th European Conference on Operational Research The UK has a significant history and influence in the field of Operational Research (OR). Originating during World War II, OR was developed in Britain to address complex military logistics and strategy problems. Post-war, it played a pivotal role in decision-making and strategy, helping to solve complex problems through the innovative use of mathematics and science. EURO 2025 will be packed with insightful presentations, engaging discussions, and opportunities for networking. With a wide array of topics and cutting-edge research, the conference is designed to inspire and challenge attendees, fostering growth and collaboration. This year there will be a Systems Thinking stream chaired by myself and Gemma Smith and we are keen to attract a wide range of contributions which will showcase the variety and depth of the field as well as the people and programmes involved. Organised by the OR Society in partnership with Leeds University, the European Conference on Operational Research will be a fantastic event, please feel free to get in touch with either Gemma or myself if you have any questions. To register or to submit an abstract please visit the official website. Call for Abstracts: Systems Thinking Stream, EURO 2025 LeedsWe invite you to submit abstracts for the Systems Thinking (ST) stream at the EURO 2025 conference in Leeds (https://euro2025leeds.uk/). This stream aims to present contributions focused on the development and use of ST at both pragmatic and theoretical levels. We welcome submissions exploring a range of topics related to ST, including, for instance, applications of ST in various domains, methodological developments within the field, and considerations of the benefits and barriers associated with using ST. Contributions can range from practical case studies and implementations to more theoretical explorations of ST concepts and frameworks.We are particularly interested in submissions that demonstrate innovative approaches to ST, explore emerging trends in the field, or address challenges related to the application of ST in complex systems across disciplines. For example, submissions might focus on areas such as:System dynamics modellingSoft systems methodologyCritical systems thinkingSystems thinking in specific domains (e.g., healthcare, environment, business)The role of ST in addressing global challengesIntegrating ST with other methodologiesST applications in public bodiesEvaluating the effectiveness of ST interventionsSubmission Guidelines:Abstracts should be no more than 300 words in length and should clearly outline the research question, methodology, key findings (if applicable), and contribution to the field of ST. Please ensure your abstract is written in UK English and adheres to a accessible tone.Important Dates:Abstract submission closes: 8 March 2025Notification of abstract acceptance: From submission to Sunday 23 March 2025We look forward to receiving your submissions and welcoming you to the Systems Thinking stream at EURO 2025 in Leeds. For any queries, please email the stream chairs. Stream Chairs:Matt Lloyd (m.lloyd-2021@hull.ac.uk) Gemma Smith (Gemma.smith-2016@hull.ac.uk)SCiO Wrangling wicked business problems – Special Development Event Tuesday 18th February 2025, 13:00 – 15:00  GMTThe February event is a ‘special’, with Kim Warren – Systems Dynamics specialist and trainer – attending and participating. Some big challenges for business are viewed as ‘wicked’, because they have no single objective – like “grow our profits 10% next year” – are multi-faceted, involved multiple stake-holders with diverse interests, and have no “right answer”. …Members only; FREE; Online event; English; SCiO UK Face-to-Face Open Meeting (Manchester) Monday 31st March 2025, 10:00 – 16:30  GMTFace-to-Face Open Meeting: A series of presentations of general interest to Systems and Complexity in Organisation’s membership…Fundamentals of System Thinking – Matt LloydMulti-Methodology Approaches in System Thinking – Patrick Hoverstadt – Simon MacCormacOther speakers to be confirmed.All welcome; £30; Manchester Business School, Manchester; English; ISSS Data Variety – The Subtle and the Stark Saturday 15th March 2025The notion of requisite variety, often referred to as Ashby’s law, highlights that only variety in asystem can absorb the variety placed upon it.  Demand variety therefore informs the nature and extent of systemic regulation required.  This presentation draws from observational, event and system-actor evidence which indicates that data variety is amplifying challenges for policing and justice as core forms of societal regulation.  It questions if requisite responses are being provided.   Peircean reasoning and combinatorial theory were used to interpret evidence gathered during immersed engaged-scholarship.  A Data Requisite Variety Framework (DRVF) was developed to explore digital perturbations within systems of policing and criminal justice.  An Evidence Inference Confidence Framework (EICF) was developed to rate research evidence. Data varieties emerge from many intelligence and evidential sources used in policing and security e.g., device forensics are influenced by many factors such as probabilistic algorithmic analyses and varying human interpretations.   These dynamic and dissipative systems naturally generate varying truths.   The EICF thus offers a prospective means of calibrating evidentiality in legal settings. Impacts: In the stark light of critical and recent miscarriages of justice, a case is made for the subtle complexities of data variety and evidential inference to be explored further.   For further information please click here. ISSS Advancing Together – An Invitation for Systemic Collaboration 11th-15th July 2025, Birmingham Leadership Institute, UKThe International Society for System Sciences (ISSS) is pleased to announce its 2025 conference, to be held at the prestigious Birmingham Leadership Institute in the UK. This flagship event will bring together global scholars, practitioners, and thought leaders to explore the theme of Advancing Together: An invitation for Systemic CollaborationIn an era of unprecedented complexity and interconnected challenges, the systems community is uniquely positioned to lead efforts in creating holistic, collaborative solutions. This conference aims to facilitate dialogue and action, fostering the emergence of a cohesive systems science enterprise that integrates diverse perspectives and practices across disciplines.More information can be found here. Call for ContributionsCall for ContributionsAny news items or events for inclusion in future newsletters should be sent to Matt Lloyd (m.lloyd-2021@hull.ac.uk ) and Raj Chowdhury (Rajneesh.Chowdhury@hull.ac.uk).  Please note that the purpose of the CSS Newsletter is to share news items and events with the CSS community and to all those with an interest in systems thinking.  It is not a journal or a publication which publishes papers or research.DisclaimerThe Centre for Systems Studies, the University of Hull and associated individuals cannot be held responsible for errors or any consequences arising from the use of information contained in this newsletter; the views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of The Centre for Systems Studies, the University of Hull and associated individuals, neither does the publication of articles constitute any endorsement of the views, opinions or other contents.DisclaimerThe Centre for Systems Studies, the University of Hull and associated individuals cannot be held responsible for errors or any consequences arising from the use of information contained in this newsletter; the views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of The Centre for Systems Studies, the University of Hull and associated individuals, neither does the publication of articles constitute any endorsement of the views, opinions or other contents.

Derek Hitchins

9 Dec 2014

A series of videos about systems and systems engineering—”the art or science of creating systems,” where a system is “a complex whole, an organized body of material or immaterial things…” Folks often say that they “have taken a systems approach” – but what does that mean, what might be the benefits of taking such an approach, and what does it mean if you do not?

Systems & Systems Engineering—Systems ApproachDerek Hitchins336 subscribersSubscribed14ShareDownloadClipSave2,104 views 9 Dec 2014A series of videos about systems and systems engineering—”the art or science of creating systems,” where a system is “a complex whole, an organized body of material or immaterial things…” Folks often say that they “have taken a systems approach” – but what does that mean, what might be the benefits of taking such an approach, and what does it mean if you do not?

Systems & Systems Engineering—Systems Approach – YouTube

Si London Hub

19 Feb 2025

This event will provide a space for discussion on the development of systems thinking as a movement. During the event, we will hear from a number of speakers about the past, present, and future of systems thinking and how we are progressing on the advent of this set of ideas that hold such potential. In the second half of the 90-minute event, we will engage in a workshop exploring where the opportunities are going forward and how we might collaborate in realizing the potential of this paradigm. The event, hosted by the Si London Hub team, is the first in a series that hopes to provide the space needed for different organizations and individuals working in and around systems thinking to find ways to advance the practice. Discussion topics A little history of where systems thinking has come from. Where are we today with the advent of systems thinking? What are the opportunities and challenges going forward? Speakers Gary Smith – President of the International Society for the System Sciences, Senior Expert Systems Engineer Airbus Group Louis Klein – Secretary General of the International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR) Linda Booth Sweeney – Systems thinking and Complexity Coach, Scholar, Children’s Book Author, Founder, Toggle Labs Joss Colchester (host) – Founder of the Systems Innovation Network Mrunali Bhangale (host) – Si London hub team member

Systems Thinking – The Past, Present & Future of a Movement – YouTube