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| Systems Change pursued without Deep Equity is, in our experience, dangerous and can cause harm, and in fact leaves some of the critical elements of systems unchanged. And “equity” pursued without “Systems Change” is not “deep” nor comprehensive at the level of effectiveness currently needed. Both need each other.– Sheryl Petty and Mark LeachDear friends,We are honored to co-host, in partnership with the Academy for Systems Change, a no-cost webinar exploring the monograph Systems Change & Deep Equity: Pathways Toward Sustainable Impact, Beyond “Eureka!,” Unawareness, and Unwitting Harm.” The 90-minute session will take place on March 3, 2021 at 11:00 am Pacific/2:00 pm Eastern time.Sheryl Petty, founder & principal of Movement Tapestries, will join us to share highlights from and engage in dialogue about the monograph released last year with Change Elemental. So many in the U.S. and globally are deepening our reflection or beginning to wake up to long-time unawareness of inequity in our societies and world. This conversation can support that reflection and emergent awakening, galvanizing those in the systems change field further into our practice and commitment to be powerful and humble, collaborative agents of change. We invite you to download and engage with the monograph and join us on March 3. In service, Marta Ceroni, Academy for Systems Change Russ Gaskin, CoCreative PLEASE NOTE: This session is geared toward those who have read the monograph and/or undertaken some authentic work around equity. Be ready to be lovingly called to action and challenged. Download your copy today.Join the Guestlist |
Category Archives: Discussion
A view or perspective on the world
Understanding Society: Frankish kings and Mynyddog’s gold …
Paradigms, ontology, history, and nationalism…
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Understanding Society: Frankish kings and Mynyddog’s gold …
Understanding Society
Innovative thinking about a global world
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Frankish kings and Mynyddog’s gold …
Chris Wickham’s The Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Dark Ages 400-1000 is a fascinating book to read, if you are interested in how various strands of culture, politics, and economy developed in Europe between the fifth century and the beginning of the eleventh century — that is, between the end of the Roman Empire and the high medieval period. Wickham is an evangelist when it comes to understanding medieval history; he believes that our intellectual culture has seriously misunderstood the nature of society, politics, culture, and religion in the millennium between the fifth century and the fifteenth century. The opening words of the book capture this conviction:
Early medieval Europe has, over and over, been misunderstood. It has fallen victim above all to two grand narratives, both highly influential in the history and history-writing of the last two centuries, and both of which have led to a false image of this period: the narrative of nationalism and the narrative of modernity. Before we consider a different sort of approach, we need to look at both of these, briefly but critically, to see what is wrong with each; for most readers of this book who have not already studied the period will have one or both in the front of their minds as a guiding image. (3)
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Understanding Society: Frankish kings and Mynyddog’s gold …
Insights from complexity science: More trust in self-organization needed | EurekAlert! Science News
Insights from complexity science: More trust in self-organization needed Study ‘Systemic Risk: The Threat to Societal Diversity and Coherence’ INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED SUSTAINABILITY STUDIES E.V. (IASS)
Insights from complexity science: More trust in self-organization needed | EurekAlert! Science News
Paper:
Renn, O. and Lucas, K.: Systemic Risk: The Threat to Societal Diversity and Coherence. Risk Analysis, 1 (2021). DOI: 10.1111/risa.13654
https://www.iass-potsdam.de/de/ergebnisse/publikationen/2021/systemic-risk-threat-societal-diversity-and-coherence
Introduction to Systems Thinking with Pauline Roberts, Hosted online, 2 March 6pm AEST (paid) | Humanitix
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Introduction to Systems Thinking, Hosted online, 2nd of March | Humanitix
Introduction to Systems Thinking
Tue 2nd Mar 2021, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm AEDT
Price$128 AUD + BFGet Tickets
Event description
Taking a Systems thinking approach is becoming ever more popular in our complex world. Working across traditional boundaries, forming networks, co-ordinating, collaborating and adapting to our changing environment can pose us with some significant challenges.
In this session you will learn what we mean by ‘Systems thinking’. Why it has emerged as a way of thinking to help us move forward and why it is applicable in our world of work. We will look at how Systems thinking helps us to create the conditions for positive change to emerge. You will also learn some tips about the application of Systems thinking ideas and approaches and the opportunities and challenges that application of the thinking might present us with.
Learning Goals
- learn what we mean by ‘Systems thinking
- understand what are differences between systems thinking and other forms of thinking
- learn about some of the major approaches to systems thinking
- learn some some tips about the application of Systems thinking ideas and approaches
- develop an appreciation of some of the opportunities and challenges that application of the thinking might present us with
About the Facilitator
Pauline Roberts is a Systems Practitioner and independent consultant who has worked with a wide range of organisations, such as the NHS, Local Authorities, Ministry of Defence, pharmaceutical industry, charities and voluntary groups, applying systems thinking (in particular the VSM) to identify areas for improvements.
She is a Visiting Lecturer at City University Business School, London, in undergraduate Applied Systems Thinking and an Associate Lecturer with the Open University on the MSc Systems Thinking in Practice courses.
Format
Presentation with some opportunities to interact
Intended audience
Anyone can attend this session. No prior knowledge of System thinking is required. The only thing required is a willingness to engage with different ideas and explore the complexity around you.
What Attendees Get
- List of useful references on systems thinking and its various approaches
- 10% discount on any Liquid Forest Lab course – valid for 6 months
Course Length
Online, 2h including 5-10 minutes break
Price
AUD $135 – one off introductory discount of 30% (AUD $195.00 – full price)
Additional discounts:
- AUD $128 – early bird 5% until 1 week before first day of course
book at source:
Introduction to Systems Thinking, Hosted online, 2nd of March | Humanitix
The Cybernetics of Ohno’s Production System:
In today’s post, I am looking at the cybernetics of Ohno’s Production System. For this I will start with the ideas of ultrastability from one of the pioneers of Cybernetics, Ross Ashby. It should be noted that I am definitely inspired by Ashby’s ideas and thus may take some liberty with them.
Ashby defined a system as a collection of variables chosen by an observer. “Ultrastability” can be defined as the ability of a system to change its internal organization or structure in response to environmental conditions that threaten to disturb a desired behavior or value of an essential variable (Klaus Krippendorff). Ashby identified that when a system is in a state of stability (equilibrium), and when disturbed by the environment, it is able to get back to the state of equilibrium. This is the feature of an ultrastable system. Let’s look at the example of an organism and its…
View original post 2,075 more words
The Secure Base Model
source:
A Secure Base
Model (https://sites.uea.ac.uk/providingasecurebase/the-secure-base-model)
A Secure Base
What is a secure base and why is it important for children’s development?
A secure base is provided through a relationship with one or more sensitive and responsive attachment figures who meet the child’s needs and to whom the child can turn as a safe haven, when upset or anxious. When children develop trust in the availability and reliability of this relationship, their anxiety is reduced and they can therefore explore and enjoy their world, safe in the knowledge that they can return to their secure base for help if needed.
The concept of a secure base is important, because it links attachment and exploration, and provides the basis of a secure attachment. A securely attached child does not only seek comfort from an attachment figure, but through feeling safe to explore develops confidence, competence and resilience.
Do adults also need a secure base?
Yes. As we move through the lifespan, we form new attachment relationships with friends and partners. These relationships serve the same function for adults as for children; they provide a secure base which offers comfort and reassurance and at the same time, allows us to operate in the world with confidence. In the words of Bowlby:
All of us, from the cradle to the grave, are happiest when life is organised as a series of excursions, long or short, from the secure base provided by our attachment figures. (Bowlby 1988)
What happens when children do not have a secure base?
Early experiences of separation or neglectful or abusive parenting will cause children to remain anxious and to distrust close relationships. Children adapt to the lack of a secure base by developing different patterns of behaviour. For instance, they may become wary and defended or especially needy and demanding of care and attention. Some children with unpredictable or frightening care may try to make their environment more predictable through role-reversing and controlling behaviour. All of these behaviours are characteristic of insecure attachment patterns.
What happens when children are removed from a harmful environment?
For many children, serious experiences of neglect and maltreatment will have had a profound effect. They will have developed negative expectations of adults as part of their internal working model of relationships. They will transfer these expectations into new environments (such as foster or adoptive families or in residential care), along with the patterns of defensive behaviour that have functioned as survival strategies in the past. In these circumstances, children will find it hard to let adults come close enough to establish trusting relationships and provide a secure base. The risk, then, is that feelings and behaviours might become fixed in destructive loops and the damage of the past will not be healed.
What can be done to help?
Attachment theory would suggest that exposure to warm, consistent and reliable caregiving can change children’s previous expectations both of close adults and of themselves and there is ample evidence from research and practice to support this (Howe 1996, Wilson et al 2003, Cairns 2003, Beek and Schofield 2004,).
The role of adults who can provide secure base caregiving, therefore, is of central importance. They must take on a parenting / caregiving role for the child, but they must also become a therapeutic caregiver in order to change the child’s most fundamental sense of self and others (internal working model). In order to achieve this, they must care for the child in ways that demonstrate, implicitly and explicitly to the child, that they are trustworthy and reliable, physically and emotionally available and sensitive to his or her needs. In addition, they must be mindful of the protective strategies that the child has learned in order to feel safe in the past and adjust their approaches so that their parenting feels comfortable and acceptable to the child rather than undermining or threatening. The ensuing relationships will provide a secure base, from which children can develop and be supported to explore and maximise their potential.
This outcome may be supported by the use of the secure base model across all services to vulnerable children.
soucre:
A Secure Base
key papers:
Bowlby’s Secure Base Theory and the Social/Personality Psychology of Attachment Styles: Work(s) in Progress – Waters et al (2002) – https://dtreboux.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/waters-convergent-validity.pdf
Waters, E., Crowell, J., Elliott, M., Corcoran, D., & Treboux, D. (2002). Bowlby’s secure base theory and the social/personality psychology of attachment styles: Work(s) in progress. Attachment & Human Development, 4(2), 230–242. doi:10.1080/14616730210154216 – https://sci-hub.se/10.1080/14616730210154216
Internal Family Systems
The Internal Family Systems Model (IFS) is an integrative approach to individual psychotherapy developed by Richard C. Schwartz in the 1980s.[1][2] It combines systems thinking with the view that the mind is made up of relatively discrete subpersonalities, each with its own unique viewpoint and qualities. IFS uses family systems theory to understand how these collections of subpersonalities are organized.[3]
Internal Family Systems Model – Wikipedia
IFS Institute – What is Internal Family Systems?
https://ifs-institute.com/
Tasting the Pickle: Ten flavours of meta-crisis and the appetite for a new civilisation – Jonathan Rowson
Tasting the Pickle: Ten flavours of meta-crisis and the appetite for a new civilisation Jonathan Rowson Feb 9th, 2021 “There is a process of reckoning going on around the world, heightened by the conditions of the pandemic and the palpability of our fragility, inequality and interdependence. There is a climate emergency that requires urgent action, but the precise nature, cost, location and responsibility of that action is moot. There is a broader crisis of civilisational purpose that appears to necessitate political and economic transformation, and there are deeper socio-emotional, educational, epistemic and spiritual features of our predicament that manifest as many flavours of meta-crisis: the lack of a meaningful global ‘We’, widespread learning needs, self-subverting political logics and disenchanted worldviews. These different features of our world are obscured by their entanglement with each other. It is difficult to orient ourselves towards meaningful action that is commensurate with our understanding because we are generally unclear about the relationship between different kinds of challenge and what they mean for us. That’s what this essay is about. The world is in a pickle, and, daunting though it is, we need to learn how to taste it. Tasting the pickle well requires, in the spirit of Vivekananda, finding joy and releasing energy through the right kinds of discrimination.” – Jonathan Rowson
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Tasting the Pickle: Ten flavours of meta-crisis and the appetite for a new civilisation – [ Perspectiva ]
Evaluation – Special Issue: Policy Evaluation for a Complex World – Volume 27, Number 1, Jan 01, 2021 (all open source)
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Evaluation – Volume 27, Number 1, Jan 01, 2021
1.264 Impact Factor 5-Year Impact Factor 1.949Journal Indexing & Metrics »
Table of Contents
Special Issue: Policy Evaluation for a Complex World
Previous IssueVolume 27 Issue 1, January 2021Guest Editor: Pete Barbrook-Johnson, Brian Castellani, Dione Hills, Alexandra Penn and Nigel Gilbert
Editor’s Note
 | Editor’s NoteElliot SternFirst Published January 14, 2021; pp. 3–3Abstract |
Introduction
Articles
 | Don’t panic: Bringing complexity thinking to UK Government evaluation guidanceMartha Bicket, Dione Hills, Helen Wilkinson, Alexandra PennFirst Published January 14, 2021; pp. 18–31AbstractPreview |
| How does the commissioning process hinder the uptake of complexity-appropriate evaluation?Jayne Cox, Pete Barbrook-JohnsonFirst Published November 27, 2020; pp. 32–56AbstractPreview |
| Participatory systems mapping for complex energy policy evaluationPete Barbrook-Johnson, Alexandra PennFirst Published January 14, 2021; pp. 57–79AbstractPreview |
| Building a system-based Theory of Change using Participatory Systems MappingHelen Wilkinson, Dione Hills, Alexandra Penn, Pete Barbrook-JohnsonFirst Published January 14, 2021; pp. 80–101AbstractPreview |
| Diagnostic evaluation with simulated probabilitiesBarbara Befani, Corinna Elsenbroich, Jen BadhamFirst Published January 14, 2021; pp. 102–115AbstractPreview |
 | Cased-based modelling and scenario simulation for ex-post evaluationCorey Schimpf, Pete Barbrook-Johnson, Brian CastellaniFirst Published January 14, 2021; pp. 116–137AbstractPreview |
source:
Evaluation – Volume 27, Number 1, Jan 01, 2021
Corona-induced Cohesion – strategic structures – Velitchkov
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Corona-induced Cohesion – strategic structures
strategic structures
Menu
Corona-induced Cohesion
The balance between autonomy and cohesion is one of the three balances, essential for everything living and social. It’s fascinating to watch when there is a shift both in the balance itself and in the way it is achieved. The times of Coronavirus are exceptionally rich in new ways of maintaining social cohesion.
There are various factors and forces for cohesion. They can be distinguished once in terms of origin and influence, and then for different system scales – individual, organization, society. This way, there are nine categories: individual factors for individual cohesion, individual factors for organizational cohesion, individual factors for the cohesion of society, then organizational factors for individual cohesion, organizational factors for organizational cohesion and so on for all nine combinations.
Some factors work in similar ways at different scales, others not. For example, the need for safety, the need to reduce uncertainty, and the need to increase self-esteem, are individual facts for both organizational and societal cohesion.
Most ways to increase cohesion reduce autonomy. This is the case, for example, when social cohesion is achieved through any form of centralization of decision-making power.
But there can be an increase in cohesion without reducing autonomy. In fact, it can even do the opposite, enable it…
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Corona-induced Cohesion – strategic structures
Viable Systems Model: More Support Tools Needed – Kirikova (1999)
Viable Systems Model: More Support Tools Needed
Marite Kirikova
Department of Artificial Intelligence and Systems Engineering, Riga Technical University, Riga, Latvia
Marite.Kirikova@rtu.lv
Abstract. Stafford Beer proposed a Viable Systems Model, which was supposed to support successful management of enterprises. Since then numerous research works have referred to that model in management, information systems, and computer sciences. However, in the area of enterprise modeling there is a shortage of tools that would give an opportunity to create detailed enterprise models that would adhere to the VSM and would also be applicable for advanced model visualization and analysis. If available, appropriate modeling tools could help to utilize such features of VSM as fractality, distributed control, and variety handling mechanisms; and provide the possibility of overall adherence to those principles of cybernetics that become increasingly important in modeling enterprises in a socio-cyber-physical context.
Keywords: VSM, fractal systems, service systems, variety management, distributed control
THE EVOLUTION OF ORGANIZATIONAL CYBERNETICS – SCHWANINGER (2006)
Scientiae Mathematicae Japonicae Online, e-2006, 865-880
THE EVOLUTION OF ORGANIZATIONAL CYBERNETICS – MARKUS SCHWANINGER
Received April 24, 2006
ABSTRACT. The purpose of this contribution is to give an overview of the origins and further developments of Organizational Cybernetics, its transdisciplinary nature and its links to different areas of science, i.e., both natural sciences and the humanities.
Changing the system: Brian Eno and James Thornton in conversation | Science and Industry Museum
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Changing the system: Brian Eno and James Thornton in conversation | Science and Industry Museum
CHANGING THE SYSTEM: BRIAN ENO AND JAMES THORNTON IN CONVERSATION
TOGGLE BUTTON TO PLAY OR PAUSE THE VIDEO
Join Brian Eno in conversation with James Thornton, CEO and founder of ClientEarth, a pioneering environmental organisation, and discuss how we can use the power of the law to protect the planet. This special event will be chaired by science, natural history and environmental broadcaster Liz Bonnin.
Discover how we can use the power of the law to fight against climate change, protect the environment and build a future in which people and the planet thrive together.
Liz Bonnin will lead the conversation with Brian Eno, who is a dedicated climate campaigner and Trustee of ClientEarth as well as a renowned musician, record producer and visual artist, and James Thornton as they talk about their pioneering work using the law to bring about systemic change that protects life on Earth.
ClientEarth’s team of lawyers, scientists and policy experts have used their environmental expertise to achieve powerful change, from winning court cases over illegal air pollution, to writing laws to ensure that there will still be fish in the sea in the future.
Hear more about the landmark changes in law and policy which have been made possible by their work and discuss their predictions for the future and ideas for what we can all do to play our part.
Please note: This virtual event will not be available to watch again, so book a ticket to make sure you don’t miss out.
Book now to watch this event online.
This event is part of the Science Museum Group’s series of Climate Talks
Join Brian Eno in conversation with James Thornton, CEO and founder of ClientEarth, a pioneering environmental organisation, and discuss how we can use the power of the law to protect the planet. This special event will be chaired by science, natural history and environmental broadcaster Liz Bonnin.
Discover how we can use the power of the law to fight against climate change, protect the environment and build a future in which people and the planet thrive together.
Liz Bonnin will lead the conversation with Brian Eno, who is a dedicated climate campaigner and Trustee of ClientEarth as well as a renowned musician, record producer and visual artist, and James Thornton as they talk about their pioneering work using the law to bring about systemic change that protects life on Earth.
ClientEarth’s team of lawyers, scientists and policy experts have used their environmental expertise to achieve powerful change, from winning court cases over illegal air pollution, to writing laws to ensure that there will still be fish in the sea in the future.
Hear more about the landmark changes in law and policy which have been made possible by their work and discuss their predictions for the future and ideas for what we can all do to play our part.
Please note: This virtual event will not be available to watch again, so book a ticket to make sure you don’t miss out.
Book now to watch this event online.
This event is part of the Science Museum Group’s series of Climate Talks.
INFORMATION
- FREE FESTIVAL TALK
- DATE: Monday 15 February 2021
- TIME: 19.30
- PRICE: Free (booking essential)
- LOCATION: Online
- AGE: Suitable for ages 14 and older
book at source: FREE FESTIVAL TALK DATE: Monday 15 February 2021 TIME: 19.30 PRICE: Free (booking essential) LOCATION: Online AGE: Suitable for ages 14 and older BOOK TICKETS NOW
Changing the system: Brian Eno and James Thornton in conversation | Science and Industry Museum
A systems thinker thinks in systems about systems | Massimo Curatella
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A systems thinker thinks in systems about systems | Massimo Curatella
by Massimo Curatella / 0 Comment
A systems thinker thinks in systems about systems
Thanks to the participants of this online discussion group, I had the opportunity to reflect upon the role and the identity of a system thinker.
A systems thinker is not a person who thinks about systems, a systems thinker is a person who thinks in systems, first, and then, maybe, about systems. Or, even better, a systems thinker is a person who thinks in systems about systems.
Systems Thinking is an outcome. You get to it if you consider all components of a system defined by an arbitrary boundary. You are part of the system you are considering. The thinking is demanded of your brain, the systemic outcome depends on if and how you are considering the relationships and the interactions between all components of the observed system. And this is just a starting point. I see no religion, no dogma, no convictions if you go through the approach of Critical Thinking and mitigating biases when you are observing, pondering, and intervening. I see Systems Thinking as a huge amount of work, requiring discipline, focus, concentration, and collaboration much needed to be more effective and efficient in letting the thinking be of elevated quality. That’s also why I think the best Systems Thinking thinking can happen in the context of facilitating collective intelligence composed of diverse, integer, generous people (and machines).
source:
A systems thinker thinks in systems about systems | Massimo Curatella
Metaphorum webinar series fornightly in the first half of 2021 – and appeal for future webinars
Weednesdays 5-6:30pm uk time, fortnightly from February 24th-May 26th
Following the first webinar in 2021 from Prof. Mike Jackson, we are pleased to announce the next webinar series which will run until the end of May. You can find the recordings of previous webinars on our webpage.
http://metaphorum.org/metaphorum-webinar-series
The program for the next three months is detailed below. See more details of each webinar on the link above.
We will be using the recurrent Zoom link for this webinar series:
Metaphorum Webinar Series
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81943981395?pwd=UldHZ0RESGVPQTE2RDNoSWU2UWt2Zz09
Meeting ID: 819 4398 1395
Passcode: 758276
For anyone interested in offering a webinar for the next series (Jun 2021 to Dec 2021), please contact us at Metaphorum.org@gmail.com, sending us the following information:
- name, title, description of the webinar, brief cvs with your picture
- dates on which you are NOT available (we run the webinar series on Wednesdays 5:00-6:30 pm UK)
We will review the proposals and will accept the most innovative and high- quality proposals (hopefully on new topics not presented before in other Metaphorum events). We shall let you know shortly after receipt of your proposal if it has been accepted and discuss your availability.
Best regards,
Angela, Allenna and Jon
METAPHORUM WEBINAR SERIES
AGENDA FEBRUARY – MAY 2021
| Date | Speaker | Title |
| February the 24th | Prof. Raul Espejo | “The Enterprise Complexity Model: An Extension of the Viable System Model for Emerging Organisational Forms” |
| March the 3rd | Dr. Martin Pfiffner | The third dimension of organizing |
| March 17th | Dr Igor Perko | Invoking AI technology in organisations – a systemic examination |
| March 31st, | Dr. Raghav Rajagopalan | Meta Rational Ways of Knowing |
| April the 14th | Dr Angela Espinosa | Sustainable Self Governance: Early alarms from the COVID19 Pandemic |
| April 28th | Dr. Alfredo del Valle | The Participatory Workspace (PWS): An online, complexity management and communications tool |
| May the 12th | Dr Allenna Leonard | A VSM reflection on US politics and democracy |
| May 26th | Dr. Bernhard Sterchi | Alignment and autonomy on the last mile of execution – in defense of the wriggly lines |
Systems Community of Inquiry 
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