The Waters of Systems Change framework, published by FSG in 2018, has become a widely used lens for designing and assessing system change. Its six conditions — policies, practices, resource flows, relationships and connections, power dynamics, and mental models — are intuitive and accessible. They have helped practitioners across sectors locate where change needs to happen. In my work across more than a decade of work in system transition in regional economic development, voc

When you have to explain something to someone, it puts the acid on you to get your thinking clear. I've had to do this on a live project...

We started this map as an exercise in mapping, which is an important part of a systems innovation practice. You can view it here on Kumu...

When working on a project, I add to our Mural workspaces a series of systems thinking and practice prompts. I usually add 5 to 6 that...

By Martin Grant and Neil Shaw Neil Shaw and I have been working within a group on several system-level innovation projects. As part of...

The art and science of enquiry, comprehension and diagnosis in complex systems. Eight Enquiry Areas My curiousity on this topic led me to...

The Water of System Change article and its framework (below) is a brilliant and accessible piece of thinking about system change. I use...

During my system innovation lab, I warn people of the danger of system maps because, as the Polish-American philosopher and engineer...

As I do more work in this space, my sense of which tools work better than others is improving based on my experiences in diverse...

(Sprint agenda download at end of the article.) Prioritising a wishlist in any organisation is always a crunchy challenge that involves...

Further to my previous post, here is the link to the canvases I've created to help more people apply systems thinking to their work. They...

Recently I have been exploring complexity theories as it applies to my work on several system-level projects. This journey has involved...

We connected with Dr Toby Lowe via our work on the construction sector transformation plan after exploring human learning systems as a...

Last week I presented at the Government Economics Network conference that was focussing on our transition to a net zero country. I...

If your work involves you wanting to achieve better outcomes where there are many people, groups or organisations present, you are...

I came across a report of the learnings from a convening of system change agents. It was a wonderful read about the lived experiences of...

There is a potential flaw with traditional design sprints - they focus on desirability but can forget that for a design to become an...