Different layers of systems change
Part 2: Sharing a collection of resources on systems change
In Part 1, I discussed the systems change hype in mission-driven organizations, how do we think about systems change, and what skills are essential for systems thinking. If you haven’t engaged with the content in Part 1, I urge you to do that now.
In this issue, I build on the discussion in Part 1 and share my views on different shapes and forms of systems change in education and a library of resources that have influenced and shaped my thoughts in this space.
Systems change comes in different shapes and forms
When I ask people working on challenging systemic problems, I am genuinely interested in knowing how they think in systems - share your thought process. The majority of answers are a set of convoluted big picture ideas - which makes for a great sales pitch but lacks substance (as discussed in Part 1). Let me try to articulate the nuances of systems change projects beyond lofty ideas and concepts.
In the last five years, I have engaged in designing several education systems change solutions across continents in more than 10 different ways. I have categorized them as systems change projects across program lifecycle, policy-level influence, and communication.
Program Lifecycle
Every stage of any program involves three different stages - design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation and all these stages involve diverse layers of systems change language such as 5Ps, shared goals, feedback loops, and making sense of diverse information. In the program lifecycle these activities are:
Designing and delivering programs and initiatives for cohorts of participants
Developing system-level implementation, engagement, and communication plan that would impact several hundred, thousands, or millions of beneficiaries
Conducting small to large scale monitoring reviews and evaluations
Policy-level influence
Policymaking is all about solving complex problems for large-scale change. You are definitely interacting with 5Ps, shared interest, regular communication and negotiation, and iterative feedback processes. I describe systems change activities in policymaking as:
Working with political influencers, policy advisors, and government relations, influencing policymaking
Pitching ambitious large-scale change ideas through grant applications, business development proposals, or tenders
Engaging in domestic and global thought leadership
Contributions to policy reviews, policy analysis, memos, or roundtable discussions
Engagement with high stakes taskforce, steering committees, and expert groups
Communication
Similarly, communication involves several elements of 5Ps - content-related priorities, people to be involved, programs and products to talk about in comms, and policies to announce. These communication-related tasks are central to systems change.
Routine informal and formal conversational engagements with experts and communities in Australia and internationally
Mentoring young and ambitious people or mid-career professionals looking for career transitions
Building and reporting evidence
Yes systems change in education is about shared responsibility, collective goals, and large-scale change projects, but the language we use to describe lofty ambitions is important to achieve them.
Repository of system change resources
I have worked with all sorts of systems thinkers including consultants, policy wonks, political advisors, and entrepreneurs. Some organizations and roles are more powerful in influencing systemic change because of their context and place in the world. That said, all organizations can influence some degree of systems change, provided they speak the language of interrelationships and understand the factors that drive non-linear advantage.
When I first started tinkering with the ideas of systems change, there was no one place where I could find resources and ideas on how to solve systemic problems. Several global thinkers have influenced my thought process on what works in influencing large-scale change in education. I have prepared a curated list of global system thinkers and relevant resources to share with the wider community who might benefit from these resources and ideas.
Use the ‘notion library’ button below to play with a curated list of systems thinkers and resources that influence my work in solving systemic education problems. Also feel free to leave a comment below if you know of other systems theorists and practitioners or resources, as I will continually update this list.
This is an illustration of my curated library on all resources related to systems change.
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