Thinking and acting in systems

Why thinking in systems is hard, practical tools to do it, and implications for how change projects are organised. 

View the full transcript here

Sources and further reading

Read a detailed account of the mosquitos, cats and caterpillar story. Or watch this video from  David Stroh for a simplified version. 

Scared Straight! has a detailed wikipedia page, with further links, the original documentary is also available online.

Read Systems Thinking: An introduction for Oxfam programme staff which gives a simple overview of systems thinking.

A short video of Peter Senge introducing ‘Systems Thinking’, in plain language.

Watch Tyson Yankaporta introduce systemic concepts from Aboriginal wisdom, or read his excellent book Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World

Watch all of Peter Senge’s 2015 lecture at Alto University, Finland in which he talks about the example of La Plaz fisheries.

Read more about the South American concept of Buen Vivir

Read about UNDP’s portfolio approach to innovation. 

Read about the work to re-imagine local food systems in Southern Thailand.

Hear David Stroh talk about the Battle Creek homelessness work, or read about it in detail in his book Systems Thinking For Social Change, where you can also read more about the iceberg framework and Four Step Change Process.

Read a little more about TACSI’s work supporting the Citra social innovation lab, in Sri Lanka.

Read Donella Meadows article about leveridge points, Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System.

Download the Water of Systems Change report from FSG.

Read more about Otto Sharma’s Theory U approach to enabling change in systems.

Learn more about the Uluru Statement from the Heart

For Chris’ favourite videos about systems see this playlist

You can find out more about the live sessions that accompany this podcast here. 

Credits

Music: “▲ 1” from BUNONG ▲ POP SONGS by Les Cartes Postales Sonores From the Free Music Archive CC BY-NC-SA

Field recordings from NOISE ON EARTH Vol​.​1 ៚ CAMBODIA by Les Cartes Postales Sonores From the Free Music Archive CC BY-NC-SA

The Australian Volunteers Program is funded by the Australian Government. The program is managed by AVI in a consortium with Cardno and the Whitelum Group.