1. Systems thinking, changeSystems thinking, change
agents, and social systemsagents, and social systems
Michael Ashford mjashford@gmail.comMichael Ashford mjashford@gmail.com
3. So, you want to change theSo, you want to change the
“system” ???“system” ???
• rule of coke cans - perceptions give rise to realityrule of coke cans - perceptions give rise to reality
• action leads to reaction, including no reactionaction leads to reaction, including no reaction
• as above so below. The whole is in the part and theas above so below. The whole is in the part and the
part is in the wholepart is in the whole
• the whole is far more than the sum of the partsthe whole is far more than the sum of the parts
•Some things for a change agent in a system to remember…
4. What, more??!!!What, more??!!!
• Organisational/system equilibrium = unchanging =Organisational/system equilibrium = unchanging =
entropy = fearful people = zero = deathentropy = fearful people = zero = death
• chaos can be created to shift to a new orderchaos can be created to shift to a new order
• order and chaos are mirror images - system leapsorder and chaos are mirror images - system leaps
into chaos/unpredictability, yet is held ininto chaos/unpredictability, yet is held in
parameters, well ordered/predictableparameters, well ordered/predictable
5. No, MORE*@#*!! PLEASENo, MORE*@#*!! PLEASE
• wave or a particle? Attitudes we adopt will evokewave or a particle? Attitudes we adopt will evoke
one potentiality from the underlying reality’s many-one potentiality from the underlying reality’s many-
possibilitied domain and will shape how a situationpossibilitied domain and will shape how a situation
will unfold. Change agents as we all do reap whatwill unfold. Change agents as we all do reap what
they sow. Always be true, and know your values….they sow. Always be true, and know your values….
• A quantum change agent participates inA quantum change agent participates in
nature’s/system’s unfolding, and is part of whatnature’s/system’s unfolding, and is part of what
he/she is in. The agent’s efforts to predicthe/she is in. The agent’s efforts to predict
nature/system may interfere with what was going tonature/system may interfere with what was going to
happen. Remember, everything is interconnectedhappen. Remember, everything is interconnected
and you are too….and you are too….
6. A tale of interconnection….A tale of interconnection….
I am the mayfly metamorphosing on the surface ofI am the mayfly metamorphosing on the surface of
the river, and I am the bird which, when springthe river, and I am the bird which, when spring
comes, arrives in time to eat the mayflycomes, arrives in time to eat the mayfly
I am the frog swimming happily in the clear water ofI am the frog swimming happily in the clear water of
a pond, and I am also the grass-snake who,a pond, and I am also the grass-snake who,
approaching in silence, feeds itself on the frogapproaching in silence, feeds itself on the frog
I am the child in Uganda, all skin and bones, myI am the child in Uganda, all skin and bones, my
legs as thin as bamboo sticks, and I am the armslegs as thin as bamboo sticks, and I am the arms
merchant, selling deadly weapons to Uganda.merchant, selling deadly weapons to Uganda.
I am the twelve-year-old girl, refugee on a smallI am the twelve-year-old girl, refugee on a small
boat, who throws herself into the ocean after beingboat, who throws herself into the ocean after being
raped by a sea pirate, and I am the pirate, my heartraped by a sea pirate, and I am the pirate, my heart
not yet capable of seeing and loving.not yet capable of seeing and loving.
7. Errr, can we get back to theErrr, can we get back to the
system stuff….??system stuff….??
– The system...The system...
M a n a g e r
s u b s u b s y s t e m
D ir e c t o r
s u b s y s t e m
D ir e c t o r
s u b s y s t e m
C E O
S y s t e m
9. New system...New system...
M a n a g e r
s u b s u b s y s t e m
D ir e c t o r
s u b s y s t e m
D ir e c t o r
s u b s y s t e m
C E O
S y s t e m
10. The less fixed or the more uncertain the behaviourThe less fixed or the more uncertain the behaviour
of any element of a system, the greater will be itsof any element of a system, the greater will be its
influence on the system as a whole. A freeinfluence on the system as a whole. A free
radical??.radical??.
Yeah, so what!!!!!!Yeah, so what!!!!!!
The more rigidly connected are the elements of aThe more rigidly connected are the elements of a
system, the less influence they will have on thesystem, the less influence they will have on the
system as a whole.The more rigid the connections,system as a whole.The more rigid the connections,
the more that each element of the system will exhibitthe more that each element of the system will exhibit
a greater degree of alienation from the whole.a greater degree of alienation from the whole.
11. Lets look at that system again, but thisLets look at that system again, but this
time really really look..time really really look..
Can you get a sense of howCan you get a sense of how
things happen simply bythings happen simply by
observing what is happening?observing what is happening?
12. A different view...A different view...
• What is really happening…...What is really happening…...
M a n a g e r
s u b s u b s y s te m
D ir e c to r
s u b s y s te m
D ir e c to r
s u b s y s te m
C E O
S y s te m
13. When we give up myopic attention to detailsWhen we give up myopic attention to details
and get a sense of how things happen byand get a sense of how things happen by
observing the movement of the total socialobserving the movement of the total social
system, we see what is required tosystem, we see what is required to
manage/shift a complex system.manage/shift a complex system.
• Let chaos storm, let cloud shapes swarm,Let chaos storm, let cloud shapes swarm,
I wait for form…..I wait for form…..
• Lets be radical, lets be strangeLets be radical, lets be strange
(attractors), lets change the system, let(attractors), lets change the system, let
the dominoes begin to fall...the dominoes begin to fall...
14. Some tools to begin with…..Some tools to begin with…..
• Reflect on the whole, see the patterns, the emptyReflect on the whole, see the patterns, the empty
spaces, the silences, the group fieldspaces, the silences, the group field
• Look for patterns of movement over time, rhythms,Look for patterns of movement over time, rhythms,
flows, directions, shapes, and structures thatflows, directions, shapes, and structures that
facilitate relationshipsfacilitate relationships
• Understand the real is different for everyoneUnderstand the real is different for everyone
15. Some more...Some more...
• Remember the wave and the particle - do notRemember the wave and the particle - do not
think role/authority of a person, picture insteadthink role/authority of a person, picture instead
the energy flows that are required for thatthe energy flows that are required for that
person to achieve/fulfilperson to achieve/fulfil
• Draw from self-renewing systems and adaptiveDraw from self-renewing systems and adaptive
organisations thinking. Work with form andorganisations thinking. Work with form and
function engaged in a fluid process where thefunction engaged in a fluid process where the
system may maintain its present form orsystem may maintain its present form or
evolve to a new orderevolve to a new order
16. And even more...And even more...
• Be sensitive to the spontaneous emergence ofBe sensitive to the spontaneous emergence of
social/political trendssocial/political trends
• Embrace paradox - the more freedom in self-Embrace paradox - the more freedom in self-
organisation/determination, the more order.organisation/determination, the more order.
Autonomy at the local level, support forAutonomy at the local level, support for
independent activity with a strong frame ofindependent activity with a strong frame of
reference from the system.reference from the system.
• Capitalise on disequilibrium and chaos, that is whenCapitalise on disequilibrium and chaos, that is when
you will have enormous impact on the new orderyou will have enormous impact on the new order
17. What do I do to capitalise onWhat do I do to capitalise on
chaos????chaos????
• Borrow from the intelligence of viruses, become aBorrow from the intelligence of viruses, become a
mutant and infect/impact the system. Believe in themutant and infect/impact the system. Believe in the
power of one….power of one….
• Remember the relationship between the butterfly’sRemember the relationship between the butterfly’s
wings and a hurricanewings and a hurricane
• Understand process of autocatalysis, whereUnderstand process of autocatalysis, where
exponential effects can result from a smallexponential effects can result from a small
disturbance - “ping” the system. Aim for bifurcation,disturbance - “ping” the system. Aim for bifurcation,
transformation into an unknown or death?transformation into an unknown or death?
18. And now the strangeAnd now the strange
attractor…..attractor…..
• We watch chaos and see rapidly moving linesWe watch chaos and see rapidly moving lines
zooming back and forward…time alters ourzooming back and forward…time alters our
understanding and the lines weave into a pattern,understanding and the lines weave into a pattern,
order comes from disorder. The shape means aorder comes from disorder. The shape means a
strange attractor has happened, the order inherit instrange attractor has happened, the order inherit in
chaos is revealed.chaos is revealed.
• Remember, in chaos we choose not to jump toRemember, in chaos we choose not to jump to
conclusions. We see the shape but the systems ofconclusions. We see the shape but the systems of
chaos may be incredibly complex, or incrediblychaos may be incredibly complex, or incredibly
simplesimple
19. I’m sick of this esoteric*#@!!I’m sick of this esoteric*#@!!
Tell me how I can tap into thisTell me how I can tap into this
strange attractor stuff?strange attractor stuff?
• Well its simple, some will say you need a Ph.d .Well its simple, some will say you need a Ph.d .
Ignore themIgnore them
• Remember the question - can you get a senseRemember the question - can you get a sense
of how things happen simply by observing whatof how things happen simply by observing what
is happening?is happening?
• In the seemingly madness, stress, andIn the seemingly madness, stress, and
disorganisation of our social systems somedisorganisation of our social systems some
maintain direction, a sense of purpose, andmaintain direction, a sense of purpose, and
meaning, why??.meaning, why??.
20. They have meaning, aThey have meaning, a
sense of purpose, ...sense of purpose, ...
In the chaos, some thrive becauseIn the chaos, some thrive because
they have the above as a point ofthey have the above as a point of
reference, a strange attractorreference, a strange attractor
You the agent can facilitate theYou the agent can facilitate the
understanding of meaning as theunderstanding of meaning as the
attractor…...attractor…...
