SYSTEMS THINKING GUIDE

Systems Innovation Guide

A roadmap and toolkit for implementing impactful change

START

Adapted from: Systems thinking: An Introductory Toolkit for Civil Servants Download it here

Index

When to use systems thinking

Roadmap

Toolkit 1

Toolkit 2

Toolkit 3

Downloads

When to use systems thinking

Answer these questions to determine if your work would benefit from a systems thinking approach.

Choose your answer

1. The problem:

Is the problem well understood? Do you know what is causing it? Is there solid evidence that your proposed actions will have the intended effects?

YES

NO

2. The stakeholders

Is there a high level of consensus among stakeholders and experts about what to do?

YES

NO

3. The predictablity of the setting

Is the problem relatively self-contained and not intertwined with its broader environment (political, economic, etc.) which is stable and predictive?

YES

NO

4. Ambition

YES

NO

Is this a short-term goal?

Systems Thinking Roadmap

Systems thinking is an iterative and cyclical flow of activities. Click on a stage to learn more.

Stage 1

Confirm Goal

Understand Sytstem

Implement Monitor & Evaluate

Stage 3

Co-design & Test

Stage 2

Systems Thinking Toolkit #1

Here the system stakeholders develop a shared understanding of the system and confirm their goals. The tools below can be used sequentially to achieve this.

Confirm Goal

Understand Sytstem

1. Rich Picture

2. Pig Model

7. Creating a Narrative using a System Map

6. Causal Loop Diagram

3. Context Diagram

5. Enablers and Inhibitors

4. Behaviour Over Time Graphs / System Problem Statement

Systems Thinking Toolkit #2

This second stage of the process builds on your understanding of the system and the problem at hand. You can now use this knowledge to explore possible interventions to effectively change your system and achieve your objective.

8. Identify Leverage

10. Theory of Change Maps

Co-design & Test

9. Stock and Flow Diagrams

Systems Thinking Toolkit #3

This is the final stage of the systems design process. Complex systems often evolve in unpredictable and unexpected ways. It is possible, however, to monitor and evaluate your intervention and determine the extent to which benefits are being realized. A monitoring and evaluation plan will capture any unintended consequences or any external factors driving change early.

11. Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy

Implement, Monitor & Evaluate

Downloads

This presentation was adapted from : Systems thinking: An Introductory Toolkit for Civil Servants, Government Office for Science (2022)