Systems Thinking - Case Studies

 A few days ago I found this post on LinkedIn by Simon MacCormac. It shared a paper he wrote about Systems Thinking.  That's a topic I've written about often in the past. 

I started a conversation that ultimately asked, "Who is aggregating links to case studies showing the application of systems thinking in solving complex problems?"

Today Simon shared two links. The first is SCiO (Systems and Complexity Organization) which is building a library of case studies showing successful application of systems methodologies.  click here

Open the site and scroll through the collection.  If you're looking to solve a complex (or simple) problem you can find some ideas among these case studies.

The second is the Systems Thinking Case Study Bank, hosted by the UK Government. click here

I found the map shown above by scrolling through the list of articles on this page.  It was part of an interview with Caitlin Jones about a project aimed at reforming agricultural policy design.  There are many like this on the site.

I shared the graphic below and this article with Simon on LinkedIn. 

This shows my own application of systems thinking to visualize the many problems that need to be solved to make volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs available to K-12 youth in every high poverty neighborhood, then to help those programs build long-term connections between youth, volunteers and the program, that lead kids safely through school into adult lives.

Over the 30 years I've been leading the Tutor/Mentor Connection I've come to realize that this is only one of many challenges that need to be addressed. I show many of these on the right side of the graphic. Each one should have many people applying systems thinking practices to find solutions and make them available in every place where that problem persists.

That's a wicked problem. A huge challenge.  How to start? Collect information showing how others are already trying to solve the problem. Learn from that. Then begin innovating your own solutions.

As you do that share your ideas with me and others on LinkedIn and other social media platforms. We can learn from you as you learn from us.

If you appreciate what I'm sharing please help fund the work I'm doing. click here