Systems thinking is a great start but systems planning and action is critical!
What do we mean by that? Well we have spent years listening to and witnessing organisations talk about systems’ thinking but not taking this thinking and turning it into action. We often hear talk about “breaking down of silo’s” or “working together across the organisation” but rarely see the sustainable action around this. We see evidence time and time again that if a total system approach is not considered, your newly developed strategy or transformational change will be short lived. Multiple upstream and downstream impacts will be overlooked and will cause the approach to be unsustainable.
So what do we mean by systems thinking versus systems planning and action? Well it really is not one versus the other. It is about understanding that whilst it is appropriate to think about whole systems- it is absolutely critical to plan and implement the new system from a total systems perspective. Think about the system but ensure when you act you create it for the system and the system should create that which you are trying to transform.
Some key points to remember when building, transforming or changing any form of system:-
1. Remember a system is dynamic and continually interacting with its environment. The solution should not only depict this, but your implementation plan should allow for the capability to manage our ever-changing environment.
2. There are many different elements that make up a system and all should be accounted for and managed throughout the transition. From a scientific perspective these are often seen as energy, material and informational elements. From a business perspective these elements include but are not limited to things like the way you communicate, the hierarchy of decision making, and the way you operate both culturally as well as organisationally.
3. Your system not only needs to be able to interact and manage within its own environment, but also be able to interact and manage within other environments also. These impacts need to be worked through and managed dynamically as well.
4. All systems work to find a point of equilibrium or balance, but will often experience oscillating and chaotic behaviour because of their very nature. These systems are composed of people who are operating within their own systems that are oscillating also. Therefore it is important to acknowledge this fact but even more important to plan for and act on.
So ... Great that you are thinking about the system but don’t forget to plan and then act on it!
