leveraging systems thinking to understand the complexities

LeveragingSystemsThinkingtoUnderstandtheComplexitiesofCommunityProblems

COMMUNITY CHANGE INSTITUTE

cities of the future • co-creating tomorrow

Facilitated by: Yassaman Nouri

ToolsSessionDescriptionSocial,environmentalandeconomicalchallengesfacedbycommunitiesacrossthe

globearecomplexanddynamic.Lackofdeepunderstandingofthecomplexitiesof

problemsoftenresultinunintendednegativeimpactsinlocalandglobal

communities.Systemsthinkingandanalysiscanbepowerfultoolstohelp

practitionersunderstandcomplexcommunityproblemsandimplementsystemic

solutionsthatresultinpositiveimpactsinthecommunities.Thisinteractive

workshopwilltakeaveryquicklookatwhatsystemsthinkingisandsharesome

practicalresources,tools,processesandmindsetstobeusedfordesigningand

implementingsolutionstocomplexcommunityproblems.

SharingIntentions

Myrequestofyou:

Listennotonlywithopenearsbut

withopenmind,openheartandopenwill

Agenda

• Sharingintentions

• Startingwithastory

• Definingsystemsthinking

• Selectingaproblem/challengeinacommunity

• WebofLifeActivity

• Bridgingcommunityanddiscoveringicebergs

• Bridgingtoclosesocialgap

• Q&A

Threeopeningsneededtotransformchange

1. Openingthemind(tochallengeourassumptions)2. Openingtheheart(tobevulnerableandtotrulyhearoneanother)3. Openingthewill(toletgoofpre-setgoalsandagendasandsee

whatisreallyneededandpossible)Thesethreeopeningsmatchtheblindspotsofmostchangeefforts,whichareoftenbasedonrigidassumptionsandagendasandfailtoseethattransformingsystemsisultimatelyabouttransformingrelationshipsamongpeoplewhoshapethosesystems.Manyotherwisewell-intentionedchangeeffortsfailbecausetheirleadersareunableorunwillingtoembracethissimpletruth

• Source:LeadingfromtheEmergingFuture - OttoScharmer andKatrinKaufer

Startingwithastory

Tehranoftoday:Themostpollutedcity• Risingdeathratesduetopollution:27/day(9,855/year)estimatein2007;180/day(67,500/year)estimatein2015

• Nov17,2016:Authoritiesreported 412deathsfromrespiratoryillnessesinthepast23days.

• 80% ofthecity'spollutionisduetocars. Theremaining20%isdueto industrialpollution.Otherestimatessuggestthatmotorcyclesaloneaccountfor30%ofairand50%of soundpollution inTehran.

Howdoweresolvethis?

• Whoshouldtakeresponsibility?(ex:CityofTehran,Trafficauthorities,oilregulators,residents,orInternationalsanctions?)

• Solutions?(ex:odd-evenandcar-free-zone,increasegasprice,usemediaandgovernmenttosendrequeststocitizenstousepublictransit)Source:ResearchGateStudyofTehran

Somestatsforperspective:• Ecologicalcapacity:3Mil• Population:15.27Mil (2017)

• RoadwayCapacity:700Kcars• Carsontheroad:+3Mil

Definingsystemsthinking

Whataresystemthinkingand

systemdynamics?

Source: Kindling

Whatare“Systems”and“Systemsthinking”?

• Systems:“Asystemisanentitywithinterrelatedandinterdependentparts;itisdefinedbyitsboundariesanditismorethanthesumofitsparts(subsystem).Changingonepartofthesystemaffectsotherpartsandthewholesystem,withpredictablepatternsofbehavior.”Ex:Person,afamily,acar,etc.Source:Wikipedia– SystemsTheory

• SystemsThinking: “Awayofthinkingabout,andalanguagefordescribingandunderstanding,theforcesandinterrelationshipsthatshapethebehaviorofsystems.Thisdisciplinehelpsustoseehowtochangesystemsmoreeffectively,andtoactmoreintunewiththenaturalprocessesofthenaturalandeconomicworld.”Source:TheFifthDisciplineFieldbook - PeterSengeetal

Whatis“SystemDynamics”?

“SystemDynamicsThestudyofcomplexsystems,includingsuchhumansystemsasfamilies,organizations,cities,andnations.

Ifyoulookdeeplyintoanysystemandanalyzetherelationshipsbetweenmembers,youwillfindinfinitecomplexity.

Inasystemsapproachtoaproblem,youstartbyrealizingthatthereisnoinherentendtoasystem.Thereisnosuchthingasacompletetheory.Thequestistolookataproblemmorecomprehensively.”

Source:Systemsthinking– PeterSenge

UnderstandingtheCreativeTension

Source:Figure5.2fromSystemsThinkingForSocialChange– DavidPeterStroh (rightdiagram)builtontheFigure1:“CreativeTension”modelfromTheFifthDiscipline- PeterSenge (Leftdiagram)

Selectingaproblem/challengein

acommunity

Selectingaproblem/challengewithinyourgroup

Activitydescription:• Formagroupof7-8members• Selectoneproblem/challengethatyourteamunderstandsandwantstotackleinthissession.

Ideasfortypesofproblems/challenges:- Increasinglevelsofpollution,unemployment,crime,etc.- Decreasinglevelsofaffordability,safety,qualityeducation,etc.

Examples:- Tehran’spollutionrelateddeathratesrising:27/day(9,855/year)estimatein2007;180/day(67,500/year)estimatein2015

- U.S.incarcerationratesskyrocketing(~100,000in1920and~2,400,000in2008

YouthIncarcerationinU.S.andN.Y.C.

Source:AECF- NoPlaceForKids

USIncarceration

WebofLifeActivity

Exploringtheecosystemthroughweboflife

Activitydescription:

1. Select1observertorecordtherelationshipsthatwillbeidentifiedinthisactivity

2. Drawalargecircleonyourflipboardpaper3. Identifykeyvariablesrelatedtoyourchosenproblem/challengeandassign

eachtoanindividual4. Putalargedotinfrontofeachindividualonthecircle’scircumference5. Haveonepersonsuggesthowhis/hervariableisrelatedtooneoftheother

variables,holdingontothepenanddrawingalinefromtheirdotonthecircletothedotthatrepresentstheothervariable.

6. Continuetoidentifyasmanyconnectionsaspossiblewhilethe“web”growsincomplexity

Potentialvariablesforexploringincarcerationexample:levelofmentorship,employmentopportunity,education,safety,poverty,socialstigma,policediscrimination,politicalenvironment,inequality,mental/physicalhealth,etc.Potentialvariablesforexploringpollutionexample:alternatetransportation,employmentopportunity,sourcesofpowerforvehicle,sanctions,etc.

Bridgingcommunityand

discoveringicebergs

IdentifyingtheCommunity/EcosystemMembers/stakeholders

ActivityDescription:Identifythecommunity/ecosystemsmembers/stakeholdersofyourchosenproblem/challengeandwritethemdownonaflipchartpaper

Members/Stakeholders:• Peopleandorganizationsthataffectandareaffectedbytheissue• Anyonethatcanmakeacontributiontotheeffort• Anyonethatcanpossiblyderailtheeffortifnotonboard

Stakeholderexamples:• Nonprofitspresentingcommunityinterestsand/orspecificpopulations• Governmentagencies,politicians,policymakersandimplementers• Lawenforcements,• Schools• Businessconcernswiththeimpactofanissueoneconomicdevelopment• Themedia• Membersoftargetpopulation

Source:SystemsThinkingforSocialChange– DavidPeterStroh (checkforsection6.1foratableofacaseexample)

Discoveringicebergs

Diggingdeeper

Source:ASystemsThinkingModel:TheIceberg- NWEI

DiggingDeeper

Mayinclude:rules,norms,policies,guidelines,powerstructures,distributionofresources,culturalrules,orinformalwaysofwork

Mayinclude:ConsciousorUnconsciousassumptionsandbeliefs

Mayinclude:Interpretationofeventsanddataovertime

Discoveryourowniceberg

Activitydescription:Withtheperspectiveofeachoftheecosystemmember/stakeholderthatyouidentified,createanicebergforyourproblem/challengeonaflipchart.

Importantnote:Firstbuildtheleftsideoftheiceberg(toptodown)andthenbuildtherightside(bottomup)

BridgingtheGapBetween

RealityandVision

UnderstandingtheCreativeTension

Source:Figure5.2fromSystemsThinkingForSocialChange– DavidPeterStroh (rightdiagram)builtontheFigure1:“CreativeTension”modelfromTheFifthDiscipline- PeterSenge (Leftdiagram)

TheFour-StageChangeProcess

Source:SystemsThinkingForSocialChange– DavidPeterStroh

1.Buildafoundationforchange

2:Helppeoplefacecurrentreality

3.Helppeoplemakeanexplicitchoice

4.Helppeoplebridgethegapbetweenrealityandvision

•Identifyandengagestakeholders

•Establishcommonground(wheretheyare&wanttogo)

•Buildstakeholdercapacitiestocollaborate

•Identifyinterviewees

•Organize&Begintoimproveinfoquality

•Developpreliminarysystemsanalysis

•Engagepeopleindevelopingtheirownanalysis

•Surfacementalmodels

•Createcatalyticconversations&stimulateawareness

•Identifycaseforstatusquouncoveredinstage2

•Comparebenefitsofchangeandcostsofnotchanging

•Createboth/Andsolutionsthatachievethebenefitsormakehardtrade-offs

•Makeanexplicitchoiceandbringtolifethroughavisionthatilluminateswhattheteamdeeplywishestocreate

•Propose&refinehigh-levelinterventionswithcommunity(↑systemawareness,“rewiring”causalfeedbackrelationships,ShiftMentalmodels,Reinforcechosepurposewithplans,metrics,incentures,authoritystructures&funding)

•Establishaprocessforcontinuouslearning&outreach(Engagestakeholder,developimplementationplan,refinedata,evaluate&revisitplanregularly,expandstakeholderinvolvement)

Formoreinformation,check

outourSystemsThinking

Webinar

Thankyouverymuch!

YassamanNouriSocialImpactEntrepreneurandCommunityBridge

Yassaman.nouri@gmail.com

Questions?

Extraexample:YouthIncarceration

(U.S.&N.Y.C.)

Shorttermandlongtermfocusedinvestments

Roca

• Mission:Todisruptthecycleofincarcerationandpovertybyhelpingyoungpeopletransformtheirlives.

• In2000,learned PeacemakingCircles practicefromtheTagishTlingitpeopleintheYukonTerritories,andstartsusingandapplyingittodiversesettings,fromstreetconflictstosentencingandparolecircles.

• 2013resultsofhigh-riskyouthinParolees&ex-convictsprograms:• 89%ofhadnonewarrests• 95%hadnonewtechnicalviolations• 69%remainedemployed• Massachusettsenteredintoa$27millionsocialimpactbondwithRoca,wherebyRocawillbepaidtokeepat-riskyouthoutofprison,receivingremunerationdirectlyinproportiontothepositiveoutcomestheyachieve

Source:RocaInc.

RocaPeacemakingCircle

“We learn to listen to each other in a deep way in circles,” says Roca youth worker Omar Ortez. “You see that a problem is not just one person’s problem, it is all our problem.”

RocaInc.

“The ultimate goal of our Engaged Institutions strategy is to create systemic improvements in the way our society addresses crime, poverty and over-incarceration of young people. Roca aims to create a “safety net” around young people, which serves not only them, but also our society as a

whole.” Roca Inc.

PartnershipbuildingthroughCircleTalks

Initssimplestformacircletalk:• Isdoneinacompletecircle• Onlythepersonholdingthesticktalks,alltherestlisten• Thestickispassedaroundinaclockwisedirection• Apersontalksuntiltheyarefinished,beingrespectfuloftime• Apersonmaypassthestickwithoutspeaking,iftheysowish• Ifdesired,thestickmaybepassedaroundagain• Whatissaidinthecirclestaysinthecircle• Acircleisusedtodiscussissuesofimportance• Isextremelyrespectfulofeveryoneasindividualsandwhattheyhavetosay

Source:FirstNationsPedagogy- CircleTalks

Restorativejusticethroughcircles

• Participants:Volunteersfromjusticesystempersonnel,victim,victim’sfamily,offender,offender’sfamily,communityrepresentatives,communityconcernedmembers

• Howitworks:valuedrivenprocesscombiningmeditationandconferencingwitha“talkingpiece”typicallyusedaroundthecirclewhileisbeingdirectedbya“keeper”

• Why:tobringhealingandunderstanding,andinvolvingthewholecommunityindivisionmakingandhealing.Tobuildonvaluesofrespect,honesty,listening,truth,sharingandothers

• Results:Theoffendershareswhy/howhecommittedthecrime,thevictimshareshowtheywereaffectedeconomically,physicallyandemotionallyandthroughsharing,theybuildastrategyforaddressingthecrime(is:restitution,orcommunityservices)andthecausesofthecrimewithfollow-upsupportcirclestotracktheprogressofplanofactions

Source:CentreforJustice&Reconciliation(descriptions,articles,handbookforfacilitatingcircles,examples,etc)

RocaInterventionModel

• Changedoesn’thappenovernight.Twoyearsofintensiveservicesfollowedbytwoyearsoffollow-upgiveouryoungpeoplethetimeandopportunitiestheyneedtosucceed.Source:RocaInc.InterventionModel

• RelentlessOutreach - Knockondoors,engageandre-engageyoungpeople,andnevergiveup

• TransformationalRelationships - Buildmeaningfulrelationshipswithyoungpeopleforthepurposeofbehaviorchange

• Stage-BasedProgramming - Ourprogrammingistailoredtomeetyoungpeoplewheretheyare,cognitivelyandbehaviorally

• EngagedInstitutions:Strategicallyengagesystemsandorganizationsinyoungpeople’schangeprocess

• Performance-BasedManagement:Werigorouslytrackdataandcontinuouslyevaluateourstrategiesandoutcomes

Today,thiswillingnesstoopenthemind,heart,andwillhasextendedfarbeyondthefourwallsofRocaastheorganizationhasevolvedintoacriticalinterfacebetweengangs,police,courts,paroleboards,schools,andsocialserviceagencies.Indeed,manyofRoca’simportantalliesarethepolicedepartmentsinthecommunitiesitserves.

CrimeRateinNYC

• Overthepast10years,theoverallrateofIndexcrimesper100,000residentsdeclined21percent;therateofviolentcrimes(murder,rape,robbery,andaggravatedassault)fell25%andpropertycrimes(burglary,larceny,andmotorvehicletheft)weredown20%.Thelargestreductionsincrimerateswerereportedformotorvehicletheft,androbbery(seeAppendix1forastatewide,annualizedcomparisonofcrimerates).Source:NYCriminalJustice

IncarcerationRateinUS

• Source:SentencingProject- CriminalJusticeFacts