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LeveragingSystemsThinkingtoUnderstandtheComplexitiesofCommunityProblems
COMMUNITY CHANGE INSTITUTE
cities of the future • co-creating tomorrow
Facilitated by: Yassaman Nouri
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ToolsSessionDescriptionSocial,environmentalandeconomicalchallengesfacedbycommunitiesacrossthe
globearecomplexanddynamic.Lackofdeepunderstandingofthecomplexitiesof
problemsoftenresultinunintendednegativeimpactsinlocalandglobal
communities.Systemsthinkingandanalysiscanbepowerfultoolstohelp
practitionersunderstandcomplexcommunityproblemsandimplementsystemic
solutionsthatresultinpositiveimpactsinthecommunities.Thisinteractive
workshopwilltakeaveryquicklookatwhatsystemsthinkingisandsharesome
practicalresources,tools,processesandmindsetstobeusedfordesigningand
implementingsolutionstocomplexcommunityproblems.
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SharingIntentions
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Myrequestofyou:
Listennotonlywithopenearsbut
withopenmind,openheartandopenwill
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Agenda
• Sharingintentions
• Startingwithastory
• Definingsystemsthinking
• Selectingaproblem/challengeinacommunity
• WebofLifeActivity
• Bridgingcommunityanddiscoveringicebergs
• Bridgingtoclosesocialgap
• Q&A
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Threeopeningsneededtotransformchange
1. Openingthemind(tochallengeourassumptions)2. Openingtheheart(tobevulnerableandtotrulyhearoneanother)3. Openingthewill(toletgoofpre-setgoalsandagendasandsee
whatisreallyneededandpossible)Thesethreeopeningsmatchtheblindspotsofmostchangeefforts,whichareoftenbasedonrigidassumptionsandagendasandfailtoseethattransformingsystemsisultimatelyabouttransformingrelationshipsamongpeoplewhoshapethosesystems.Manyotherwisewell-intentionedchangeeffortsfailbecausetheirleadersareunableorunwillingtoembracethissimpletruth
• Source:LeadingfromtheEmergingFuture - OttoScharmer andKatrinKaufer
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Startingwithastory
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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.
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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
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Definingsystemsthinking
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Whataresystemthinkingand
systemdynamics?
Source: Kindling
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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
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Whatis“SystemDynamics”?
“SystemDynamicsThestudyofcomplexsystems,includingsuchhumansystemsasfamilies,organizations,cities,andnations.
Ifyoulookdeeplyintoanysystemandanalyzetherelationshipsbetweenmembers,youwillfindinfinitecomplexity.
Inasystemsapproachtoaproblem,youstartbyrealizingthatthereisnoinherentendtoasystem.Thereisnosuchthingasacompletetheory.Thequestistolookataproblemmorecomprehensively.”
Source:Systemsthinking– PeterSenge
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UnderstandingtheCreativeTension
Source:Figure5.2fromSystemsThinkingForSocialChange– DavidPeterStroh (rightdiagram)builtontheFigure1:“CreativeTension”modelfromTheFifthDiscipline- PeterSenge (Leftdiagram)
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Selectingaproblem/challengein
acommunity
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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
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YouthIncarcerationinU.S.andN.Y.C.
Source:AECF- NoPlaceForKids
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USIncarceration
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WebofLifeActivity
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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.
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Bridgingcommunityand
discoveringicebergs
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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)
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Discoveringicebergs
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Diggingdeeper
Source:ASystemsThinkingModel:TheIceberg- NWEI
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DiggingDeeper
Mayinclude:rules,norms,policies,guidelines,powerstructures,distributionofresources,culturalrules,orinformalwaysofwork
Mayinclude:ConsciousorUnconsciousassumptionsandbeliefs
Mayinclude:Interpretationofeventsanddataovertime
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Discoveryourowniceberg
Activitydescription:Withtheperspectiveofeachoftheecosystemmember/stakeholderthatyouidentified,createanicebergforyourproblem/challengeonaflipchart.
Importantnote:Firstbuildtheleftsideoftheiceberg(toptodown)andthenbuildtherightside(bottomup)
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BridgingtheGapBetween
RealityandVision
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UnderstandingtheCreativeTension
Source:Figure5.2fromSystemsThinkingForSocialChange– DavidPeterStroh (rightdiagram)builtontheFigure1:“CreativeTension”modelfromTheFifthDiscipline- PeterSenge (Leftdiagram)
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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)
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Formoreinformation,check
outourSystemsThinking
Webinar
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Questions?
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Extraexample:YouthIncarceration
(U.S.&N.Y.C.)
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Shorttermandlongtermfocusedinvestments
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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PartnershipbuildingthroughCircleTalks
Initssimplestformacircletalk:• Isdoneinacompletecircle• Onlythepersonholdingthesticktalks,alltherestlisten• Thestickispassedaroundinaclockwisedirection• Apersontalksuntiltheyarefinished,beingrespectfuloftime• Apersonmaypassthestickwithoutspeaking,iftheysowish• Ifdesired,thestickmaybepassedaroundagain• Whatissaidinthecirclestaysinthecircle• Acircleisusedtodiscussissuesofimportance• Isextremelyrespectfulofeveryoneasindividualsandwhattheyhavetosay
Source:FirstNationsPedagogy- CircleTalks
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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)
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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.
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CrimeRateinNYC
• Overthepast10years,theoverallrateofIndexcrimesper100,000residentsdeclined21percent;therateofviolentcrimes(murder,rape,robbery,andaggravatedassault)fell25%andpropertycrimes(burglary,larceny,andmotorvehicletheft)weredown20%.Thelargestreductionsincrimerateswerereportedformotorvehicletheft,androbbery(seeAppendix1forastatewide,annualizedcomparisonofcrimerates).Source:NYCriminalJustice
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IncarcerationRateinUS
• Source:SentencingProject- CriminalJusticeFacts