Resources from SysPrac26

This talk offers a candid exploration of systems thinking within the UK Government, delivered from the unique perspective of a senior civil servant. Drawing on practical examples such as natural flood risk management and the Troubled Families programme, the speaker illustrates both the power and the challenges of applying systemic approaches to complex public sector problems. The abstract...

Patrick and Mike held an informal 'fireside chat' on the future of systems thinking, blending humour with serious reflection. They traced the development of the field using adoption life-cycle models, noting the shift from early innovators and visionaries to a broader, more risk-averse early majority. A central theme was the tension between accessibility and depth: for systems thinking to reach...

Interim abstract: Professionalizing the systems thinking practitioner: navigating structure determinism? builds on the ideas of Maturana, Checkland, and Vickers emphasising that systems are shaped by their structures, which both enable and limit change. Ray reflects on the Open University’s contributions to systems education, including postgraduate programs, and stresses the importance of systemic...

This panel discussion closed the SysPrac25 conference with reflections from keynote speakers and interactive audience engagement. Speakers highlighted the conference's high-quality contributions, the importance of systems thinking, and the value of community connections. Themes included the balance between academic theory and practical application, the challenges and future of apprenticeship...

In this presentation, I set out to show how we might reframe the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence by using systems thinking and quantum-informed perspectives. Rather than treating AI as a standalone optimisation tool, I argued for a view of AI as a co-evolving partner within socio-technical systems. I drew on critical systems methods, rich pictures, and system dynamics...

This presentation explores the Viable System Model (VSM) as a framework for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare organizations. Drawing from clinical experience and healthcare risk management, the speaker emphasizes that every medical institution requires a coherent AI strategy aligned with its strengths and weaknesses. The VSM, developed by Stafford Beer, models...

This talk first outlines the practice of systemic investing, and then presents the capabilities, limitations, so-called externalities, and rhetorical framings of AI in general. On this basis, the ways in which AI is both conceptually and empirically able to augment the practice of systemic investing is then presented, highlighting the tensions that result from AI augmentations, and concluding with...

Ed Straw reflects on 50 years in systems thinking - political science as an oxymoron and the policy trap, the best is the enemy of the good, 2% of bees experiment, government is structurally determined to fail with IT projects, ‘It’s the System!’, etc. Apologies that the first minute is missing - camera setup issue! [Presented at SysPrac25 - 3-4th September 2025 at the Open University in Milton...

Dennis Fishbacher-Smith, drawing on experience as both an academic and practitioner in government, health, and resilience, explores how organizations handle crises, information, and weak signals. He argues that crises are often self-generated through managerial failures to recognize and act on early warnings, and that human factors—awareness, competence, and commitment—are central to information...

This talk outlines the core concepts of Pacing Changes which sees systems as lines (or threads) weaving through time rhythmically, as opposed to a spatial layout. This reframe moves "systems change" away from a dominant "freeze-change-unfreeze" approach and instead focuses on the "pace" of an unfolding texture to discern when and where to take action. The presentation prompts audiences to consider...

This talk is about the "complexity gap" and general governance crisis created by the increasing complexity and uncertainty of the world at all levels of the society (individuals, organizations, governments and multinational institutions). It introduces a general challenge-capacity framework based on Ashby's Law of Requisite Variety for analyzing the governance crisis and developing more adaptive...

My presentation explores how we can better connect systems thinking with relational practice to create more human, adaptive, and learning organisations. It draws on a case study showing Somerset’s journey which describes the 'magic' when we align system understanding (using systems thinking methods, tools and methodologies in particular) with how we actually work within it especially through high...

Chris describes how his research explores means of introducing systems thinking to professionals from diverse disciplines as they begin their learning journeys. The support of community is a vital ingredient as they begin building the capability to help their organisations work more effectively with complex challenges, however this presentation emphasises how learning can be guided by contextual...

Carola is leading a project at her employer's company that aims to transform the traditional hierarchical organisational structure of the owner-managed business into a cybernetic model based on Stafford Beer's Viable System Model (VSM). The planned contribution to SysPrac will first briefly outline the genesis of the project and the implementation steps achieved so far in the company. The second...

This presentation outlines the development of the North Star Cancer Collective, a collaboration of UK charities applying systems thinking to improve the psychosocial well-being of children and young people with cancer and their families. Emerging from partnerships in service delivery, the initiative evolved into a collective impact model grounded in shared evidence, lived experience, and a common...

This research investigates why post-occupancy evaluation (POE) is not mainstream practice in the built environment, despite its potential to bridge the gap between building design expectations and real-world performance. Buildings often fail to deliver on energy efficiency, comfort, and usability, yet systemic barriers—including supply chain fragmentation, short-term contracting, weak...

Using a causal loop diagram for designing points of intervention in the OODA Loop to enhance the competencies for protecting yourself, other around you and your business. Translating this into a non-systems model for designing the training delivery of the competencies for a non-systems thinking participants. (Bringing safety into systems thinking and taking systems thinking into safety).

Agile has been a big hit in project management, but the shine is wearing off. Failure rates are mounting and more leaders are questioning whether it really delivers. This talk unpacks why Agile often falls short and shows how Systems Thinking can fill the gaps; offering a practical proposal for fusing the two into something more effective.

This talk explores the critical role of systems thinking in achieving mission success. The presentation highlights the necessity of applying systems thinking approaches to tackle the UK government's five major missions under its Plan for Change. Unlike traditional projects that focus on specific, concrete objectives, missions require a systems approach to address long-term, complex challenges. The...

Failure to identify the right stakeholder at the right stage of a project creates a likely risk the project will fail. The stakeholders are the providers of the support needed by the project, be it resources, knowledge, or consent. Not identifying may lead to incorrect assumptions and hidden barriers impacting time, cost and quality. The Stakeholder environment is usually complex and is...

Tim presented an approach to integrating different systems thinking methodologies and tools with business analysis tools into a bespoke inhouse Strategy and Transformation Canvas, building on Osterwalder's business model canvas and his own work at the University of Northampton on a social venture canvas. He showed the the canvas is recursive and helps the practitioner to 'locate' the common...

James Stauch spoke about his recently published book, The 55 Minutes, the title of which draws inspiration from Albert Einstein's aphorism about spending 55 minutes defining a problem. The book helps fill a gap between scholarly insight - which can be less accessible to practitioners - and the experience-informed practice of systems understanding within a wide range of organizational, industry...

Ed (& Vincent) introduce a practical approach to systems practice, emphasizing communication and collaboration as the foundation of organizational life. Moving beyond abstract models, the presentation focuses on three reframed perspectives: Fernando Flores’ Conversations for Action loop, negative feedback as the basis of stability in collaboration, and Stafford Beer’s principle of requisite...

This presentation explores an emerging approach to systemic leadership, questioning whether current interpretations adequately connect leadership practices to the real-time state of systems. While mainstream systems leadership often emphasizes individual skills and interpersonal behaviours, Gavin argues that such perspectives risk overlooking the structural and dynamic conditions that actually...

This presentation introduces a practical approach to building organizational momentum in IT leadership teams by combining the flywheel concept with Frederic Vester’s sensitivity model. Drawing on over two decades of leadership experience in corporate IT and Amazon Web Services, Andrea Weierich explores how systemic methods can help IT functions—often under cost, service, and complexity pressures...

Carla Owen and Nicola Reeves of Animal Free Research UK describe their charity’s shift from traditional grant-making towards a systems-thinking approach to ending animal testing. Recognizing a limited impact after decades of funding, the organization adopted tools such as SSM, VSM, and Patterns of Strategy to reframe its role—moving from simply funding research to convening networks, restructuring...

This presentation outlines an evolving attempt by an organisation working in a densely-populated, complex and dynamic ecosystem to understand the impact of its policy-influencing work. The organisation is exploring impact across numerous dimensions and seeks to understand its contributions to wider systemic change, rather than seek direct attribution.

Kevin Collins, Senior Lecturer at the Open University, explores the value of systems diagramming as a tool for thinking, learning, and communicating about complex issues. Through examples ranging from classroom activities on “drought” to historical cases like Darwin’s tree of life, he shows how diagrams help surface assumptions, emotions, and framings, making mental models visible and open to...

Martin Reynolds reflects on the idea of systems thinking literacy as essential for practice beyond academia. Drawing on postgraduate development and teaching of systems thinking in practice (STiP) qualifications, action research with STiP alumni, and the development of the Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship qualification, Martin highlights tensions between developing capabilities...

How might Open University colleagues support one another in thinking differently and acting with purpose? Anne Gambles introduced the early stages of a long-lived systemic inquiry within The Open University Systems Thinking in Practice (STiP) Community of Practice (CoP), co-developing strategy through Soft Systems Methodology and Hypothesis-Driven Delivery. Starting with Why?, Focusing on Outcomes...

This presentation challenges dominant paradigms in systems thinking and explores how shifting perspectives can better sustain innovation in complex adaptive systems. Drawing on research in schools, prisons, and healthcare, Dr. Luke Roberts critiques mechanistic and “whole system” approaches that often fail to account for feedback, social energy, and the role of narrative. He demonstrates how...

This talk is a personal reflection from a systems thinking apprentice working at Animal Free Research UK, a charity aiming to end animal testing. The speaker recounts how, when confronted with a rushed plan to launch a membership scheme without adequate reflection, they resisted the urge to say “no” outright and instead suggested a pause. This small intervention created space for a structured...

This talk explores how systems thinking and participatory modelling were applied to strategy design in the UK construction products sector following systemic failures revealed by the Grenfell Tower fire. The speaker, bridging research and practice through a PhD and consultancy, emphasizes that the quality of information feeding strategy processes is a critical leverage point often overlooked...

This presentation reflects on using Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) to reshape risk management in a complex environmental organization, Natural England. Tasked with delivering reforms and increasing risk-based decision-making, the team used rich pictures, conceptual models, and iterative exercises to navigate ambiguity, surface organizational tensions, and align stakeholders around risk...

We are at a pivotal time of fundamental shapeshifting - where we get to choose which path we go on next in the midst of uncertainty and chaos. What we do now matters like never before and what we decide will have major consequences for the generations to come. There has been a lot of focus on technologies, new governance and compliance standards. But there is much less reflection and talk about...

The Patterns of Strategy Workshop introduces a practical way of thinking about strategy developed by Patrick Hoverstadt and Lucy Loh. Instead of static plans, it explores how organisations co-evolve with their environment, focusing on the dynamics of relationships, structural couplings, and shifts in power, time, and fit. The workshop helps leaders see strategy as an emergent process—shaped...

The workshop “ Humanizing Systems” invited participants to explore how organizations can shift from a mechanistic focus on efficiency toward regenerative ways of working. Drawing on your book Humanizing the Corporation: A Regenerative Leadership Playbook, Jan introduced how systems theory and developmental science reveal that collaboration emerges not from alignment alone, but from the dynamic...

In complex organisational systems, the perspectives we choose to include—or exclude—shape the quality and fairness of our decisions. This workshop introduces participants to Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH) and the use of boundary judgements to make sense of selectivity and partiality in system design and change. Through the Calls4U case study, participants explore how innovation and AI adoption...

This workshop challenged consultants to move beyond being expert problem-solvers to becoming partners in systemic change. Benjamin Taylor set an interactive, provocative tone – drawing on Peter Block’s Flawless Consulting – to explore how consultants can serve client organisations differently, embracing vulnerability, dialogue, and co-creation in complex environments (public sector and beyond). He...

The workshop, facilitated by Simon MacCormac and Ken Carroll, "Complexity & Collaboration," is designed for individuals and teams engaged in collaborative systemic enquiry. It aims to equip participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to make collaboration successful. The session covers various aspects of collaboration, including when it is necessary, creating the right environment, setting...

This is the material for the hands-on workshop on how to build a system dynamics model. If you follow the step-by-step instructions, you will get a long way with actually creating a working model of your own, these slides point to a complete version of that model and the slideshow shows every step in turn.

PROJECT Using Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) with some Viable System Methodology (VSM) modelling to explore how best to regulate a specific construction product. PRACTITIONER Geraldine Hearne, Office for Product Safety & Standards - Department of Business & Trade APPROX. DATE 2024-2026 SITUATION AND CONTEXT In the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, the Hackitt report recommended that Government should...

PROJECT Designing for Viability in a Politically Constrained System: A Multi-Method Intervention in Timetable Production PRACTITIONER Mike Jones, LBI Consulting CONTEXT Following the 2018 timetable crisis, Timetable Production (TTP) suffered persistent dysfunction: fragmented structure, firefighting culture, weak coordination, and a lack of strategic foresight. Despite previous restructures...

How can systems thinking help turn frustration into insight and organisational learning? This reflective case study follows a charity leader’s journey from personal grievance to systemic understanding. Using Soft Systems Methodology, the Viable System Model and feedback loops, Nicola explores how inquiry and reflection can transform tensions, improve governance and reconnect purpose with practice...

PROJECT Applying insight from Systems Laws to challenge thinking on, and service design for, the Multiple Disadvantage system. PRACTITIONER Gavin Roberts DATE 2023-2025 CONTEXT AND SYSTEM OF INTEREST (SOI) Multiple Disadvantage (MD) refers to experiencing several complex issues simultaneously, such as homelessness, substance use, mental health challenges ( see article attachment for figures)...

PROJECT A Soft and Critical Systems approach exploring Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) challenges in a Research Project Team PRACTITIONER Emilia Slawkowska APPROX. DATE 2023/24 SITUATION AND CONTEXT EDI implementation requires a holistic and systematic approach addressing root causes whilst setting clear goals and providing actionable solutions. This intervention focused on a Research...

PROJECT Let’s Talk Safety - Bringing Safety into Systems Thinking, and Systems Thinking into Safety PRACTITIONER Robin Stowell (Apprentice) SITUATION AND CONTEXT The traditional occupational safety profession is largely dominated by a reductionist risk management paradigm. This conventional approach focuses heavily on hazard identification, risk registers, regulatory compliance, and post-incident...

PROJECT Patterns of Strategy: partnering in a tender process INTERVENTION CONTEXT VM is small consultancy that helps clients create organisational change through visual thinking and semantic data. One of our public infrastructure clients put out a tender for five-year packages of work to support their digital teams. The tender touched on work we currently delivered, with packages of work so large...

PROJECT How Communities can better support people living in asylum hotel accommodation. Situation & Context Across the Diocese of Westminster, churches and faith-based groups increasingly found themselves supporting asylum seekers housed in hotels under the UK asylum system. While volunteers are eager to help, many face restrictions in accessing the hotels and are overwhelmed by the magnitude and...