Professional Body

Acknowledged by the UK Institute of Apprenticeships as the professional body for Systems Thinking Practitioners, SCiO is dedicated to the advancement of the awareness and knowledge of Systems Thinking, and its recognition as a profession.

SCiO has three main goals:

  • Developing practice in applying systems ideas to a range of organisational and institutional issues,
  • Disseminating the use of systems approaches in dealing with complex situations,
  • Supporting practitioners in their professional practice.

SCiO develops, supports, and promotes systems thinking practice for technical and ethical competence, and provides professional development training, events and networking opportunities. SCiO also maintains working relationships with partner bodies internationally and the UK, to support its goals, and complimentary goals of those federations and societies. 

Competency Framework

SCiO has created a framework of competencies for practitioners of systems thinking, based on our Systems Thinking Body of Knowledge (SysBoK) and the systems laws, and this is aligned to the Institute for Apprenticeship (IfA) Systems Thinking Practitioner L7 accreditation and their framework of Knowledge, Skills & Behaviours.

This framework gives the details of competencies, in the fields of..

  • Systems Knowledge and Skills
  • Systems Thinking Knowledge and Skills
  • Intervention Skills

The CF resource guide provides references & links for each item in the competency framework.

Professional Development

Professional development through learning is a key objective for SCiO.  To further this aim we have been heavily involved in the development of the Systems Thinking in Practice L7 apprenticeship.

The modules from this apprenticeship , closely linked to the topics in the Competency Framework, provide the basis for a substantial set of professional courses that are now available online (or as webinars or face to face by arrangement).

Professional Accreditation

Systems Practitioner Assessment Ltd (SPA) is a company that has been set up by SCiO - the professional body for systems practitioners - to carry out End Point Assessment of the Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship qualification. 

SPA also assesses professional qualifications, on SCiO's behalf, using SCiO’s professional grading structure based on the Competency Framework (see above). 

Resources

SCiO has hundreds of recordings of speakers at systems events (in several languages) and has also created a list of most of the systems books currently in print.

Engels
1:01

10 Years of Systems Thinking Practice: Learnings from the Struggle

Ten years ago, I embarked on a mission to help people tackle complex challenges by synthesising them into maps. Over time, I mastered the technique and further developed it. However, only a few of the hundreds of people I worked with developed a deeper interest in improving their understanding of Systems Thinking principles, tools, and methodologies. I would like to share my reflections on my...
Read more
Use with Accreditation
Engels
1:01

10 Years of Systems Thinking Practice: Learnings from the Struggle

Ten years ago, I embarked on a mission to help people tackle complex challenges by synthesising them into maps. Over time, I mastered the technique and further developed it. However, only a few of the hundreds of people I worked with developed a deeper interest in improving their understanding of Systems Thinking principles, tools, and methodologies. I would like to share my reflections on my...
Use with Accreditation
Engels
0:38 +Q

Perceptual Control Theory - an 'inside-out' approach to systems thinking

This presentation introduces Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) as an 'inside-out' approach to systems thinking, offering a unique perspective for practitioners in the field. PCT posits that control is an internal process, emphasizing the control of perception rather than behaviour. This distinction sets PCT apart from many traditional systems thinking approaches. The talk will elucidate key PCT...
Read more
Use with Accreditation
Engels
0:38 +Q

Perceptual Control Theory - an 'inside-out' approach to systems thinking

This presentation introduces Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) as an 'inside-out' approach to systems thinking, offering a unique perspective for practitioners in the field. PCT posits that control is an internal process, emphasizing the control of perception rather than behaviour. This distinction sets PCT apart from many traditional systems thinking approaches. The talk will elucidate key PCT...
Use with Accreditation
Engels
1:00

Self-organising beings: the art and practice of embodied wisdom

We are by nature complex self-organising beings, situated within a universe organised in the same way. This has profound implications for how we could potentially organise society, our organisations, and our lives. Systemic practice calls us to attend not just to the systems out there, but also to ourselves, so we can effectively leverage our embodied wisdom towards desired change. This session...
Read more
Contact the Author
Bijlagen:
Engels
1:00

Self-organising beings: the art and practice of embodied wisdom

We are by nature complex self-organising beings, situated within a universe organised in the same way. This has profound implications for how we could potentially organise society, our organisations, and our lives. Systemic practice calls us to attend not just to the systems out there, but also to ourselves, so we can effectively leverage our embodied wisdom towards desired change. This session...
Contact the Author