Only systems thinking approaches can address the complex systemic challenges that surround us. As the professional body for Systems Thinking Practitioners, SCiO is unique for its focus on systems practice through the breadth and depth of the systems approaches we use. We support this with free resources, professional courses on systems practice and intervention skills, professional qualifications, and communities that support practitioners. Our chapters operate in several countries and languages.
What is SCiO?
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.
English
0:19 +Q
Introduction to Critical Social Learning Systems
Social learning is a set of principles, activities and behaviours, relating to how people collaborate and co-operate to learn in a variety of situations within institutional and organisational structures. This brief introduction explores its principles and methods, as well as providing an illustration of how it has been applied in a micro-enterprise environment, where individuals or small...
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Use with Accreditation
English
0:19 +Q
Introduction to Critical Social Learning Systems
Social learning is a set of principles, activities and behaviours, relating to how people collaborate and co-operate to learn in a variety of situations within institutional and organisational structures. This brief introduction explores its principles and methods, as well as providing an illustration of how it has been applied in a micro-enterprise environment, where individuals or small...
Use with Accreditation
English
0:53 +Q
To CLD or not, that is the question
Peter shares his experience from over thirty years of systems thinking practice majoring on the use and application of system dynamics modelling in the health and care sector with a focus on the place that Causal Loop Diagrams have played in that work. He will cover its contribution to introducing people to systems thinking as it supports system dynamics modelling and its application in...
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Contact the Author
English
0:53 +Q
To CLD or not, that is the question
Peter shares his experience from over thirty years of systems thinking practice majoring on the use and application of system dynamics modelling in the health and care sector with a focus on the place that Causal Loop Diagrams have played in that work. He will cover its contribution to introducing people to systems thinking as it supports system dynamics modelling and its application in...
Contact the Author
English
0:53 +Q
Psychological safety as a systemic construct: implications for social services
Psychological safety—feeling safe to be oneself, take risks, and speak candidly—has been predominantly instrumentalised as a tool for driving innovation and profit in organisations. This presentation argues for a fundamental shift in perspective: feeling safe is a basic human right, not merely a means to an end. The current focus on staff dynamics often overlooks service recipients, creating an...
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Confidential – Members Only
English
0:53 +Q
Psychological safety as a systemic construct: implications for social services
Psychological safety—feeling safe to be oneself, take risks, and speak candidly—has been predominantly instrumentalised as a tool for driving innovation and profit in organisations. This presentation argues for a fundamental shift in perspective: feeling safe is a basic human right, not merely a means to an end. The current focus on staff dynamics often overlooks service recipients, creating an...
Confidential – Members Only
English
0:22+0:23 +Q
Multi-Methodology Approaches in System Thinking
Historically, practitioners have often relied on a single familiar approach based on their training, education, or personal biases. However, systems practitioners possess a variety of systems approaches, leading to the question: which approach should be used for what purpose and why? This session explores various methods for selecting and utilising multiple systems approaches in real-world...
Read more
Use with Accreditation
English
0:22+0:23 +Q
Multi-Methodology Approaches in System Thinking
Historically, practitioners have often relied on a single familiar approach based on their training, education, or personal biases. However, systems practitioners possess a variety of systems approaches, leading to the question: which approach should be used for what purpose and why? This session explores various methods for selecting and utilising multiple systems approaches in real-world...
Use with Accreditation