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 Skills England within UK government, 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
10pp
Teaching an Organisation to Watch the World
The part of the organisation that looks outward How the “intelligence function” of a living organisation can be built as a working mechanism — and why its hardest problem is deciding what to believe. Every organisation that survives has a part of itself that faces outward — watching the world, imagining futures, and arguing with the part that runs today’s operations. The management thinker...
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Use with Accreditation
English
10pp
Teaching an Organisation to Watch the World
The part of the organisation that looks outward How the “intelligence function” of a living organisation can be built as a working mechanism — and why its hardest problem is deciding what to believe. Every organisation that survives has a part of itself that faces outward — watching the world, imagining futures, and arguing with the part that runs today’s operations. The management thinker...
Use with Accreditation
English
0:49 +Q
"Flywheels", a practical application in the IT function in the insurance industry.
Abstract: Dr Andrea Weierich will present on "Flywheels", introducing a practical application in the IT function in the insurance industry. Enterprises must cope with strategy and decision-making processes in view of dynamic markets, accelerating technical developments in IT, and a variety of internal cooperations. From a business perspective, the focus is on how to stabilise the “flywheels” of...
Read more
Use with Accreditation
English
0:49 +Q
"Flywheels", a practical application in the IT function in the insurance industry.
Abstract: Dr Andrea Weierich will present on "Flywheels", introducing a practical application in the IT function in the insurance industry. Enterprises must cope with strategy and decision-making processes in view of dynamic markets, accelerating technical developments in IT, and a variety of internal cooperations. From a business perspective, the focus is on how to stabilise the “flywheels” of...
Use with Accreditation
0:49
Introducing the background and the methodological aspects of Frederic Vester's planning and management tool, the “Sensitivity Model"
Abstract: Gabriele Harrer-Puchner introduces the background and the methodological aspects of Frederic Vester's planning and management tool, the “Sensitivity Model". Based on his early biocybernetic approach of "systemic, interconnected thinking" (Vester 1988), Vester and his teams developed a structured, computer-assisted, iterative process that has been applied and continuously improved (Vester...
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Contact the Author
0:49
Introducing the background and the methodological aspects of Frederic Vester's planning and management tool, the “Sensitivity Model"
Abstract: Gabriele Harrer-Puchner introduces the background and the methodological aspects of Frederic Vester's planning and management tool, the “Sensitivity Model". Based on his early biocybernetic approach of "systemic, interconnected thinking" (Vester 1988), Vester and his teams developed a structured, computer-assisted, iterative process that has been applied and continuously improved (Vester...
Contact the Author
English
8pp
Seeing the Whole System: A CSH Perspective on the Ockenden Report
This document presents a brief Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH) interpretation of the Ockenden Report (2026): Findings, Conclusions and Essential Actions from the Independent Review of Maternity Services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Rather than simply summarising findings, this uses Werner Ulrich’s twelve boundary questions to examine the assumptions about purpose, power...
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English
8pp
Seeing the Whole System: A CSH Perspective on the Ockenden Report
This document presents a brief Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH) interpretation of the Ockenden Report (2026): Findings, Conclusions and Essential Actions from the Independent Review of Maternity Services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Rather than simply summarising findings, this uses Werner Ulrich’s twelve boundary questions to examine the assumptions about purpose, power...