A detailed description of what systems thinking and systems change is can be found below. However, if you are short of time and would like a quick introduction, you can watch this 5 minute video.
A system is something made up of multiple, interacting parts. For example, the NHS - including physical assets such as buildings and equipment, people, such as doctors, nurses, porters and patients, and other intangibles such as safety regulations, clinical guidance and customer feedback mechanisms.
Systems thinking describes a way of looking at and tackling problems (often messy and difficult) within systems. It is about finding out which parts make up a system, how they affect and interact with each other, and ultimately suggesting how altering one or more of those parts might create change within the system. The end goal is to act on that systems thinking to create lasting and significant change to the way things work; in other words systems change - with agreed and clear end goals, for example specific improved outcomes for children and young people
Can you think of an example where you’ve gone beyond business as usual to take a step back, think about, and alter how things are currently done? Has it made a real impact that will last beyond your own individual involvement? You may not have used systems thinking to get there, but it’s likely that you’ve created some form of systems change, even on a modest level.
Systems thinking is increasingly being used to tackle problems in health and social care. Problems in this space are often difficult to understand as they exist in complicated environments. Fundamental to systems thinking is approaching a problem by understanding the moving parts within a system before coming up with a solution. When working collaboratively with the people who are living with that problem, there is real opportunity to come up with and test effective new ways of working.
Here’s a quick video which gives an example of the importance of systems thinking (and the potential risks of not using it).
Systems thinking does require time, energy, creativity and collaboration, but it is a highly effective and rewarding approach to problem solving, which is proving to be of great use to the health and social care sector.
This guide has been put together to give colleagues something to reference if you want to know more about systems thinking and use it as a way of approaching problems.
If you are interested in learning more about strategic partnerships - a key driver of systems change, you can view the strategic partnerships framework (coming soon).