Systems Practice
Our existence is interwoven with the complex contexts we inhabit. We both influence and are influenced by the systems around us, and it is increasingly acknowledged the benefits that incorporating systems thinking into our practice can bring. However, in many ways the ‘practice’ of systems is largely inaccessible in our day-to-day work. While we acknowledge that ‘thinking systemically’ and ‘being systemic’ is beneficial, the next question is often ‘how?’
FPC are experts in the application of 'doing' systems thinking - which we affectionately refer to as 'systems practice'. Systems practice involves the application of different systemically based methodologies to expore and address questions of interest across research, evaluation and design areas. In broad terms these questions include:
Systems practice work is inherently tailored to fit your context, and the way that we undertake iit can be matched with your resourcing, areas of need and organsiational priorities. For example:
FPC are experts in the application of 'doing' systems thinking - which we affectionately refer to as 'systems practice'. Systems practice involves the application of different systemically based methodologies to expore and address questions of interest across research, evaluation and design areas. In broad terms these questions include:
- Where can we best or most effectively intervene to address this complex problem?
- How can we plan or strategise to more efficiently have a greater impact or achieve our vision?
- How do we evaluate our systems change efforts?
- What are some novel ways to tell the story of our work in addressing complex problems?
Systems practice work is inherently tailored to fit your context, and the way that we undertake iit can be matched with your resourcing, areas of need and organsiational priorities. For example:
- We can design and facilitate partnership mapping workshops to identify your organisational reach, gaps and opportunities
- We can coach you / your team through an end-to-end process of understanding complex systems
- We can design systems mapping tools and processes that you can implement yourself
- We can apply systems mapping platforms for novel purposes - like visualising evaluation frameworks
- We can implement evaluation processes and develop collateral to 'tell the story' of the impact of your work.
Need an example? Try active travel
Active travel is a massive priority for many jurisdictions. It's also an area of work that has a variety of benefits that can be difficult to represent. By taking a systems-view, we can describe not just the different outcomes but also how they are related.
Our experience
SYSTEMS THINKING FOR BEHAVIOUR CHANGE FOR WASTE, ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (UK)
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (UK)
Electronic and electrical waste is a massive environmental issue in the UK. DEFRA, wanting to explore alternative approaches to understanding how to drive behaviour change through a systems lens. DEFRA engaged FPC to design and deliver a mentoring program to design and apply the System Effects methodology to this question. FPC delivered a series of training sessions on the application of the methodology to map the barriers and enablers to people in the UK repairing small electronic goods.
The project provided both a case study of how to understand barriers and enablers to behaviour change through a systems lens, as well as demonstrating the utility of the methodology to the UK Government. You can find a public facing report on the project on the DEFRA website.
The project provided both a case study of how to understand barriers and enablers to behaviour change through a systems lens, as well as demonstrating the utility of the methodology to the UK Government. You can find a public facing report on the project on the DEFRA website.
Supporting the transition to a systemic way of working
vichealth
vichealth
The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) is the world’s first health promotion agency. In late 2021, VicHealth established a project to support the organisation to embed systems thinking as the foundational approach to the organisation’s work. Through this project, FPC was engaged to undertake a process to establish a roadmap and design for an organisation-wide shift to operating in a systems-based way of working. In practice, this project was about building the capability of staff across VicHealth to apply systems thinking and practices to their work in a variety of ways.
Development of the roadmap involved a series of consultations with the VicHealth Executive and Managers. Following approval of the roadmap, a series of core activities were identified:
Development of the roadmap involved a series of consultations with the VicHealth Executive and Managers. Following approval of the roadmap, a series of core activities were identified:
- Development of a foundational guiding document of what a 'systems approach' looks like for VicHealth
- Design and delivery of organsiation-wide training in systems thinking
- Development of a 'champions program' to upskill key staff to act as leaders within the organisation
- Facilitation of Communities of Practice, with progressive handover to the champions
- Adhoc time to support staff as required on a range of needs related to applying systems to their work.
hazelwood recovery project social network analysis
EPA victoria
EPA victoria
Starting in early 2014 and burning for several weeks, the Hazelwood mine fire created large volumes of smoke and ash that led to a range of social and environmental problems in the Latrobe Valley. EPA Victoria worked during the incident to monitor and manage potential impacts of the fire. A key component of this was community engagement and communication. Under the Hazelwood Recovery Program, EPA Victoria worked to improve its connections to the Latrobe Valley community and be clearer in its communications.
FPC was engaged by EPA Victoria to undertake a Social Network Analysis (SNA) of the Morewell and Latrobe Valley community networks. This project would, in turn, improve EPA Victoria's understanding of the communication pathways in the community and how to engage with them more efficiently and effectively. Starting with a desktop search of local organisations, an online and phone survey was undertaken to collect data from over 100 different community group representatives. The result was a series of recommendations to EPA Victoria on their engagement approaches and a network map of the connections between community groups in the region, including where and how they sourced their information during the emergency.
FPC was engaged by EPA Victoria to undertake a Social Network Analysis (SNA) of the Morewell and Latrobe Valley community networks. This project would, in turn, improve EPA Victoria's understanding of the communication pathways in the community and how to engage with them more efficiently and effectively. Starting with a desktop search of local organisations, an online and phone survey was undertaken to collect data from over 100 different community group representatives. The result was a series of recommendations to EPA Victoria on their engagement approaches and a network map of the connections between community groups in the region, including where and how they sourced their information during the emergency.
Safe at home systems mapping
Mcauley community services for women
Mcauley community services for women
Family violence is the leading cause of homelessness in Victoria, with 56,000 people presenting for homelessness support in 2019/2020. Safe at Home is an approach which involves a range of actions and policies that seek to increase the likelihood that women and children remain at home, while the perpetrator of violence is excluded. While this approach has been used elsewhere to great effect, there are a range of systemic barriers that prevent an effective Safe at Home approach in Victoria. First Person Consulting (FPC) has been working with McAuley on adopting a systems approach to progress Safe at Home. This involved development of a systems map incorporating barriers and enablers to the approach’s adoption in Victoria. The systems map drew on the outcomes of nearly a dozen consultations with key agencies working within the family violence system, including Respect Victoria, No To Violence, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, and victim/survivor advocacy groups. Following an iterative process of thematic analysis and review in workshops, an interactive systems map was published to understand the most influential points within the system and, ultimately, where possible action might be taken.
Systems Thinking Services for Non-Economic Barriers to Food Security
feed opportunity (canada)
feed opportunity (canada)
First Person Consulting worked with Feed Opportunity to understand non-economic barriers to food security in Ontario, Canada via the System Effects methodology. This involved mentoring Feed Opportunity through the establishment of the data collection process, undertaking the analysis and interpreting hte results. Through this process, FPC supported the development of a systems model of food insecurity that extended beyond economic components to identify other key leverage points for change.
Regional Engagement Network Social Network Analysis
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
FPC were engaged to trial an innovative method of mapping the engagement networks in a regional area of Victoria for the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. A key interest was in understanding and documenting those in the network, where there were linkages and common interests, and the nature or quality of the relationships between them. Importantly, it was critical to set up this process in a way that could provide a basis for tracking change over time. The DELWP Engagement framework required a way to measure and report on the promise that DELWP understands the community networks and is building stronger relationships. To pilot this approach, staff from the Loddon Mallee Engagement Network took part in a collaborative and iterative process, starting with the scoping of what was required, what the system was (the boundaries), who would be included (the actors), and how the relationships or connections could be defined and captured in a useful way. Through workshops, feedback, and online sessions, a process was developed, resulting in a series of interactive online network maps. This included a range of stakeholders, including various levels of government, individuals, community groups and other organisations. The online format of the systems mapping software was easily shared, and useful for gathering the input of others. As such, this was seen favourably as a means of documenting the system, communicating progress, and gaining further input to track and reflect on this change.
UNDERSTANDING THE SYSTEMIC IMPACTS OF SCHOOL-BASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INTERVENTIONS
ACT HEALTH
ACT HEALTH
ACT Health piloted an intensive and localised systems-based approach to improve the rates of physical activity in a secondary school in the ACT. The intention was to use the pilot as a proof-of-concept of how intensive action could remove or reduce the barriers to physical activity for young people. Importantly, ACT Health needed to apply an evaluation approach that would demonstrate the systemic changes resulting from the intervention – acknowledging the short-time frame to do so. FPC applied Social Network Analysis techniques to address this challenge. This involved the collection of qualitative data from students, parents and teachers, quantifying the results and producing SNA metrics to understand the system status quo. The process was repeated after the project to provide pre and post systems maps and metrics which could be compared. The result was a clear reduction in identified systemic barriers, as well as the identification of an additional new set of barriers. This process was instrumental in demonstrating short-term systems change, as well as a set of findings that reinforce that systems are dynamic and constantly changing.
Community Resilience Social Network Analysis Design and Piloting
Knox City Council
Knox City Council
Community resilience is often identified as a key feature in how people and communities can respond to local needs or unexpected impacts and emergencies. Knox City Council are moving into a new stage of emergency management planning and have identified a unique opportunity to apply Social Network Analysis to monitor community resilience over time. FPC have been engaged by the Council to develop a unique SNA methodology and process by which the Council will be able to measure resilience, track it over time, and use it as a communication, planning and response tool. This involves adapting existing valid resilience tools to be applied in a SNA context, developing the methodology and piloting it with Council. Once completed, Council will take ownership of the methodology and outcomes, with the aim of sharing this with all Councils to provide a consistent way of understanding resilience across municipalities.
Social Network Analysis Training Program
Country Fire Authority and the Department of Environment, Water and Planning
Country Fire Authority and the Department of Environment, Water and Planning
Emergency management is an incredibly complex field of work. Within Victoria, there are jurisdictional boundaries, stakeholders at all levels and a significant amount of action being taken at local, State and National levels. All of this has an impact on how emergencies are prepared for, responded to, and recovered from. Recognising this complexity, FPC was engaged by the Country Fire Authority and the Department of Environment, Water and Planning to design and deliver a comprehensive training program in SNA to 50 participants from local and state organisations in Victoria. The aim was to build their capability in mapping systems and networks to identify efficiencies, opportunities for collaboration and to provide a different lens through which they could view their work. The training program consisted of an intensive full-day training introducing core SNA concepts. Participants were then invited to apply what they learned to a project, after which small group coaching sessions were held to troubleshoot any challenges, aid in interpretation, and solidify learning. The program was very well received, with several organisations identifying offshoot projects because of their network mapping efforts.
Vicsport sector and partnership mapping project
vicsport
vicsport
Vicsport's aim is to get as many people in Victoria engaging in sport and physical activity as possible. They are the peak body for sport and active recreation in the state and work closely with the Victorian Government to promote the many benefits sport has to offer. Vicsport maintains a comprehensive member base of different sport and recreation entities, local government and other governmental partners. Vicsport engaged FPC to define and identify the scale and scope of their network, and opportunities to strengthen and strategically expand to support their work. The project involved the facilitation of a collaborative workshop with Vicsport and key partners, the review of membership records, and the creation of an interactive network map. Going forward, the organisation can use and maintain the map to support future planning and program delivery.
