System Change

Russell Ackoff, an influential system scholar, reminded us that efforts towards solving problems have often proven ineffective when they do not change the system that keeps recreating the same problems. Effective interventions in social problems may thus require a shift from creating ‘solutions’ to reconfiguring the system in which the problem is embedded.

In our research, we study how organizations alone or as part of collaborative efforts can engage with and understand systems, and help those systems discover legitimate and effective pathways for change.

Read more about our Research Vision for exploring the nexus of organizations, problems, and systems: