What does systems change actually mean?
I have come to realize that systems change isn’t as complicated as I made it out to be. But I did wonder why it seemed so complex, almost like you need a degree to understand it. Meanwhile, you’re probably already doing the work.
When I think about systems change, I think about a network of people, places and policies that impact community. So if you want to change a community, you have to change those networks. That’s systems change. Simple enough, right? And I’m pretty sure we’re already doing it. We all have a role in it, whether you’re just a neighbour, volunteer, a councillor, a parent or a grandparent. The things we do in these roles impact the overall system, i.e, our community.
Recently, I was part of a discussion around systems and what it means to create meaningful change in community. What I learned is that systems can take many forms, from organizational and social systems to education and employment systems. And depending on your lived experience, industry or sector, your definition of systems change could look different.
During the discussion, we wanted to hear how participants defined systems. Here’s a summary of their insights (with the help of my friend, ChatGPT).
Systems, ultimately are;
Networks and relationships: The connections between people, organizations, and environments that influence outcomes.
Integrated structures: Interacting parts that work together to create viable, sustainable communities and lives.
Dynamic and boundary-dependent: Systems change depending on how their boundaries are defined; understanding them requires seeing the interconnections and feedback loops within and across them.
Socially and institutionally embedded: Examples included education, employment, homelessness, and immigration systems, each shaped by shared rules and roles.
Spaces for reflection and collaboration: Participants emphasized the importance of systems “seeing themselves,” where multiple actors engage and reflect collectively to understand how their roles and rules influence shared outcomes.
Complex intersections of influence: Systems were described as a convergence, or sometimes a misalignment, of mental models, power dynamics, relationships, policies, practices, and the flow of both financial and non-financial resources.
Applied contexts: Some referenced specific systems such as the UN system, age-friendly community initiatives, and frameworks like the Complex Systems Framework for defining boundaries.