Service

Education

Learn the core concepts, frameworks, and insights of systems thinking in engaging, concrete, and practical ways.

About Education

Systems thinking is a skill — and like any skill, it’s best learned by doing. Our education programs introduce the core concepts, frameworks, and insights of applied systems thinking through engaging, concrete, and practical exercises rather than abstract lectures.

What We Do

Through keynotes, presentations, and introductory workshops ranging from 1-3 days, we introduce participants in your organization to the core elements of systems thinking. Depending on the time available, we cover such topics as:

Why good intentions are not enough
Differences between conventional and systems thinking
The Iceberg tool
Basic language of systems thinking
Classic systems stories or archetypes
The power of mental models
Identifying leverage points
Designing systemic theories of change
Four stages of leading systems change
Developing capabilities of systems leadership

Results In Action

A group of philanthropists attended a one-day introductory workshop where David addressed many of the topics above. The sponsor summarized his experience as follows:

“It was really OUR pleasure and treat to have David share with this group. Every single person I spoke to said the same thing. It really opened up their thinking and gave them so many tools and ways to apply system methods and thinking to problems they are challenged with all the time.”
— Alexander Rossides, President, Growth Philanthropies Network

As a result of the workshop, one Executive Director brought David in to help her grantees:

Understand why Project-Based Learning has been so difficult to disseminate in K-12 schools despite its many benefits as an instructional methodology
Identify possible leverage points
Draft a systemic theory of change that integrates the leverage points into a cohesive implementation strategy for disseminating Project-Based Learning

Let's Build Something Lasting

Work with us to apply systems thinking to your organization's toughest challenges.