A Systemic Approach to Transformation
Change doesn’t happen in isolation. For problems to be solved and opportunities to grow, we need collaboration and diverse expertise. We also need more than brainstorm sessions and a few good ideas on a whiteboard to drive change. Real progress requires collaboration, cross-functional thinking, and structured support.
The most impactful transformation efforts happen when an organisation’s full ecosystem is working in sync, including its people, processes, technology, and external environment. That’s where a systemic approach becomes powerful. It helps you evaluate ideas not just on potential, but on fit, feasibility, and alignment with long-term goals. By understanding the interactions among the system’s components, you can spot unique opportunities and foresee challenges that might not be visible initially.
That’s why I lean on my systems engineering background and apply a structured, systemic approach to transformation: one that’s grounded in real-world complexity, not theory.
Why Use a Systemic Approach to Innovation?
Structure Complexity
Transformation means dealing with complexity. Environments evolve, priorities shift, and progress can stall. Systems thinking structures this complexity. By understanding the dynamics at play, you move away from reactive projects and towards strategic action.Holistic Perspective
It’s easy to get caught up in what’s urgent or exciting. We can lose ourselves in problems right in front of us or new technologies coming our way. A systemic approach helps you take a step back and see how everything is connected, surfacing opportunities and risks that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Problem-solving Oriented
Surface-level symptoms rarely lead to sustainable solutions. Systems thinking helps uncover root causes, unlocking more effective, long-lasting change and reducing the risk of repeated issues.
Measurable Outcomes
Transformation needs evidence. By defining clear, tangible goals and tracking progress, you enable data-driven decisions and improve the likelihood of lasting impact.
Stakeholder Management
Change doesn’t stick without people. A systemic approach maps how parts of the organisation influence one another, encouraging collaboration and shared ownership. Deep stakeholder engagement helps shift from passive buy-in to active participation.
What Does A Systemic Approach Look Like?
The approach I’ve developed combines a phased process with a system map.
The process is structured around five key phases: Understand, Design, Test, Execute, and Integrate. It blends systems thinking with principles of design thinking, lean startup, and agile methodologies. This ensures it's not only structured and efficient, but also flexible, user-centered, and ready for real-world complexity.
The system map is based on engineering system diagrams. It visualises an organisation and its components within a wider ecosystem. Each phase interacts with different parts of this system: shaping components, influencing relationships, and clarifying where impact is most needed.
The 5-phased process ensures a structured yet flexible path, while the diagram offers clarity, ensuring that everyone is navigating in the same direction. Together, the process and system map offer a powerful framework for leading purposeful, measurable change in complex environments.