Thinking Like a System with Howard Parry-Husbands (2021)

In this episode of Govcomms ‘From the Vault’, we revisit our insightful conversation with Howard Parry-Husbands, CEO and Founder of Pollinate, one of Australia’s consulting and market research leaders in the world of branding, innovation and communications. The conversation explores how systems thinking can be used to solve complex problems.

Howard emphasises that everything is interconnected, suggesting that solving one problem might unintentionally cause another. Using the Murray Darling Basin as a case study, he explains how humans often struggle with understanding complexity and instead rely on cause and effect. To bridge this gap, Howard champions the use of metaphors, visuals, and storytelling to communicate complex messages to the public.

Discussed in this episode:

• Definition of systems thinking, and how it can be used by communications professionals.
• The benefits of understanding systems thinking from a policy perspective.
• Comparing the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, New Zealand, and the US.
• The drawbacks of a single-message strategy in government communications.

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