How to Change the World: The History & Future of Innovation Systems Thinking: How to Dance with Chaos and Innovate in a Changing World
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Sep 10, 2025 Dive into the world of systems thinking, where problems aren't random but woven into the fabric of our lives. Discover how feedback loops and leverage points can create significant change from small actions. Explore the importance of reframing crises into opportunities and the perils of measuring the wrong goals. Learn why adaptability and resilience are vital in the face of complex global challenges. Sam invites you to rethink the systems that govern us and embrace hope in designing a better future.
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Systems Create Unplanned Outcomes
- Systems are interconnected components that produce behavior over time and create outcomes no one planned.
- Seeing problems as system outputs reveals root causes beyond isolated events.
Core Components Drive System Behavior
- Systems have stocks, flows, feedback loops, delays and boundaries that shape behavior over time.
- Recognizing these parts helps explain slow changes, runaway growth, and surprises in complex problems.
Prioritize Leverage Over Force
- Search for leverage points where small interventions trigger large system-wide change.
- Use targeted, well-placed nudges instead of pouring resources everywhere.
