Day 23: Leverage Points in Systems

Today you will learn what leverage points in systems are, why you should seek out leverage points when analyzing systems, and how you use leverage points to solve global challenges.

Summary

Now that we understand the problem, lets shift our focus to a portfolio of solutions. As you listen to the next portion of the course, understand that no one solution is going to completely solve the problem. Each solution in the following section of the course addresses different leverage points.

What are leverage points?

Leverage points, refer to specific areas within a system where a small intervention or change can lead to significant and lasting impact on the overall behavior and outcomes of the system. Leverage points are instrumental in changing the overall behavior and structure of systems, allowing for the pursuit of desirable goals and the mitigation of challenges. They represent opportunities to address root causes, alter feedback loops, and direct the course of change within complex systems.

Examples:

• Policy Changes: A small change in a regulatory policy could create incentives that lead to widespread behavioral changes, such as encouraging environmentally friendly practices.
• Feedback Loops: Altering the strength or direction of feedback loops within a system can lead to shifts in behavior. For instance, changing how performance feedback is given to employees might influence their productivity.
• Resource Allocation: Redirecting resources to a critical area can have cascading effects throughout a system. For instance, investing in education might lead to improved societal outcomes over time.
  

Why should we seek out leverage points?

Instead of trying to change every aspect of a system, which can be overwhelming, systems thinkers seek out leverage points to strategically allocate resources for maximum impact.

• Efficiency: Focusing on leverage points allows you to achieve significant results with relatively small interventions, saving resources and effort.
• Sustainability: Changes made at leverage points can lead to self-sustaining shifts in the system, promoting long-term improvements.
• Systemic Change: Leverage points facilitate systemic change by addressing the root causes or key drivers of issues, rather than merely addressing symptoms.
  

How to use leverage points to solve challenges

First, identify the leverage point:

• Systems Analysis: Conduct a thorough analysis of the system's structure, feedback loops, and interactions to identify points where changes could have far-reaching effects.
• Testing and Modeling: Use simulations or models to explore the potential impact of interventions before implementing them.
• Stakeholder Input: Engage with stakeholders to gain insights into where they perceive the most critical areas for change.
• Historical Analysis: Study the history of the system to identify past interventions that had unexpectedly large impacts.

Next, create a hypothesis for solutions at that leverage point>

Then, evaluate the possible solutions - we'll cover this more later in the course.

Additional Resources

• Thinking in Systems by Donella H Meadows
• Systems Thinking Resources by Donella H Meadows
• Systems Thinking Video Series by Ashley Hodgson

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Activity

For now, identify the leverage points and research what has been done to solve the problem thus far.

There’s no need to reinvent the wheel if good solutions exist and simply need other solutions for effective implementation. It’s also worth avoiding solutions that have already been found to be less effective than expected or have unintended negative consequences.

Our next section of the course will present some of those solutions. Listen carefully.

• Who/What benefits from this solution?
• Who/What is harmed from this solution?
• How effective are these solutions?
• What are their consequences?
• How feasible are they to implement?
• What will be required to implement them?
• Most importantly, am I interested in it and would I be excited to contribute my skills to this solution?
• Or what solutions are missing? Can I create a new one?

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Skill Lesson Mastered

Demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and skills presented in this lesson by applying it to the above activity. If, and only if, you have a full understanding and have mastered the knowledge and skills presented in this lesson, select the next lesson in the navigation.