The world is experiencing a period in which reactionary forces are pushing back against progress more forcefully than at any time since the Second World War. At the same time, many people worldwide continue to share principles essential to humanity’s future and the protection of the planet, including democratic governance, respect for human rights, environmental protection, and economic and social conditions that allow people to flourish. Advancing these goals requires conviction and sustained effort.
The Stanford Social Innovation Review Winter 2014 edition feature article “The Dawn of System Leadership” by Peter Senge, Hal Hamilton and John Kania describes the deep changes necessary to accelerate progress against society’s most intractable problems require a unique type of leader—the system leader, a person who catalyzes collective leadership.
This article, authored by Valeria Merino, asserts that the environmental challenges facing the planet need a systems-change approach, but also critically, these challenges need much more steady, flexible funding. Funders would see their impact grow, and more ecosystems would be saved by choosing organizations that have on the ground capacity, local knowledge, and access to the right constituencies. This article was first published by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, AP Perspectives – April 2019.
The systems-related term that seems most on the upswing at the moment is “systems entrepreneur”—usually an organization that can herd many different types of groups around a common, ambitious cause. From the Stanford Social Innovation Review Jun. 22, 2017 article “What Exactly Do We Mean by Systems” by Dan Vexler.
Developing a systems mindset, identifying the right tool for the job, and paying attention to human dynamics can help leaders move from theory to action when facing complex social problems. From the Stanford Social Innovation Review Apr. 29, 2016 article Three Keys to Unlocking Systems-Level Change by Susan Misra & Jamaica Maxwell
Why social entrepreneurship and innovation education needs to incorporate systems change concepts, and where educators and institutions can begin. From the Stanford Social Innovation Review May 6, 2019 article Systems Change in Social Innovation Education by Daniela Papi-Thornton & Joshua Cubista
Addressing today’s most pressing challenges requires developing the capacity to lead collaboratively and to work across sectors effectively. From the Stanford Social Innovation Review Winter 2018 article The Need for Cross-Sector Collaboration by Jeanine Becker & David B. Smith
Creating a healthy, humane world will require more than new organizational designs. It will take rethinking the nature of organizations entirely. From the Stanford Social Innovation Review July 28, 2015 article Building Movements, Not Organizations by Hildy Gottlieb.
How to make collaboration work in a world of complex systems and exponential change. From the Stanford Social Innovation Review April 25, 2017 article Building Movements, Not Organizations by Gemma Mortensen.