From Ecological Approaches to Systems Change & Systems-Focused Actions
This page introduces the topics covered in this sub-section of wiki-summaries on Ecological Approaches, Systems Thinking, Systems Science, Organizational Development and Management Strategies for large complex organizations.

The topics described here begin with several key concepts describing why and how a move from "ecological approaches" and "systems thinking" which are now being used in many sectors (to help us understand problems, conditions and behaviours) towards more and better use of knowledge derived  from "Systems Science" and "Organizational Development" is necessary and overdue. This move enables systems and organizations to address endemic "wicked problems" which often cause decision-makers to adopt narrow or limited solutions to specific issues or to define vague, aspirational goals without measurable objectives or targets.

This section also describes several management or systems change models that have been used in several sectors to focus, guide and drive large, complex organizations such a education systems as well as their coordination with other large public, private and voluntary systems. 

The characteristics of these "open, adaptive, complex, loosely-coupled professional bureaucracies"  are listed and discussed in depth and detail in the topic list shown on the right hand navigation bar. Click on any of the items listed to access the various summaries. The wiki-summaries include Glossary Terms (1-3 paragraphs), Encyclopedia Entries (Two pages), Handbook Sections (Book Chapters) and Bibliographies/Toolboxes (Extensive lists updated periodically) as well as Additional Resources.   

     










For updates and reader comments on this section, go to our Mini-Blog on Ecological Approaches & System Change

The number of summaries completed or drafted in this section are listed below.

Understand the Paradigm
  • Overview
  • Key Definitions
  • Key Concepts/Insights
          - Ecological Approaches
             - Systems Thinking
             - Systems Science
             - Wicked Problems vs Specific Issues
                or Vague Goals
             - Management/Change Models
             * Total Quality Management
                 * Coherence Building
                 * Continuous Improvement
                 - School-Based Management
Education systems are “open, adaptive, complex, loosely-coupled, professional bureaucracies that must work across, with and within other large complex systems”
  • Open, Adaptive, Complex Systems
           · Stasis
           - Resilient systems
           - Feedback loops
           · Boundaries
           · Contexts
            · System-environment interactions
            - Size, complexity, fit of the change
            · Innovations vs Reforms
             - absorptive capacity
  • Loosely Coupled Systems
            - Policy Levers
            · Ecology/micro-politics of schools
          ·   Role of senior leaders/managers
             · Role of middle managers
             · Role of Front-line Managers
             · Role of front-line staff
             · Change Agents/Coordinators
             - Employee Agency/Efficacy
  • Professional Bureaucracies
            · Multi-level systems
            · Structures
            · Internal communications
            · Social networks within organizations
            · Non-rational decision-making
            · Routinization and key routines
          ·   Knowledge as power & influence
            · Organizational culture
            · Readiness for innovation
            · Adopter Concerns
            · Professional norms
            · Professional identities
            · Sociology & work lives of employees
  • Working Across Multiple Systems
             · Degrees of cooperation
             · Cooperation Across & Within
  ·           Nature of Partnerships
            · Whole of Government Approaches