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Systems Approaches: Ecological Analysis & Systems-Focused Actions (Overview)
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Systems Approaches: The ecological analysis of the many issues in education, health and development has been developing over several decades. Terms such as "Ecological Approaches" and "Systems Thinking" have emerged. Systems-focused action is different than analysis and shifts attention to the ministry routines, budget processes, structures, managerial decisions/boundaries and other systemic features or characteristics that facilitate, impede, authorize, fund and evaluate multi-component approaches, programs and interventions. This encyclopedia uses the term "systems approach" to describe these systems focused actions. Knowledge derived from systems science and organizational development are now being used to understand why so many comprehensive approaches, programs and interventions are not sustainable within existing ministry and agency systems.
Ecological Approaches (Analysis) recognizes that multiple conditions, influences, behaviours and other factors within the child, family, community, neighbourhood, school, community and country interact to affect the child’s development. Systems thinking is another term often used to describe such holistic analyses. However, we cannot stop at the analysis stage, we must convert the analysis and thinking into action. Multi-component approaches and multi-intervention programs have been developed to affect multiple, selected factors in a coordinated manner. Most MCAs and MIPs use the local school as the focus of the actions. However, these actions on the frontlines of schools, neighbourhoods and clinics often are confronted by systemic barriers beyond their local control. Consequently, broader paradigms are developing that draw from the established knowledge from other sectors in systems science and organizational development. Systems-focused Actions through a systems paradigm shift broadens our attention from promoting/enforcing specific policies and delivering specific programs at the front-line school/ neighbourhood level to the agencies and ministries that must provide coherent, coordinated and substantive support to schools and front-line professionals so that they have the organizational capacity needed to deliver multi-intervention programs and multi-component approaches. Systems-focused actions are more than an “ecological approach or analysis” that recognizes the influence of multiple factors and conditions at multiple levels and is also more than “systems thinking” that helps us to understand the barriers and bottlenecks that limit sustainable or significant change. These actions seek to change organizational routines, structures, budgets, procedures, professional assignments and attitudes, middle manager boundary protection practices and more. See our section on Ecological Analysis, Comprehensive Approaches & Systems Change for more on this topic. This summary was first posted in January 2021 as a"first draft" version..We encourage readers to submit comments or suggested edits by posting a comment on the Mini-blog & Discussion Page for this section or posting a comment below:. Text
This summary was first posted in June 2012. Currently it has been posted as an "excerpt/adaptation", "first draft" or "revised draft" and "first or revised edition" version..We encourage readers to submit comments or suggested edits by posting a comment on the Mini-blog & Discussion Page for this section or posting a comment below: Due to the length of Handbook Sections (similar to a book chapter) prepared for this web site and knowledge exchange program, we post these documents as separate documents. Click on this web link to access the draft or completed version on this topic. Come back to this page to post any comments or suggestions.
This summary was first posted in June 2012. Currently it has been posted as an "excerpt/adaptation", "first draft" or "revised draft" and "first or revised edition" version..We encourage readers to submit comments or suggested edits by posting a comment on the Mini-blog & Discussion Page for this section or posting a comment below: Bibliography/Toolbox on
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Mini-Blog on Common Topics &Terms Here is our list of topics for this section: - Introduction & Overview - Education Equity, Inclusion & Success- Multi-component Approaches (MCAs) - Core Components
- Staff Wellness - Student Conduct & Discipline - Engaging/Empowering Youth - Parent Participation - Community Involvement
- Learning/Behaviour Models (LBMs) - Behaviour & Learning Theories - Government/Inter-sector Actions & Levers
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