A Nonlinear Look at Organizations

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Leading Systems Through Instructional Change

• A Nonlinear Look at Organizations

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Essential Question
Essential Question

• How do I lead change
• in a system?

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Session _at_ a Glance

• Welcome Introductions
• Jumpstart Your Thinking
• Personal Goal Setting
• Introduction to Systems Thinking
• Tools and Benefits
• Checking for Understanding
• Closure

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Standard

• Participants will
• Declarative
• Have a basic understanding of circular causation
  (Feedback Loops).
• Know the benefits of systems thinking as it
  applies to change efforts.
• Understand the impact of personal mental models.
• Procedural
• Be able to employ effective systems thinking in
  working with self and others.
• Be able to apply systems thinking principles in
  addressing school systems, both at the district
  and individual building levels.

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Assessment Task

• Form a group of 3 people.
• Discuss a class, team school or district that at
  least one person in the group has first hand,
  in-depth knowledge of.
• Use a systems perspective and outline as a first
  step intervention for moving the system
  forward.

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Personal Goal Setting

• Given the standard for this session, and the task
  you will be asked to accomplish at the conclusion
  of this session, what personal learning goal will
  you set for yourself?

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Jump Start Your Thinking!
One-Two-Three Youre Safe!

• The Basics Name, District/agency, Position
• Your thoughts about your tables quote.
• Share one thing you want to learn today.

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An Introduction to Systems Thinking
What do we know about systems?
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Systems exhibit characteristics which cannot be
found in any of its parts.Kai Larsen
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The Lorax

• What was the main idea of the story?
• How was the idea of dynamic balance (reinforcing
  loops or balancing loops) reflected in this
  story?
• From which leverage points might the Lorax have
  worked?
• Discuss a decision or policy change that resulted
  in unintended consequences.

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A Shift in Thinking

• Whole

• Parts
• Objects
• Contents

• Relationships

• Patterns

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Systems Thinking Concepts

• Interconnectedness
• Impact of delays
• Unintended consequences
• Dynamic balance
• Leverage points

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Tools and Benefits
How do we use what we know about systems?
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Multiple Layers

• Mental models
• My truth is the only truth.
• Structure
• I see the connections.
• Patterns
• I know the dance.
• Events
• I saw what you did.

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Questions to ask about multiple layers

• Events
• What happened or is happening?
• Describe the situation.
• Patterns
• Overtime what have you noticed about peoples
  behavior?
• Is this event reflective of a trend?
• Structure
• Why is this happening?
• What procedures are being followed here? How are
  they impacting the situation?
• Mental models
• What are my assumptions?
• What thinking is keeping the present structure in
  place?

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Interconnectedness

• Feedback Loops
• Balancing
• Reinforcing

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Benefits of Systems Thinking

• More effective problem solving
• More effective leadership
• More effective communications

• More effective planning
• More effective organizational development
• Avoiding personality followership

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Checking for Understanding
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Lets Practice

• Form a group of 3 people.
• Discuss a class, team school or district for
  which at least one person in the group has first
  hand, in-depth knowledge.
• Use a systems perspective and outline a first
  step intervention for moving the system
  forward.

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Closure
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Extending Your Thinking!

• Take a few minutes to reflect on your learning
  from this morning. Both what and how you learned.
  
• Look at the quote on your table and record your
  thinking.
• Discuss at your table if and how your thinking
  has changed.

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T'd UP!
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Ting it up for Trainers
T'd UP