Complex social problems need systemic interventions.
Social change is complex: different levels of dynamic interactions, interconnected agents, numerous interactions, and feedback loops. Individuals and organizations often experience the effects of this complexity but struggle to tackle them appropriately
Systemic Ways helps organizations at that point—where good intentions meet complex realities and a deeper understanding of the systemic dynamics is needed for effective action.
Complexity
Organizational Learning
Systems Change
Cross-Stakeholder Coordination
Adaptive Leadership
How We Build Systemic Capacity
Systems Thinking for Systemic Interventions
Helping individuals and organizations understand complex systems and identify patterns, relationships and leverage points.
Organization Strategy for Navigating Complexity
Supporting organizations to think strategically about complex challenges and interventions.
Immersive Learning Experiences
Experience-based learning that connects theory, practice and real-world social challenges — from single sessions to longer fellowships.
Systems Thinking for Political Analysis and Policy Design
Applying systems thinking to political analysis and the design of policies that hold up under real-world complexity.
Facilitating Collaborative Action on Complex Social Problems
Building practical systems-thinking capabilities through facilitated learning and collaborative processes.
Youth Programming for Social Change
Designing and supporting programs that equip young people to understand and address complex social challenges.
Research Support for Systemic Inquiry
Guiding researchers on how to apply systems thinking to advance research on complex social issues.
Capacity Building for Complex Humanitarian Work
Building practical systems capacity for humanitarian and mission-based organizations working amid complex crises.
Dynamic Methodology
A flexible framework, not a fixed formula
Understand the System
Explore the system, its components, interactions, and uncover underlying dynamics.
Bring Together Stakeholders
Identify and bring together relevant people who have diverse perspectives into the process.
Design Systemic Interventions
Apply appropriate interdisciplinary systems thinking methodologies to design interventions.
Facilitate Collective Sense-Making
Guide dialogue to generate systemic insights and consensus.
Sustain the Interventions
Monitor the reactions to the interventions and adapt the interventions.
Systems thinking in practice
This approach isn't theoretical. It has been used in real programs with real people and organizations to build practical capacity.
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SAYDS Fellowship
A systems-thinking fellowship program that has developed practical toolkits and mentored emerging practitioners.
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Systems-thinking education
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Fellowship development & mentoring
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Fellow project guidance
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Complexity Analysis Toolkit
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Systemic Intervention Toolkit
Virtual Education
Cross-institutional partnerships connecting virtual education and curriculum design across borders.
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Partnerships
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Cross-institutional collaboration
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Virtual education & comparative learning
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Curriculum & training design
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International partnerships
Youth & Social Change
Direct, community-based work building practical capacity in emerging social-change practitioners.
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Programming
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Direct work with emerging practitioners
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Community-based project support
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Practical capacity building
Shaping change in complex settings
We work with people and institutions navigating challenges that need more than a linear plan.
Social-change practitioners
Universities & educators
Public-sector organizations
Community initiatives
Organizations & individuals doing policy work
Youth organizations
NGOs & development organizations
Meet Dr. Odera
Founder of Systemic Ways, Dr. Levy Odera brings more than a decade of experience teaching systems thinking, political analysis, and public policy, and applying that work to social change across complex, real-world contexts.
Building a community
Systemic Ways connects to a wider ecosystem—SCA and SAYDS—where this methodology has helped build the capacity of fellows and practitioners beyond individual consulting engagements.
Immersive Learning Experiences
Systemic Ways is developing a range of hands-on learning formats that connect systems thinking to real-world practice.
Formats can range from a one-day workshop to a year-long learning journey, tailored to the needs of a group, organization, or research community.
Have a complex social challenge you’re trying to tackle?
Let's explore what systems thinking could make possible.