Share one key Systems Thinking insight. by CommonPurpose

Nudge Theory

2025-12-17 13:32:31 UTC

My civic issue was the rising prevalence of obesity in the North East. It was interesting to reflect on what is already in place to prevent this rise, with nudge theory starting to play a part with the sugar-sweetened beverage tax which is now also including milkshakes. I think this and changing food environments could make huge impacts in this area.

2025-12-23 15:29:13 UTC

Tuang Liang Lim's comment: "An important mindset that we need to adopt - as leaders at all levels of the system - is to think big, start small, and act fast" is crucial if the University is to make progress as an urban changemaker.

2026-01-05 16:27:14 UTC

While the concept was not new to me, I found the specfic vocabulary useful as an overall heuristic or conceptual reminder to interupt tendencies of non-systematic and non-relational thinking. Eg: accounting for feedback, delay, voices, and differentiating between events, trends, structures, and mental concepts. In general, I think it is important that systems thinking be used critically: its utility is in undermining the tendency towards overconfidence in conventional wisdom or linear explanations. It is important that systems thinkers maintain what Sophie Cloutterbuck in her video described as patience and comfort with ambiguity -- rather than replace simplistic linear causal models with another totalizing model of certainty. A systems map should be taken up as a provisional guide for reflexive intervention, rather than simply a more complicated positive description of a situation or environment. -WT

2026-01-07 12:52:17 UTC

It was useful to have all the concepts laid out in this way. Not much of it was 'new' information as such, but seeing it presented and linked in this way was.

I particularly liked the nudge theory concepts and examples. I was familiar with a few of these but hadn’t really stopped to consider what relatively minor actions were taken vs. the huge impact they had – I find the use of behavioural psychology fascinating anyway.

While thinking big but starting small is a worthy goal I struggled to apply this to my own example, mostly through lack of information and falling victim to being overwhelmed by the scale of the system. My topic was the rise of homelessness in Newcastle but found it difficult to detach this from the wider issue of poverty and interlinked issues with food bank use, substance abuse, women’s aid and mental health. This was provided as one of the examples in the learning, which I understood, but I didn’t get any closer to knowing where on earth to start.

2026-01-07 17:16:19 UTC

I love 'think big, start small, act fast.' But I think we need also to make time for coordination and overcoming resistance.

Addressing the causes of poverty

2026-01-08 00:36:25 UTC

I am pretty familiar with systems thinking and have carried out a lot of work in this area. However this unit was a useful reading of an interesting version of systems thinking. I am writing a bid with community organisations about how together they will address the causes of poverty in local areas. I found this unit interesting for giving me a few additonal things to think about when I am engaging in systems analysis.

Educational Improvement

2026-01-14 08:28:13 UTC

It has been helpful to examine structural models which further illuminate the complexity of the areas in which I am working. I have also identified very helpfully some of the ways of intervening which I can usefully seek to prioritise.

Voices in the system

2026-01-21 15:51:50 UTC

I enjoyed this Systems Thinking module more than I thought I would. I was familiar with some of the ideas around "theories of change" but there were some useful and practical aspects of this module I'll take away with me. I particularly enjoyed the “voices in the room” section – and share the experience of at times needing to recognise expertise across all parties involved. The power dynamic can shift in collaborative working and partnerships – and knowing when -and when not to – involve people can be very important. I would stress a cautionary note on this however, and fear that at times academics wrongly think they need to “dumb down” aspects of work for community partners. This is neither welcome nor wise.