1. Explain the eight tenets of systems thinking (holism, differentiation, interdependence, multifinality, equifinality, regulation, abstraction, and leverage points) in your own words. You may combine holism, differentiation, interdependence with a reasonable rationale. Provide one compelling example of how your venture (or another venture) in the class exhibits each of these tenets.

• Interdependence: The relationship, dependence, and connectedness of different systems on each other

Examples: 

• Ukweli relies on Hassan to accomplish his mission of distributing test strips and collecting data to ultimately reduce maternal mortality in Sierra Leone, and Hassan relies on Ukweli to get paid.
• The Malnutrition team relied on Bettah bakery for baking space, while Bettah bakery relied on us for business knowledge and help to grow.

 

• Holism: Individual parts are dependent on each other and produce more value together than they would on their own

Examples:

• The Malnutrition team has many bioengineers that have taken similar classes, but when put together, they know more than what they know themselves
• The Sickle Cell (SC) Screening team needs to pair their final test strip with a treatment program. Without the treatment program, the knowledge from the test strip (positive for SC or negative for SC) is useless because medication/treatment is necessary. 

 

• Multifinality: Achieving different outcomes from the same original process, “win-win for everyone” 

Examples: 

• The network we have formed in GSIF has our own goals for our own projects, but overall, GSIF wants to find sustainable solutions to health and development problems in Sierra Leone
• Mushrooms team creates income for Jwara and rice farmers and addresses issues of nutrition in poor communities.
• Khanjan satisfies his own ego and keeps his job when we succeed

• Equifinality: There are many approaches that can be taken to reach the same goal

Examples: 

• • There are several different recipes that the Malnutrition team can use to lower child malnutrition rates in Sierra Leone
  • There are many different aspects (travel to clinics, light in birthing rooms, ANC days)  of maternal healthcare that can be focused on by the Safe Motherhood Documentary in order to reduce material death/improve maternal healthcare. 

• Differentiation: Within a given system, specific and unique parts are performing specific functions distinct from one another.

Examples: 

• In the Ukweli operation, Wancheng is responsible for shipping the test trips to Freetown, Allieu is responsible for getting them to Makeni and Hassan is in charge of getting the strips to the clinics and CHWs. Each needs the other in the larger operation to function, but each is also its own subsystem.
• For all teams we must be able to balance and divide our personal and professional relationships. We have to be able to disagree, agree, and build off of each others ideas in order to make progress as a group. 

 

• Regulation: Making sure that intentions and actions match up with each other.
  Examples:
  • The Malnutrition team will be having clinical trials to make sure that we are actually reducing child malnutrition the way we say we are
  • The Sickle Cell group will be running many confirmatory tests, including a clinical trial (with a verification test, the gold standard), in order to insure the test strip is able to diagnose Sickle Cell Disease with a certain level of accuracy.

• Abstraction: viewing a system from a birds eye view approach, thinking through complex scenarios with a level of higher context and in broader terms
  • Thinking of the Ukweli operation through a context of the larger Ministry of Health perspective and what they need and deal with at a nationwide perspective
  • Expanding projects to multiple countries eg. whatever Khanjan is doing in Liberia and Madagascar

• Leverage Points: A small area within a given system where a small change can be made in order to produce big change.
  • CHWs are an easily accessible and effective part of the healthcare system
  • By charging a fee (~$5) to mothers giving birth at home, mothers will go to the clinic saving many lives.
  • A small change in the Malnutrition team’s product can make a huge change in the effectivity of our product.

2. Explain the concept of emergence in simple words. Provide one compelling example of an emergent system that creates (or has created) sustainable and scalable social value.

Emergent systems have no distinct point of origin. I see evolution as an emergent system.

3. Design a multifinal solution to the water hyacinth problem discussed in class today. Explain the solution and describe how it exhibits the systems tenets of multifinality, holism, and regulation.

My solution for the water hyacinth problem is to exit the community. Our group developed a different one: Maybe the fisherman could market to their customers a “dinner kit” or 2 in 1 package deal: fish + briquettes to cook the fish. The venture could sell their briquettes to farmers that are looking to partner with them. The partnership could mean that fishermen get briquettes at a reduced cost (if they buy X amount, they get it at this X reduced rate). People need to cook fish in order to eat it and so they are buying briquettes anyways. Having the farmer sell the fish and the briquettes together makes it more convenient for the customer. The “dinner kit” is likely cheaper than buying the two items separately (because of the partnership), and so the lowered cost entices the customer to buy from that fisherman who offers the kit. Fishermen who don’t choose to be a part of the partnership will likely get fomo and then want to be involved (especially if they aren’t getting as many customers). The partnership can have monthly or weekly touchpoints between the fishermen and the briquette venture to make sure selling strategies are going well/are effective. The touchpoints can also make sure the briquette venture is clearing parts of the river that are helpful to the fishermen, improving their fish yield.

Multifinality is exhibited because it’s the same partnership, but what the fishermen and the venture briquette owners get out of it is different. Both have the goal of increasing revenue, but achieve it in different ways. Holism is exhibited because the “dinner kit” can’t exist without both parties. Customers can’t have the convenience and reduced cost of the kit without the two partnering and interacting with each other. Regulation is exhibited because of the weekly touchpoints the partnership has.