Tenet 1: Interdependence:

Definition: All systems depend on other systems or subsystems to successfully meet their responsibilities

Example: solving the issue of high maternal mortality rates in Sierra Leone as the Safe motherhood team cannot lower rates just by themselves, they rely on the MOH, other healthcare innovations, education, etc.

Tenet 2: Holism:

Definition: A system exists as a sum of its parts. None of the parts could ever accomplish the goal that the system can accomplish as a whole. 

Example: PlasTech: we need manufacturers, designers, and legal workers who all can come together to create the opportunity to make a profit off of recycling plastics. None of them could ever do it on their own. Our “HQ” centralizes the opportunity. 

Tenet 3: Multifinality:

Definition: Each subsystem meets its own goal, while the system as a whole also meets its goal

Example: PlasTech: Cleaning up plastic from local neighborhoods and/or preventing plastic from getting into the ocean and/or collecting plastic from companies that would have been thrown into a landfill.

Tenet 4: Equifinality:

Definition: This is essentially the opposite of multifinality. Similar solutions can be created from different systemic inputs/processes as well as understanding that a goal can be achieved in multiple ways or paths.

Example: Philippines plastics environment: collecting waste plastic and turning it into art versus recycling it into usable products. Both solutions lock up the plastic waste and prevent it from going into the ocean

Tenet 5: Differentiation:

Definition: Each independent part is different (in complexity, specialization, focus), but they are all working to reach the overall system goal – they are reliant on each other in order to form the system.

Example:

• • Subsystems of the PlasTech system:
    • Sourcing plastic
      • Relationship management systems
    • Identifying customers
      • Relationship management systems
    • Converting plastic waste into value-added products
      • Manufacturing facility design
      • Mold design
      • Setting up recycling facilities
        • Legal auditing
        • Personnel training
        • Machine manufacturing

Tenet 6: Regulation:

Definition: Checks and balances that alert failure and success points necessary to understand how to optimize the system, a feedback mechanism for accountability

Example: Ukweli: the forms that Hassan uses to track test strip user data. It ensures he is doing his job properly and is closer to achieving the end goal of reducing maternal mortality.

Tenet 7: Abstraction:

Definition: Systems-level thinking that moves away from little details and towards the bigger picture and how your system is working to affect it

Example: Malnutrition team supplements: There are tons of different types of iron supplements but some have more side effects (like upset stomach) and some are more expensive. While we first thought, let’s just get the cheapest option to reduce cost, we stepped back and thought that because we are trying to make kids healthier, we need to sacrifice cost for fewer side effects.

Tenet 8: Leverage Points

Definition: An aspect in a system that when deciding upon or working with, can ultimately create/lead to a large change

Example: Charging a fee for mothers who give birth at home ($5 fine) which encourages the mothers to go to clinics to give birth

Emergence: This occurs when a whole takes on properties that its individual parts don’t exhibit on their own. The platform Kiva is a great example of this, as the internet, small scale philanthropists, and communities or individuals in need of low-interest loans are all able to come together on the platform and create a network that is far greater than any of its individual parts at solving funding challenges.

Hyacinth:

 

Our solution to the water hyacinth problem is to have the fisherman market to their customers a 2 for 1 package deal consisting of both fish and briquettes to cook the fish. The venture would be able to sell their briquettes to farmers who are looking to partner with them. The partnership would mean fishermen get briquettes at a reduced cost. This deal makes sense as people will need to cook the fish in order to consume it and as such are buying briquettes anyways. Having the vendors sell the fish and the briquettes together makes it more convenient for all parts along the supply chain. The package deal is cheaper than buying the two items separately (because of the partnership), and so the lower price convinces the customer to buy from that fisherman who offers the deal. Fishermen who don’t choose to be a part of the partnership will suffer from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and then want to be involved as they will likely begin to lose customers. The partnership could have monthly or weekly meetings between the fishermen and the briquette venture to make sure selling strategies are effective. The meetings would also make sure the venture is clearing parts of the river that are conducive to fishing, improving the fisherman’s yield.

 

Multifinality is present as the venture and fishermen are engaging in a partnership, but the output from the partnership is different for both entities. Although both desire to increase their profits, they are achieving this via different means. Along the same lines, holism is exhibited as the package deal can’t exist without both entities. The lower price and increased convenience for the customers are a result of the partnership. Finally, regulation is demonstrated by having weekly meetings between the fishermen and venture.