Description of Challenge
How to change the structure of a system to produce more of what we want and less of what we
don't? Oftentimes people involved in systems know intuitively where to find leverage points but
end up pushing in the wrong direction. The most pressing example is the obsession with
economic growth as a solution to global inequality and unsustainability.
“The idea of leverage points is not unique to systems analysis..the silver bullet; the miracle
cure...we want to know where they are and how to get our hands on them. Leverage points are
points of power”. Donella H Meadows, Author.
"Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world."
Archimedes
Solution
Donella Meadows proposed a list of suggestions to consider as likely areas for systems change.
Her list is not, by her own admission, a definitive one and should be viewed as a guide. By
considering the possible leverage points we can more easily consider carefully where we might
intervene. Caution must be exercised as complex systems are often counterintuitive in their
reactions.
References
Donella Meadows Institute, Leverage Pointsplaces to intervene in a system
http://www.donellameadows.org/archives/leveragepointsplacestointerveneinasystem/
Dettmer, William H Systems and Constraints:The concept of leverage, Retrieved March 2015
https://goalsys.com/systemsthinking/documents/Part6SystemsandConstraints.pdf
Video on systems and leverage points (12 min)
Submitted by Iain
Developed in collaboration with
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