Leverage Hypothesis

This step is about exploring promising ways to potentially shift or nudge the system towards a healthier state.

As the collective begins this step, it is likely that different interests and hypotheses will emerge (if they haven’t already). This usually requires allowing small groups to emerge and work together.

The following 4 steps are therefore recommended to be done in small groups, with each small group reporting back to the whole/plenary once they have completed their leverage hypothesis. It culminates in an easy to share (and test) leverage hypothesis.

The facilitators task is to help support this concentrated work whilst also ‘holding the whole’ and helping the collective see how they are still working to a shared purpose.

If there are common challenges or leverage points identified, the group should discuss how to align and maximise impact across the whole.

This guide draws upon a blend of frameworks [1, 2, 3] and acknowledges the seminal work of Donella Meadows in conceptualising leverage points [4].

Accessibility:

This activity requires ample space to move around a room

This activity requires participants to engage is sensemaking and pattern recognition

This activity requires participants to engage is social learning

This activity requires participants to write or draw on their own

Output: The output from the process is a lot of post-it notes, drawings and ideas – culminating in a clearly stated leverage hypothesis that can be produced on butcher's paper or on a digital template.

Process: a medium sized activity, there are a series of steps, usually involving several participants, and is used to achieve a specific output often in 1 session.

Investment: low investment, medium skill, medium time

Outcomes

Identify the elements of the systems that can be altered, in order to move closer to the desired outcomes for the system
Scaled down the complex problem to identify an opportunity to intervene
Clarifying agency and authority to act for systemic change
Navigate to where there is energy and momentum in the system for change

When and Why Do I Use This

Find Leverage: This step should be undertaken once the collective has identified a shared ‘desired’ systems goal or purpose and has begun to surface undesirable and desirable system outcomes.

It enables participants to explore promising ways to potentially shift or nudge the system towards a healthier state in a structured way that culminates in easy to summarise (and test) leverage hypotheses.

References

[1] The Omidyar Group 2017, Systems Practice Workbook. https://docs.kumu.io/content/Workbook-012617.pdf

[2] Kania, J., Kramer, M. & Senge, P. 2018, The water of systems change, FSG, Boston.

[3] d.school. An Introduction to Design Thinking: Process Guide. Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University (d.school). https://dschool.stanford.edu/resources-collections/browse-all-resources

[4] Donella Meadows, 2008, Thinking in Systems: A primer, Chelsea Green Publishing Co

Leverage Hypothesis