Visualizing Systemic Change

Systemic change is an interesting metaphor. It shows how a small change can trigger a series of other small ones that eventually ends with a big bang. It is not only difficult, it is a really complex process. Where do you begin? In the end going to start. Or the other way around? How will you get into the big change? Use small and incremental (almost unrecognizable) changes first and then lead to the big ones. How do you select those small changes? Which is the smallest change that can trigger the big one? What would connect one small change to the rest? What connectors will you use? What are the triggers and receptors for those connectors? Then, there is the timing. How long a time in-between the incremental changes would you need to trigger the next wave of incremental changes? Will they all connect as if they were orchestrated? Very complex indeed! Yet, many change agents, development facilitators and leaders casually suggest actions that lead to systemic changes! Do they really understand what they say as an electrical engineer would?