Skip to main content
Log in

Systems change reborn: rethinking our theories, methods, and efforts in human services reform and community-based change

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
American Journal of Community Psychology

Abstract

This article introduces the reader to this special issue on Systems Change and highlights six lessons learned about theory, methods, and interventions for systems change that emerged across the included articles. The value of a systems approach to systems change is examined, including the need for frameworks, methods, and change activities that attend to the characteristics of systems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.

Notes

  1. While there is not space in this article to provide a comprehensive review of the systems literature, we refer interested readers to Bob Williams’ website (http://users.actix.co.nz/bobwill) for an excellent summary of key systems theories.

References

  • Ackoff, R. L., & Rovin, S. (2003). Redesigning society. Stanford, CA: Stanford Business Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Behrens, T., & Foster-Fishman, P. G. (2007). Developing operating principles for systems change. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Campbell, C., Nair, Y., & Maimane, S. (2007). Building contexts that support effective community responses to HIV/AIDS: A South African case study. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Checkland, P. (1981). Systems thinking: Systems practice. Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christens, B. D., Hanlin, C. E., & Speer, P. W. (2007). Getting the social organism thinking: Strategy for systems change. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Durlak, J. A., Taylor, J. D., Kawashima, K., Pachan, M. K., DuPre, E. P., Celio, C. I., Berger, S. R., Dymnicki, A. B., & Weissberg, R. P. (2007). Effects of positive youth development programs on school, family, and community systems. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Emshoff, J. G., Darnell, A. J., Darnell, D. A., Erickson, S. W., Schneider, S., & Hudgins, R. (2007). Systems change as an outcome and a process in the work of community collaboratives for health. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Fear, F., Bawden, R., Rosaen, C., & Foster-Fishman, P. G. (2006). Coming to Critical Engagement. University Press of America.

  • Ford, J. K. (2007). Building capability throughout a change effort: Leading the transformation of a police agency to community policing. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Foster-Fishman, P. G., Nowell, B., & Yang, E. (2007). Putting the system back into systems change: A framework for understanding and changing organizational and community systems. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Griffith, D. M., Mason, M., Yonas, M., Eng, E., Jeffries, V., Plihcik, S., & Parks, B. (2007). Dismantling institutional racism: theory and action. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Hirsch, G. G., Levine, R., & Miller, R. L. (2007). Using system dynamics modeling to understand the impact of social change initiatives. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Janzen, R., Nelson, G., Hausfather, N., & Ochocka, J. (2007). Capturing system level activities and impacts of mental health consumer-run organizations. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Kelly, J. G. (2007). The system concept and systemic change: Implications for community psychology. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Kim, D. H. (1999). Introduction to systems thinking (IMS––Innovations in Management Series). Vermont: Pegasus Communications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreger, M., Brindis, C. D., Manuel, D. M., & Sassoubre, L. (2007). Lessons learned in systems change initiatives: Benchmarks and indicators. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Lewin, K. (1951). Field theory in social science. New York: Harper Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luke, D. A. (2006). Getting the big picture in community science: Methods that capture context. American Journal of Community Psychology, 35(3/4), 185–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor, P. A. (2007). Using system differences to orchestrate change: A systems-guides intervention model. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Midgley, G. (2000). Systemic intervention: Philosophy, methodology, and practice. New York: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, B. A. (2007). The state of methods and tools for social systems change (2007). American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Seidman, E. (1988). Back to the future, community psychology: Unfolding a theory of social intervention. American Journal of Community Psychology. 16(1), 3–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Senge, P. M., (1990). The Fifth Discipline. New York: Doubleday

  • Staggs, S. L., White, M. L., Schewe, P. A., Davis, E. B., & Dill, E. M. (2007). Changing systems by changing individuals: The incubation approach to systems change. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Redmond, L., Kouba, J., Hellwig, M., Davis, R., Martinez, L. I., & Jones, L. (2007). Introducing systems change in the schools: The Case of school luncheons and vending machines. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Tseng, V., & Seidman, E. (2007). A systems framework for understanding social settings. American Journal of Community Psychology.

  • Tseng, V., Chesir-Teran, D., Becker-Kelin, R., Chan, M. L., Duran, V., Roberts, A., & Bardoliwalla, N. (2002). Promotion of social change: A conceptual framework. American Journal of Community Psychology, 30(3), 401–421.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pennie G. Foster-Fishman.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Foster-Fishman, P.G., Behrens, T.R. Systems change reborn: rethinking our theories, methods, and efforts in human services reform and community-based change. Am J Community Psychol 39, 191–196 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-007-9104-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-007-9104-5

Keywords

Navigation