Facilitating Complex Systems with Dan Newman
Dan Newman has been designing and facilitating solutions for over 25 years.
Based in Italy, Dan works with companies and teams to design and manage collaborative work. This usually involves the facilitation of large-group work sessions on complex systemic issues.
Before founding Matter Group in 2004, Dan was a strategy partner at Ernst & Young, and he brings his vast expertise in driving strategy to his engagements. His practice is a treasure trove of insights on facilitation, systems, and organizational life.
In this Learn & Connect Series from IAF.org, Dan explores strategies for understanding and influencing systems to drive change in this presentation. He defines a “system” as a group of interacting or interrelated elements that act according to a set of rules unified whole influenced by its environment, with boundaries, structure, and purpose.
Complex systems are highlighted for their unpredictable cause-and-effect relationships, which can only be understood retrospectively.
Dan emphasizes using diagnostic and prescriptive vantage points to assess alignment and probe for change, advocating for identifying leverage points within systems while maintaining an external perspective to avoid becoming a participant. ANd he referenced several visual models useful in this work from Cynefin and MG Taylor.
He stresses the importance of influencing systems through signals and feedback rather than attempting direct control and encourages us to explore further resources, including a book and website, for deeper insights.
COMPANY: https://www.mattergroup.com/
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-newman-271474/
BOOK: From the Front of the Room: Notes on Facilitation for Experienced Practitioners Revised Edition, 2023 https://fromthefrontoftheroom.com
