Cohort #1: January 11 and January 12, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm PT - Limited Seats
Sociotechnical Systems Change in Practice is a live, online, interactive, four-part course that offers a new approach for how we -- as individuals and diverse collectives — can transform power dynamics in the systems we’re in, and chart new sociotechnical futures. That’s a tall order, but after working at the intersection of technology and systems change for 15 years (and at the risk of being a li’l bold!) I’ve come to believe that we’re doing it all wrong:
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There is no such thing as a ‘tech problem.’ All ‘tech problems’ are entangled in social systems, and the systems don’t often behave like we expect them to.
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There are no ‘tech solutions either,’ there are only sociotechnical interventions with consequences for different communities, societal values, and how power is (or isn’t) redistributed.
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The future is not a neat theory-of-change away. Sociotechnical systems are complex — they don’t abide by cause-and-effect — and require thinking backward from the future.
Learning Outcomes
I could go on, but the point is that by the end of the course, you will learn how to:
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Map, analyze, and deconstruct power within sociotechnical systems.
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Identify complex dynamics within sociotechnical systems.
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Develop sociotechnical, system-aligned strategies — for yourself and your organization — that map backward from the future you want to create.
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Develop a shared vision for collective action rooted in interdependence and trust.
In short, you'll come out of this course with a new vision and draft strategy for how to change the system you’re in, vetted by me and your fellow participants, and an 80-page workbook full of exercises so you can do it all again in the future.
➕ 1 free hour of coaching following the course.
Price: $950 or $750 (early bird rate)
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If you are a student or can't afford the full price, get in touch.
Next Cohort
Other Options
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Book the training for your company or organization. Get in touch.
FAQs
Course Structure
The course is organized around four mindset shifts:
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Problems are made, not found. Everything starts with a problem statement, but where do those problems start? I think we’re looking in the wrong place.
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Systems are sociotechnical and complex. There is no such thing as a ‘tech problem.’ All ‘tech problems’ are entangled in social systems, and the systems don’t behave like you think.
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There are no ‘tech solutions,’ only sociotechnical interventions with consequences for different communities, societal values, and how power is (or isn’t) redistributed. Our individual, organizational, and collective actions need to reflect this reality or else we become trapped in feedback loops of our own making, bringing the past into the future.
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Changing sociotechnical systems requires thinking backward, not forwards. The future isn’t a neat ‘theory of change’ away.
The course is organized around these mindset shifts, draws on the concepts and frameworks I use in Untangled — e.g. complex adaptive systems, future studies, and science and technology studies, etc. — and offers tools and exercises to help you turn them into practical strategies for sociotechnical systems change. You’ll practice applying these strategies in the context of AI and your working world.
Who is this for?
This course is for anyone leading change at the intersection of technology and society. It's for mission-driven leaders, strategists, changemakers, and analysts who want to develop rigorous sociotechnical strategies that advance collective action. It’s for leaders who know systems change is key to the success of their mission. It’s for strategic doers collaborating with diverse stakeholders to advance their goals.
New sociotechnical futures might seem out of our reach. Systems might feel entrenched. Technology’s path might feel inevitable. But as Marshall McLuhan reminds us, “There is no inevitability as long as there is a willingness to contemplate what is happening.” So let’s turn these inevitable seeming futures into concrete mindset shifts and practical strategies, shall we?
The first cohort will take place January 11 and January 12, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm PT. Sign up today!