Opportunity Initiated Systems Design

vision and then adopted after an extensive design process. OISD may serve to be a more powerful model of change in that it capitalizes on powerful system concepts such as positive feedback and key leverage points, while still retaining a pragmatic orientation. The six phases of OISD are described below. The phases are loose and overlapping; they naturally would probably occur in sequential order, although it is quite likely that Phase 3, identification of opportunity for change, might precede the other phases. In that case, it is suggested that the system backtrack to Phase 1 and then go through the process sequentially. Evaluation of the opportunity for systemic impact and developing system self-knowledge are located in the center of the graphical depiction (Fig. 1), in order to show that inquiry is the essential focus of the design process. In each section a general description of activities in that phase is included, as well as typical participants and key outcomes that should result from each phase. Fig. 1. The six phases of OISD. Opportunity Initiated Systems Design 639