Structural Change

Structural change is a change to a system's structure that is so significant it causes a change in feedback loop dominance. Deep structural change is required to solve large complex social system problems, because those problems are always associated with the dominance of undesired feedback loops.

Structural change can be done by trial and error, which is the method employed by those unskilled in structural analysis and design. It is also the method employed by evolution. But in both cases this is a very slow and terribly unreliable method. Huge and costly mistakes can be made. However, as four billion years of impressive results have shown, evolution can do an excellent job if given enough time. Because we do not have that long to solve the global environmental sustainability problem, structural change, as designed and applied by structural engineers, is the preferred method.

  

The Dueling Loops

The most popular page on the site by a factor of 3. This paper presents a simple model showing why activists have been unable to solve the sustainability problem, and an alternative solution strategy based on high leverage points.

The Phenomenon of Change Resistance

This is the key concept that starts people thwinking, and causes them to explore the rest of the site. The concept is subtle, but has the potential to change the sustainability problem from insolvable to solvable.

The Powell Memo

The most eye popping short read (7 pages) on the site, if you have never heard about it. The memo was written in 1971.

The Dueling Loops Videos

These average 8 minutes. They give a quick introduction to the Dueling Loops model and how it explains the tremendous change resistance to solving the sustainability problem.
 

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