An Introduction to Systems Thinking for Sustainability: SiD Theory I

Learn about issues of sustainability and Symbiosis in Development (SiD)

To work on building a sustainable society requires learning and applying new, integrated concepts of living, working, and producing. This course will provide you with a renewed understanding of the issues of sustainability, and will introduce you to the framework of Symbiosis in Development (SiD), developed over 20 years.

SiD is the first complete systemic sustainability framework, combining the theory of systems thinking and sustainability with a practical application method, and team work processes to guide projects from A to Z.

Understand the main concepts underlying sustainability and its relevance in today’s world

Tapping into basic notions of systems thinking, and network and resilience theory, you’ll have a renewed understanding of the issues of sustainability affecting our world today and the relevance of it as a concept.

You’ll gain in-depth knowledge on how to think holistically, and gauge a whole new perspective on the term ‘sustainable impact’, learning how to implement this in both your professional and personal life.

Recognise systemic behaviours in society and how they relate to key sustainability concepts

Along with recognising systematic behaviours within modern society, you’ll also understand how to re-frame the way success is defined for sustainable projects and come up with sustainable end goals and KPIs.

You’ll also perform impact scans across different dimensions of sustainability.

Learn from the experts in Symbiosis in Development (SiD) and sustainability issues

You’ll be guided throughout by the founder of Expert Integrated Sustainability Tom Bosschaert, who has designed pioneering sustainable strategies for clients such as IKEA and Heineken, and Mattia Miccichè, systems thinker and SiD facilitator.

This online course is for purpose-driven professionals in both public and private organisations, who are determined to make a substantially positive impact on society.

This includes policy makers, designers, planners, researchers, engineers, business strategists, and people in communications and management.

Whether learners are taking the first steps in their career, or they are experienced sustainability experts, the course provides a common understanding and vocabulary on systemic sustainability.

To take part in this course, you will need paper, a pencil, color markers, and a creative attitude.

• What is sustainability?
• Introduction to the course
• What is sustainability?
• The Importance of Definitions
• Defining sustainability
• Defining Sustainability
• "...the state of a complex, dynamic system"
• Resilience, Autonomy, and Harmony for sustainable systems
• Knowledge check
• The Anatomy of a System: Objects and Networks
• Welcome to Week 3
• The Object Level
• The Network Level
• "More than the sum of its parts": The System Level
• Welcome to Week 4
• Refresher on the System Level
• System Behaviors and Dynamics
• Wrapping it all up