Cybernetics for Social Impact: systems and feedback
POINTS
1
MODE
Workshop
TYPE
Knowing
KIND
SoCIETIE KNOT
THREAD
Enabling Technologies
Summary
Among other things, Cybernetics is about feedback and systems. In this knot we’ll look at how understanding feedback and systems can be helpful in working towards positive social impact
Preparation
You can get yourself in the mindset of the session by choosing any of the following pre-session resources:
Santiago Boys podcast – Episode 2 (available on most streaming apps, recommend listening at 1.2x)
Ch 6 - Thinking in Systems (Donella Meadows) or https://donellameadows.org/archives/leverage-points-places-to-intervene-in-a-system/
Leverage Zones (Nabavi and Browne)
Nabavi E and Browne C (2023) ‘Leverage zones in Responsible AI: towards a systems thinking conceptualization’, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10(1):1–9, doi:10.1057/s41599-023-01579-0.
Appadurai A (25 May 2025) ‘“An autoimmune disorder”: how Trump is turning American democracy against itself’, The Guardian, accessed 10 June 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/may/25/trump-american-democracy, accessed 10 June 2025.What participants will learn
We'll learn how to identify and think about systems at different scales. We'll collectively look at a moment in time when systemic change was ambitiously attempted by a cybernetician on a huge scale: the political, social and economic change in Chile during the early 1970s. Then we look at different models for identifying potential points of intervention in a system.
Learning outcomes:
Gain a basic understanding of cybernetics and systems thinking theory
Identify systems and articulate their purpose
Identify leverage points in a system and consider the potential consequences of intervening.
Advice
We will provide materials for this session.
Be prepared to work collectively
Completion
Short reflection to add to learning portfolio:
- Created by
- Jessamy Perriam