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HUMAN-CENTERED SYSTEMS THINKING
workshop

Design with empathy. Think in systems. Innovate with impact.

Description

In today's rapidly evolving landscape, challenges are increasingly complex, interconnected, and human-centric. Human-Centered Systems Thinking (HCST) offers a powerful approach that integrates the empathy-driven methods of Design Thinking with the analytical rigor of Systems Thinking. This workshop equips participants with the mindset, tools, and frameworks to navigate and address multifaceted problems effectively.
 

Recognized by the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 as a critical leadership capability for 2030, Systems Thinking—when combined with a human-centered lens—prepares professionals to lead transformative initiatives with lasting impact.

Human-Centered Systems Thinking Workshop
Human-Centered Systems Thinking Workshop
Human-Centered Systems Thinking Workshop
Human-Centered Systems Thinking Workshop

Recommended Audience

This workshop is ideal for:

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  • Facilitators and trainers seeking to enhance their toolkit for complex problem-solving.

  • Organizational leaders and change agents aiming to drive sustainable innovation.

  • Professionals in sectors like healthcare, education, public policy, and business transformation.

  • Teams embarking on projects that require holistic analysis and stakeholder engagement.

Methodology

This is an experiential workshop emphasizing active participation and practical application. Participants will engage in:

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  • Interactive lectures introducing key concepts and frameworks.

  • Hands-on activities to practice HCST tools and techniques.

  • Group discussions to reflect on insights and share experiences.

  • Real-world case studies to contextualize learning.

  • Collaborative projects to apply HCST methods to participants' own challenges.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

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  1. Understand the foundational principles of Human-Centered Systems Thinking.

  2. Apply HCST frameworks to real-world challenges, identifying root causes and leverage points.

  3. Utilize tools such as system maps, iceberg models, and behavior-over-time graphs to visualize complex systems.

  4. Develop strategies that are both empathetic to human needs and effective within systemic constraints.

  5. Foster collaborative environments that encourage diverse perspectives and co-creation.

Workshop Outline

Session 1: Foundations & Human Empathy
 

  • Introduction to Human-Centered Systems Thinking (HCST)

  • Why combine empathy with systems awareness to address complex challenges

  • HCST 5-Phase Framework: Empathy → Define → System Analysis → Ideate → Prototype & Test

  • The role of divergent and convergent thinking in innovation

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  • Group Activity 1: Challenge Framing through Empathy - Participants identify a real-world challenge they face and explore it through user interviews, personas, or empathy maps. Focus on surfacing emotional and experiential insights.

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Session 2: Define & Systems Thinking Tools
 

  • Crafting clear Problem Statements (POV) and HMW (How Might We) questions

  • Introducing the Iceberg Model and mental models

  • Exploring interconnections and causality using systems thinking

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  • Group Activity 2: Iceberg & Leverage Point Analysis - Participants apply the Iceberg Model to identify deeper patterns, structures, and beliefs driving surface challenges. Then pinpoint potential leverage points for intervention.

Session 3: System Mapping & Ideation
 

  • Visualizing systems through stakeholder maps and causal loops

  • Principles of divergent and convergent ideation

  • Creative ideation techniques aligned with systems awareness

 

  • Group Activity 3: System Mapping & Idea Generation - Groups build a Systems Map of their selected issue and then brainstorm multiple ideas that address both user needs and systemic leverage points. Narrow down ideas using simple criteria.

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Session 4: Prototyping & Design Briefs

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  • Prototyping: rapid, low-fidelity ways to test ideas

  • Testing with users and feedback loops

  • Creating a design brief to summarize insights and guide action

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  • Group Activity 4: HCST Design Brief Creation - Teams synthesize their work into a clear HCST Design Brief, capturing user feedback, system insights, proposed solutions, and how they will prototype and test their idea.

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Wrap-Up & Reflections 

Award of Certificate

Certificate of Attendance will be issued to participants who have attended at least 75% of the workshop

Duration

1 day or 2 days

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