I'd argue it's an error of our age to imagine that "focus" that isn't backed by "systemic" thinking works. My friend who studies physics by firing particles at each other would seem like a prime candidate for "focus" but it turns out that even there, to actually do the work he needs to know about a lot more than just the physics of particles - because even a particle accelerator is a *system* composed of many parts, all of which need some attention at various moments.
My hamfisted two cents would be: Focus might be for aims/goals - systems are for how you achieve them.
Love it -- I agree fully with the conclusion - to reach a well defined or "focused" goal, you need to understand the systems you intersect with.
In my sector, I guarantee not all focus is backed by systemic thinking. In the donor / development communities we've shot ourselves in the foot: bureaucratic processes developed to protect the tax payer or donor dollar stifle creative or often, even logical action to reach the desired goal. And much of what I'm arguing against here are the false divisions that govern global development programs. Food isn't health, its agriculture, for example.
So yes, let's embrace focused goals and systems-oriented implementation! It's the only way to move progress forward.
I'd argue it's an error of our age to imagine that "focus" that isn't backed by "systemic" thinking works. My friend who studies physics by firing particles at each other would seem like a prime candidate for "focus" but it turns out that even there, to actually do the work he needs to know about a lot more than just the physics of particles - because even a particle accelerator is a *system* composed of many parts, all of which need some attention at various moments.
My hamfisted two cents would be: Focus might be for aims/goals - systems are for how you achieve them.
Love it -- I agree fully with the conclusion - to reach a well defined or "focused" goal, you need to understand the systems you intersect with.
In my sector, I guarantee not all focus is backed by systemic thinking. In the donor / development communities we've shot ourselves in the foot: bureaucratic processes developed to protect the tax payer or donor dollar stifle creative or often, even logical action to reach the desired goal. And much of what I'm arguing against here are the false divisions that govern global development programs. Food isn't health, its agriculture, for example.
So yes, let's embrace focused goals and systems-oriented implementation! It's the only way to move progress forward.