Embedding Systems Thinking Capability for Systems Change: A Behavioural Science Lens

Monday, July 20, 2026, 10:15 AM

Session: SOC Student Plenary (Hybrid)

This PhD research investigates the process of embedding systems thinking (ST) capability within public sector organisations (PSOs), focusing on how such capability can be developed and operationalised to support complex problem solving and systems change. Although ST is widely promoted in policy and practice, its application in PSOs remains limited. Existing research highlights persistent barriers, including conceptual ambiguity, fragmented interpretations, structural constraints, and limited opportunities for practical deployment. To address these challenges, this PhD proposes a conceptual integration of ST with organisational capability theory and provide a structured pathway for its development and use drawing on behavioural sciences. This framing aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice, which is particularly critical in risk-averse public sector contexts where continuity of service delivery constrains experimentation. Adopting an interdisciplinary, programmatic research design, the study draws on both academic and practitioner perspectives. A behavioural science lens is applied to examine how ST capability manifests across organisational levels and processes, with a focus on its enactment in practice. As a PhD by publication at mid-candidature stage, this presentation seeks feedback on method integration and the proposed approach to addressing conceptually complex phenomena.