Identifying Locally Relevant and Actionable Complex Problems: Method Design and Application in One Australian Community

There is now considerable effort in addressing complex problems through the application of systems science. This includes the use of methods to ‘co-inquire’ with community stakeholders and map systems to understand the nature of complex problems from multiple perspectives. However, moving from insight into the system to action has been more challenging. In this paper, we describe an approach to the identification of ‘relevant’ and ‘actionable’ local problems, where place-based systems change is the goal. The first phase includes an exploration of what is already known about the system, via an initial system scan, visual system mapping and community workshops. The next phase is an exploration of local problems and patterns, via community workshops and the development of a causal loop diagram. We argue for the identification of complex problems and their underlying causes that resonate with community stakeholders as immediately relevant and able to be acted upon locally. Our approach is neither rigid nor prescriptive. Through the configuration of systems methods (described above), it offers an inquiry pathway, enabling problem identification to emerge from engagement with the complexity of the system. We present both our approach and its application in one Australian community and invite researchers to apply, adapt, and refine this approach in diverse communities seeking place-based systems change.