We’ve been working with Yorkshire Water to help them establish a foundation level of understanding of Systems Thinking across the business. Part training and part on-project coaching, the programme has introduced a portfolio of systems thinking approaches and worked with teams to identify the most relevant frameworks for them and their diverse project challenges.

We’ve also helped them to explore some of the core capabilities that support better working in complex systems, such as cross-team collaboration. Through this work we’ve been able to create bespoke tools and approaches that fit with and enhance the frameworks they already use across multiple functions and departments.

Organisations such as Yorkshire Water that face complex, multi-stakeholder, regulated environments can realise tangible benefits from exploring their work through a systems thinking lens. From facilitating cross-functional working aligned with better clarity of purpose to the critical roles of visualisation, information flows and storytelling, systems thinking offers rich and varied principles and methods.

Our complementary expertise in service design and design thinking has also enabled us to take a participatory design approach: ensuring that the work is inclusive, cuts across hierarchies and puts practical interventions at its heart.

As the project has developed, we’re excited to be supporting a community of practice, building a library of case studies and refining the organisation’s systems thinking toolkit.

Andy Hartley from Yorkshire Water’s Leadership and Behavioural Development Team said:

“Systems Thinking is as much a mindset shift as it is a definable approach. It was challenging to define which approaches from within Systems Thinking will be most relevant for us. And challenging to envisage how these would integrate with current operational, leadership and compliance processes. Simon and Lena from Redfront have brought great knowledge of the subject, and diverse experience in applying the discipline in infrastructure and operational contexts. They introduced a “portfolio” approach to the learning and have developed and refined a flexible Systems Thinking “Toolkit” for us. They have been very flexible and supportive in our evolving situation and have proven they are excellent trainers, facilitators and coaches alongside their subject matter expertise.

As a result of the Systems Thinking programme, we are seeing colleagues across Yorkshire Water exploring and applying Systems Thinking in their work, collaborating more effectively, designing better approaches and change programmes, delivering benefits for customers, the environment and the business.

I look forward to continuing to draw on their support and expertise as we strive to embed and promote Systems Thinking approaches in Yorkshire Water.”