Fleshing Out a Town’s SkeletonJason McFarlane - Pracsys

About Pracsys WA based Regionally experienced Evidence-based decision making Urban and employment Economics Strategy that delivers

Purpose of this Talk Not to predict the future Systems-based approach Multiple systems create an organism1. Understanding your environment 2. Understand what you can change3. Choosing how you can intervene

Systems Based Strategy

Trends

Systems

Vision

Goals

Levers

Impacts

Feedback

Governance

Context

Strategy

Delivery

Interventions

Ever-changing world

Ever-changing world

Urban Form is the Skeleton Physical shape Perceived as a representation of current

trends Representation of past trends How we engage with a place Focus of planning and decision making

structures Activity versus productive change?

Trends and Systems - STEEP Factors

We tend to simplify Look to averages Plan for the past – what

we have observed Local shifts Reinforce our

prejudices Plan for somewhere

else (benchmarking)

We tend to ignore extremes

Discontinuities Shocks Thresholds Bubbles

Global shifts

Vision Description of future state Define and measure success

Take advantage of short-term opportunities? Long-term resilience

Value Encourage Avoid/mitigate

Goals Key determinants of vision Much more powerful if focussed on

systems rather than trends Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Time-Bound

Leverage Points

Meadows (2008)

Impacts

Likelihood of success Flow on benefits Risk Opportunity cost

Interventions Assess scenarios Decision rules Role of stakeholders Control

Our own assets We are the decision-makers We take the risks and get the rewards

Interventions Influence

Influencing other’s behavior Often thought of as statutory controls and

incentives 12 leverage points Formal and informal influence

Monitor Provision of information Right decision makers at right time No agenda other than informing – help others

decide

Governance Not administrative! Own the vision Risk management versus mitigation Empowerment Deal-making Being brave with own resources

Feedback Structured upfront Progress to vision Timely and accurate Shared Useful

So what? Please don’t just focus on the skeleton Understand the systems you want to

influence Understand the meaning of success

for you Grants should drive further investment Be patient

Systems Based Strategy

Trends

Systems

Vision

Goals

Levers

Impacts

Feedback

Governance

Context

Strategy

Delivery

Interventions

Ever-changing world

Ever-changing world

Continue the conversation Jason McFarlanejmcfarlane@pracsys.com.auPhone: 0412 836 147www.pracsys.com.au