Systemic Intervention

Abstract

As a third example of doing systems practice, I introduce in this chapter “Systemic Intervention” as formulated by Gerald Midgely and his collaborators. He describes systemic intervention as purposeful action by an agent to create change [7] p. 8]. This emphasis on intervention is contrasted ‘with the usual scientific focus on observation’. I assume the normative position of the practitioner in such an approach to be the desire to intervene in a situation to improve it in some way. My purpose in introducing systemic intervention is threefold: (i) to exemplify in particular how in this form of practice different systems methods and methodologies have, or could be applied as part of practice; (ii) to exemplify systems practice in the medical and health field which is a domain crying out for more effective systems practice and (iii) to introduce another voice by allowing the systems practitioner who developed ‘systemic intervention’ to speak for himself.

Before introducing the reading that explicates systemic intervention I want to provide some evidence of how the study of Systems has led to change in situations for the better in the health and medical field.