Join us for a morning masterclass and networking session to find out about new ways of looking at organisational performance based on systems thinking principles.

Calendar
Thursday 26 February 2026
Clock
08:30–11:45
Navigate
Conference Room (4th floor)
Microphone
Agnessa Spanellis
Microphone
David Cole

Overview

How could systems thinking help my organisation?

Modern organisations operate in increasingly complex environments characterised by rapid and often unpredictable change. Systems thinking can help you to engage with this complexity, and so developing systems thinking capabilities in business and management is a matter of survival.

This masterclass will introduce some of the key concepts in systems thinking, and provide an opportunity to begin mapping your business, ask questions and learn how to take your organisation’s systems thinking capabilities further. You will explore your own business as a system and learn how you can unfold complexity in your organisation and how it can limit or enable your strategy.

Agenda

Time Session
8.30am Breakfast and networking
9.00am

Presentation:

  • Introduction to systems thinking
  • Overview of systems thinking models and methods useful in business and management
10.00am Coffee break
10.20am Viable Systems Model masterclass
11.30am Closing remarks

Who's it for?

This event is designed for senior strategic and operational leaders. You will discover concepts and tools of systems thinking – which your organisation might not yet be fully benefitting from. You will learn about the approaches to look for the root causes of organisational challenges and help you develop targeted improvement plans.

Key takeaways

As a result of this masterclass, you will take away a viable systems model of your organisation that will help you to start unpacking the hierarchies and feedback mechanisms within the organisation that might prevent it from performing as intended.

Interested in finding out more? If so, join a likeminded group of senior business leaders for what we believe to be the next steps in your organisation’s improved performance journey.

The event is jointly organised by the Gamification and Systems Thinking Lab and the Executive Education Team, and will take place at the University of Edinburgh Business School. This is an in-person event with a limited number of in-person places.

Speakers

Agnessa Spanellis

Agnessa Spanellis

Senior Lecturer in Systems Thinking, University of Edinburgh Business School, and Director of the Gamification and Systems Thinking Lab

David Cole

David Cole

Innovation Strategist at the Global Research Innovation and Discovery Centre, Heriot-Watt University