The Role of Innovation in Systems Change

Authors

  • Mark Cabaj From Here to There Consulting
  • Lisa Attygalle Tamarack Institute
  • Natasha Pei Tamarack Institute

Keywords:

Multi-Level Perspective Framework, innovation, system change, comprehensive change strategy, tamarack, tamarack institute, collective impact

Abstract

The Tamarack Institute’s adaptation of the Multi-Level Perspective Framework (MLP) offers a way for social innovators to visualize comprehensive change strategies within complex environments in an accessible way. The MLP allows collaborative groups to see their mutually reinforcing activities – the dynamic interaction of activities and outcomes at multiple levels – and understand how their efforts cumulate over time. It offers a way to zoom in and out, focus on leverage points, and share the narrative of a complex change journey.

Author Biographies

Mark Cabaj, From Here to There Consulting

Mark Cabaj is President of From Here to There Consulting and Associate of the Tamarack Institute. Mark’s current focus is on building the practice of Developmental Evaluation, integrating real-time feedback and learning in emerging, complex, and fast-moving environments and has authored numerous tools and resources on the topic. He is involved in social innovation, systems and social change projects around Canada and beyond in the areas of economic justice, environmental sustainability, human services and food security. 

Lisa Attygalle, Tamarack Institute

Lisa Attygalle works with cities and organizations to help them meaningfully engage their communities. Over the last eight years her work has focused on creating authentic engagement strategies and training staff teams, teaching and writing about innovative engagement methodologies, designing and facilitating workshops with a focus on raising the voice of the context expert, integrated communications planning, and the use of technology and creativity for engagement. Lisa advocates for simplicity in infrastructure, frameworks and design and loves applying the principles of marketing, advertising, loyalty, and user experience to community initiatives. 
 
Lisa comes to this work from the private sector where she worked at one of Canada's leading communications firms with clients in agribusiness, healthcare, financial services and technology. Hailing from Australia, Lisa also worked on major water infrastructure projects as the liaison between municipal government, engineering and the community. 

 

Natasha Pei, Tamarack Institute

Natasha Pei brings online content to life and engages our members in the Vibrant Communities learning centre for poverty reduction. Natasha's involvement with Tamarack began in 2013 through the Communities First: Impacts of Community Engagement (CFICE) project, where she worked as a Research Assistant in the Poverty Reduction Hub, studying effective ways that community-campus engagement can result in real benefits for the community. 
 
Natasha holds a Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work through Carleton University. Her background, education and experience is in social work, with community capacity building and community engagement lying at an intersection of the structural perspective and strengths-based practice.   

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Published

2023-03-22

How to Cite

Cabaj, M., Attygalle, L., & Pei, N. (2023). The Role of Innovation in Systems Change . Social Innovations Journal, 17. Retrieved from https://socialinnovationsjournal.com/index.php/sij/article/view/5584

Issue

Vol. 17 (2023): Community Innovation: A Place-Based Approach to Social Innovation

Section

Evolution of Social and Community Innovation

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2023 Mark Cabaj, Lisa Attygalle , Natasha Pei (Author)

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