Systems Perspective

Systems Perspective

Uses an understanding of how elements of a system relate and interact to frame risks and opportunities.

The leaders' Systems Perspective is what enables them to effectively translate the insights from their Visionary Thinking and their Peripheral Vision into an agenda and program for change. This competency is the "systems thinking" of functional and business leaders writ large, to encompass many social factors and the relationship between the business and the social context as well as the systems within the business. The corporate citizenship leader with Systems Perspective understands the business and society as interrelated systems and can identify where the greatest opportunities for influence both internally and externally are, and where the greatest risks may lie.

This leader displayed Systems Perspective when they raised an important issue:

"I told the supplier why it [a new model for dealing with products and sourcing around a key social/environmental issue] was so important to us. And how it's important for our brand, how it's important for you as supplier, too, how important stakeholder engagement is, which I do believe. It's so important. We don't live on an island."

Systems Perspective competency developmental scale
Foundational	Intermediate	Advanced
Has a systematic approach to mapping and understanding the company's social and environmental impacts and the stakeholders that will be affected. Has a good understanding of the business strategy and challenges and can identify how corporate citizenship issues can impact specific business units.	Has a comprehensive perspective of the company's and its industry sector's total impact on society. Uses a comprehensive knowledge of the business strategy and impacts to identify and prioritize the issues that are most "material" to the business in the short-, mid- and long-term.	Uses systems thinking and tools such as scenario planning to help corporate leaders and managers understand corporate citizenship as a strategic framework for identifying business risks and new market opportunities. Can "connect the dots" to find and design breakthrough solutions to systemic challenges and identify new resources to solve social challenges.