Learn Practical Tools to Tackle Complex Challenges
sistemaFutura has developed a cutting edge approach to combine systems analysis with behavioral science: to better understand and address complex challenges.
We teach our methods to clients through projects and in private workshops; we are now opening up our trainings to the broader community. Our first public training will be this February in-person and in Costa Rica (a great time to visit the country).
Please join us to discover how to combine behavioral science and systems thinking to make real, measurable change.
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A practical workbook that equips you to drive systemic behavioral change in your work.
The training includes the toolkit we use for our own projects, and you are free to use it at your organization.
What You'll Learn
Gain the skills to understand complex systems, identify opportunities for meaningful change, and design solutions that create lasting impact.
Understand Systems
You’ll learn to map how people, social influences, institutions, and policies interact within a system. Instead of focusing on individual behaviors, we help you see the bigger picture: - How cultural norms shape decisions. - How institutional structures create barriers or opportunities. - How changes in one area can generate large-scale impacts, or be rendered completely ineffective by the structure of the system.
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Practical Tools
You’ll work hands-on with tools to analyze systems effectively. This includes: - Human-centered causal loop diagrams, designed to support behavioral science insights and interventions. - Leverage point analysis, to identify opportunities for change. - Computational modeling to simulate the effects of your policies and programs, and how the may interact with future scenarios.
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Real-World Examples
The training integrates case studies from development and business, showing how behavioral systems analysis is currently being used to solve complex problems. Examples include: - Addressing systemic issues in healthcare delivery. - Tackling gender-based violence with interventions designed to disrupt harmful feedback loops. - Evaluating the likely impact of new product features and marketing campaigns, before a costly launch
A Brief Overview of the Curriculum
Day 1
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Introduction to Behavioral Systems
Start with the basics of Behavioral Systems Analysis: what it is, why it matters, and how you can use it to understand and address complex challenges.​
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Case Studies and Tools for Mapping Systems
Explore real-world examples from international development and corporate contexts. Learn practical tools from human-centered causal loop diagrams to narrative-based participatory modeling, to help you understand behavioral dynamics over time and identify leverage points for change.
Day 2
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Hands-On Practice with Your Own Project
Apply what you’ve learned to a real-world issue you or your organization faces. Work through the process step-by-step with expert guidance and collaborative feedback.
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Advanced Tools: Modeling and Simulation
Dive into advanced methods, including computational modeling and social network analysis. Learn how to use these tools to provide more rigorous analyses of behavioral systems, estimate systemic impact of interventions, and quantify the effects of incomplete data and uncertain futures.
Want more details? Download the curriculum to explore the sessions, tools, and techniques covered.
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What is the cost of the training?The cost per seat is $2,300 before January 12, and $2,600 afterwards. This includes all of the materials, the guided sessions, a practical workbook to take home, and lunch during the two training days.
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Who is this training for?This training is ideal for professionals in international development and in business who tackle difficult to change systemic challenges. Specifically, this approach is geared for behavioral scientists and behavioral designers who want to increase the scope and impact of their work by incorporating systems models, and for system thinkers and simulation modelers who want to build more accurate models by incorporating insights from behavioral science.
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Why should I join this training?This training helps equip you to address the root causes of systemic challenges. You’ll gain skills to create measurable, lasting impact in your work, whether tackling social issues like gender-based violence or driving organizational change. By combining behavioral science, systems thinking, and practical applications, this training empowers you to: Address challenges that resist change Find high-impact opportunities for intervention Design solutions that make a real difference in your organization or community
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Where is the training happening?The training will take place in La Guácima, Costa Rica, at a peaceful venue that borders the forest. La Guácima is located in the province of Alajuela, about 30 minutes from the airport and from the the capital city, San José; it's also on the road to beach!
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What's the training format?This is an in-person, hands-on workshop led by Dr. Stephen Wendel.
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Who is conducting the training?Dr. Stephen Wendel, co-founder of sistemaFutura, author of Designing for Behavior Change, and one of the pioneers in behavioral systems analysis.
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Does this approach replace behavioral science / design?Absolutely not -- behavioral systems analysis adds to it. Behavioral science and design have developed a long track record of cost-effective, thoughtful nudges (and boosts etc.) that make meaningful impacts. Behavioral systems analysis is for people who want to stretch the boundaries of what behavioral science can do: to take on more complex issues where nudges are insufficient.
Once you complete the form, we’ll be in touch shortly with next steps to secure your spot. If you have any immediate questions, feel free to email us at hello@sistemafutura.com