Welcome to SystemCrafters Collective
Systems thinking is a practice. SystemCrafters Collective is a community of practice for technologists who design and develop information systems. Regardless of your experience level, you are welcome here.
Why join?
We live in a world where software increasingly interrelates with other software. People are increasingly interconnected with other people. Information moves asynchronously and transforms from one context to another.
Relationship design skills are essential for software professionals who design and build systems of software. As a member of the SystemCrafters Collective, you'll explore sociotechnical strategies that help you respect, rather than ineffectively reduce, relational complexity.
If you’ve ever struggled with:
Rigid, mechanistic approaches to complex software systems.
Rickety architectures held together by duct tape and Minions,
Superficial transformations that change the tools but maintain systematic blockers.
Dysfunctional communication across silos and hierarchies..
Seeing systemic solutions but not being heard.
Fire drilling rather than problem-solving.
Feeling like an outsider when you challenge the status quo with divergent thinking.
You are not alone.
As SystemCrafters, we develop skills and practices that embrace uncertainty and ambiguity. We transform software systems, when transformation is necessary. We also deliver impactful change reliably and predictably.
This is a difficult balance to achieve! We need each other's knowledge and experience to be successful.
We understand the value of conceptual work in a concrete world. We encourage members to develop systems thinking and design skills.
We interrelate
As an SCC member, you can dive into a collection of spaces for exploring systems. Spaces like:
- The Feedback Loop: A space to discuss all things systems.
- The Systems Café: Snack on knowledge, watch a video during your lunch break.
- Everything is Connected: The monthly book group for those who love to overthink.
We facilitate learning
In a world that prefers linear approaches, procedural, repeatable, dualistic and top-down, SystemCrafters Collective helps you develop nonlinear skills and practices through:
- On-demand workshops that introduce key concepts and teach core skills, taught by experienced community members.
- Cohort workshops in which members share and co-develop expertise and personal mastery.
- Modeling experiences where we experiment with approaches to thinking well together about systems.
- Practice groups to support your daily habits.
- Ongoing discussions about important topics (and unimportant but enjoyable topics).
- A resource library
- Architecting Systems: A newsletter sharing quick tips and resources for systems thinkers.
- Live Events like architectural katas and open space experiences so you can dive in and enjoy thinking with others.
We enable each other
In this community, if you have knowledge, share it. If you need knowledge, seek it. Develop your system of support that enables you to:
- Do hard things and help others do hard things.
- Solve wicked problems by understanding the patterns, structures and mental models (root causes) that generate them.
- Design information systems that make a positive difference.
- Communicate your ideas.
- Increase your positive impact.
- Understand the ever-changing world of technology systems
- Provide systems leadership.
We encourage diversity
A healthy system is a diverse system. We want to think outside the stereotype-reinforcing box. SCC respects and encourages diversity, both in the community and in the thinking we share.
Our goal is to create a community where underrepresented people and approaches thrive. Our code of conduct is straightforward: Consistently demonstrate strong, respectful and welcoming interpersonal skills. If you need support for developing those skills (we all do!), we can provide support.
Join today!
In 2025, membership is free! Be part of the core community that shapes and builds the SystemCrafters Collective.
Members who offer courses will charge a fee for those courses (we want to support each other economically as well). There will always, also, be free or low-cost experiences to join.
Free membership in 2024-2025 is sponsored by Mentrix. If you'd like to help support this collective, you can ... help us spread the word.
