As hard as we tried not to, these guides do use some jargon – this guide deciphers that for you.

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A System is a set of interconnected and dynamic forces that have a collective function or purpose. 

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Systems thinking is a habit of mind and set of tools for grappling with complex systems. It is understanding a system's connections and underlying patterns and dynamics in a way that uses that information to identify interventions and opportunities for change. 

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Systems change is the practice of addressing systems in a way that is ongoing, emergent, adaptive and resilient – intervening in issues in the most strategic way possible to shift them toward equity and health.

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Forces are individual elements with a system. They could be a pattern or trend, policy, attitude, power dynamic, or belief. 

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Mental models are the individual and collective assumptions, beliefs, and world views that we individually and collectively hold about systems.

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Leverage points are places within the system where a small action can have an outsized impact. It can be a particular force, connection, or pattern where stakeholders in the system can intervene to shift the system towards health and equity.

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Feedback loops are the patterns that drive systems. Feedback loops are a series of forces that connect to one another in a cyclical way to form a loop. They dictate how a system functions.

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Dominant narratives are the ways in which we articulate our mental models. They are the stories and accounts of how we think about particular issues.

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Stakeholders are the key individuals and groups within any given system. They could be affected – directly or indirectly – by the system, have influence or power within the system, or be a changemaker in the system.