Understanding the Difference Between Systematic, Systemic, and Systems Change
058. The important role each of these types of transformation play
In the world of social impact and community transformation, few terms are as frequently used—and as commonly misunderstood—as systematic, systemic, and systems change. While they sound similar, each represents a distinct way of thinking about and approaching change. Understanding these distinctions is essential for anyone working in policy, social innovation, community development, or organisational transformation.
Why the Distinction Matters
When changemakers use these terms interchangeably, they risk misdiagnosing the nature of the problem they are trying to solve—and as a result, applying the wrong strategies. Each approach to change involves a different focus, scope, and set of tools. Clarifying these differences not only sharpens our thinking but also ensures that our interventions are effective, sustainable, and grounded in the right level of analysis.
What Is Systematic Change?
Systematic change is about process. It describes a methodical, step-by-step approach to achieving a goal. When we take a systematic approach, we are focused on how change happens—the planning, sequencing, and structured implementation of interventions. This approach is often used in project management, policy design, and organisational development.
For instance, when addressing homelessness, a systematic approach might involve conducting research to identify needs, establishing shelters, coordinating meal services, and tracking outcomes through defined metrics. Each step follows logically from the previous one, ensuring that change efforts are consistent, organised, and measurable.
What Is Systemic Change?
Systemic change, by contrast, refers to change that takes place at the level of formal structures. This includes the policies, laws, institutions, and governance arrangements that underpin social systems. Systemic change targets the rules of the game—those institutional and legislative mechanisms that shape how societies function.
In the context of homelessness, systemic change might involve reforming housing policy to increase access to affordable housing, adjusting welfare systems to prevent financial instability, or implementing new legal protections for tenants. This type of change addresses the structural barriers that perpetuate social problems, aiming to reconfigure the formal architecture of society.
What Is Systems Change?
Systems change represents the most holistic and transformative of the three approaches. It involves shifting the underlying patterns, relationships, and mindsets that hold a problem in place. Systems change takes into account not only formal structures like policy and governance, but also informal ones—such as cultural narratives, social norms, power dynamics, and community networks.
When applied to homelessness, systems change considers the issue as part of a larger interconnected web of causes and consequences. It explores how housing policy, economic systems, social attitudes, and resource flows interact to produce the conditions for homelessness. A systems approach might therefore combine policy reform with efforts to change public perceptions, foster cross-sector collaboration, and address the root causes of exclusion and inequality.
To summarise:
Systematic change is about how we make change—methodical, planned, and structured.
Systemic change is about where we make change—within the formal institutions and structures of society.
Systems change is about what we change—the deeper relationships, values, and dynamics that give rise to social challenges.
Each of these approaches has its place in the changemaker’s toolkit. The most effective strategies often weave them together—combining the discipline of systematic action, the leverage of systemic reform, and the depth of systems thinking.
Understanding these distinctions empowers changemakers to act with greater precision and impact. It helps us to see not only the visible aspects of a problem but also the hidden forces that sustain it. When we begin to think in systems, we move beyond surface-level fixes and towards solutions that are adaptive, inclusive, and genuinely transformative.
By becoming more intentional about how we use these concepts, we ensure that our efforts are not only well-planned and well-meaning, but also capable of reshaping the systems that shape us.