The tool is used by entering all of the current initiatives of a solution ecosystem into the tool, which enables a scorecard for addressing the problem in the target community to be produced. Once all of this data is entered, the scorecard shows the density of effort at each of the 36 initiative characteristics for any selected time range. The gaps in current effort, where initiative characteristics are not currently included in the initiatives of the solution ecosystem, can be highlighted by selecting the software’s ‘show gaps in effort’ button. With the gaps in current effort clearly identified, strategies can be developed to address the gaps and increase the system functioning and performance of the solution ecosystem.

A 6 month pilot of the program is nearing completion which has been undertaken with four diverse participants: a European consultant, a South Australian local government employee, a South Australian state government employee and a community leader from the Northern Adelaide region. The local government employee is from the City of Onkaparinga. Wicked Lab will be conducting an evaluation at the completion of the pilot. Learning to date from the pilot has resulted in Wicked Lab choosing two main focus areas for the tool: using it as a solution innovation lab methodology and using it as a lens to increase the systemic impact of innovations. Wicked Lab has recently developed two new programs: a Program for Systemic Innovation Labs and a System Entrepreneur Program.

The model was developed in partnership with City of Onkaparinga staff and active citizens from its leadership program. The City of Onkaparinga supported the pilot of the Complex Systems Leadership Program by funding a staff member to participate and allocated additional staff to enter data into the tool.

Society at large, and geographical communities benefit, as the tool takes a solution ecosystem approach: the tool increases the coherence of all the initiatives in a geographical community that are addressing any of the interdependent causal factors that underpin a targeted wicked problem. Governments benefit because tackling wicked problems requires emergent community responses, which encourages improving upon the traditional models of governance.

Part of the tool, the Complex Systems Leadership Program provides participants with the knowledge and skills required to use the tool to support community transitions in “real time”. The learning outcomes of the participants will be validated at the completion of the pilot: the four participants will complete a post-program online survey form and be interviewed to confirm the knowledge and skills that they have gained during the program.

The key challenge has been that the tool is a disruptive innovation and therefore a market has needed to be created for the tool. A disruptive innovation also requires a whole product solution to be created to encourage customers to adopt the tool. Techniques used to create the market include providing webinars called ‘complexity snapshots’ to enable potential adopters of the tool to have exposure to this approach for a minimal investment, publishing in peer-reviewed journals to further validate the approach, and presenting at practitioner events. Packaging the tool within the Complex Systems Leadership Program has been Wicked Lab’s first attempt at providing a whole product solution. Learning from the program’s pilot has resulted in Wicked Lab deciding to offer two programs in the future that will provide separate whole product solutions for the tool’s two identified key target markets: solution innovation labs and system entrepreneurs.

Key success factors include: having a strong, diverse and experienced team and a lead customer that embraces innovation.

The need for the tool is widespread as all governments are tackling wicked problems and are confronting the reality that traditional linear, analytical approaches do not work when addressing these problems. The tool can be used by any level of government to support the transition of solution ecosystems to more appropriate ways of working for addressing wicked problems. Both state and local government employees participated in the pilot of the Complex Systems Leadership Program and Wicked Lab recently provided a submission to the Inquiry into the Australian Government's role in the development of cities. The feedback received from presenting at international forums has confirmed that the tool’s use goes beyond being just used by Australian governments; the first participating customer in the pilot program was from the Netherlands.

Being part of a global community that is advancing complex adaptive systems approaches for addressing wicked problems has provided opportunities for learning, reflection, support and recognition through the innovation process.