Systems Thinking Research & Leadership Development Institute (STRLDi)
Strategy Consulting & Corporate Development Training for Learning Organizations
In order of appearance of print within the newspaper Sunday Standard, Botswana effective Oct 21, 2012
The global attention economy is reshaping employment dynamics, particularly for youth, who increasingly divert their focus from foundational sectors to unstable digital careers. This shift leads to an oversupply of creators, low income stability, and potential societal impacts, threatening essential economic capacities and exacerbating issues like unemployment and mental health crises.
A Case Study of the Fixes-That-Fail Archetype (STRLDi Compendium of System Archetypes — Draft Edition) “THE LEADERSHIP MIRROR” Every leader believes they are solving problems.Few notice that the problems are quietly solving them. The more effort they invest, the deeper the pattern takes hold — until exhaustion feels like purpose and urgency feels like success. … Continue reading “Urgent Files”
**Twenty-five years ago, two teachers changed the way I see the world.**
This tribute is for **Daniel Kim and Diane Cory** — mentors and catalysts who shaped how I understand *The Fifth Discipline*, and how I have carried it across continents and generations.
From our first sessions together in Singapore to the work unfolding today through **STRLDi in Africa**, their influence continues to echo — in every system mapped, every dialogue convened, and every leader learning to see anew.
I wrote this piece to honour not only their memory, but the larger *Learning Organisation* community that keeps their work alive — in boardrooms, classrooms, and ministries alike.
🕊️ *“There are teachers who change what we know, and teachers who change how we see.”*
Daniel and Diane did both.
Read the full reflection here:
👉 [When Seeds Take Root Across Continents – A Tribute to Daniel Kim and Diane Cory](https://strldi.weebly.com/strldi.html)
The economic dynamics of a kilogram of beetroot illustrate complex interdependencies among farmers, retailers, caterers, consumers, laborers, and the state. Price changes create ripples affecting all layers, often leading to inflation and diminished profits. Effective coordination and productivity improvements, especially through regenerative practices and STEM, are vital for stability and growth in Botswana’s horticulture. From a P5 beetroot to a P40 plate—see why profits don’t grow without a coordination spine, and how STEM + regen can change the economics.
The parable “I Can Sleep When the Wind Blows” illustrates the importance of preparation, mirrored in agricultural practices and national budgeting. Effective industry planning, guided by STEM principles, ensures sustainable growth and stability. Without this backbone, the system falters, leading to volatility and inefficiency, hindering farmers and economic progress.
She had done everything right. Bought the seeds. Paid for inputs. Hired labour. Measured every drop of water. Watched over her crop with the kind of personal care only farmers understand. After weeks of nurturing, her cherry tomatoes gleamed on the vines — plump, red, and ready. She took them to the retailer who once … Continue reading Horticulture Farmers Can’t Plant Blind: Why Botswana Needs a National Horticulture Coordination System
Your thinking is incisive — and it touches a painful global fault line. ✳️ Introductory Paragraph: The world is not waiting. Nations are restructuring their economies, education systems, and regulatory frameworks to meet the demands of an AI-powered, STEM-led global future. That shift was happening as far back as 200 years ago. In the span … Continue reading Builders or Bystanders? Three Strategic Scenarios for Botswana’s STEM Future
Public servants’ regulatory styles adapt based on their understanding of systems, scale, and causality, influenced by their STEM training and the public’s literacy. STEM-trained regulators prioritize design-based control, while non-STEM counterparts often overregulate for self-preservation, risking bottlenecks and stifling innovation in agriculture and manufacturing.
Botswana’s professional horticultural farmers face growth limitations, reliant on institutional markets for stability. Retail and hospitality hold vast potential, necessitating structured partnerships, particularly with Sefalana. The proposed trial aims to increase local sourcing and empower farmers, enhancing aggregation and processing capabilities, ultimately positioning Botswana as a horticulture hub.
The content details the historical and contemporary dynamics of cattle populations in Southern Africa, focusing on the impacts of rinderpest, land policies, and disease control. The article traces cattle population trends in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, highlighting challenges such as malnutrition, drought, and socio-cultural values in cattle ownership, influencing production systems in the mind of the cattle farmer in Botswana.
The post discusses the challenges and opportunities for enhancing trade and production collaboration between Zambia and Botswana. It explores historical barriers such as colonial infrastructure and national self-sufficiency mindsets. The call for shared production planning emphasizes regional interdependence, addressing food security and economic resilience, while leveraging frameworks like AfCFTA for sustainable development.
Botswana’s unemployment crisis is rooted in systemic issues like labor absorption gaps, skills mismatches, and household instability. Solutions require rebalancing educational priorities towards STEM, improving family structures, and fostering cross-sector economic coordination. A holistic design is essential to energize key sectors, ensuring sustainable employment and economic resilience amidst persistent challenges.
Botswana has faced decades of investment without addressing the structural causes of high unemployment. This study employs systems thinking to highlight key systemic failures in absorbing the workforce, underperforming sectors, and value circulation. Solutions lie in redesigning economic structures for sustainable growth and job creation, challenging existing policies and practices.
The content emphasizes the importance of mental models in self-discipline and personal transformation. It highlights that true change requires individual introspection, supportive guidance, and shared experiences. A personal journey illustrates how unresolved beliefs can hinder progress and how reframing these beliefs can reinvigorate one’s ambition and sense of value.
Chris Argyris and Donald Schön developed the concept of reflection-in-action to address failures in learning and leadership within organizations. They distinguished between single-loop and double-loop learning, emphasizing the importance of real-time reflection. Their work integrated philosophical ideas, focusing on social practice and revealing defensive reasoning, ultimately promoting reflective professionals and learning organizations.
Here are the key themes and main topics covered here: 📘 Themes Covered Mindset Transformation Emphasis on shifting from survival-based hustle to structured, growth-driven thinking. Cultural & Psychological Dimensions The need to reframe identity, autonomy, and risk to integrate into organized manufacturing. Structural Barriers & Social Biases The role of systemic inequity, including gender, education … Continue reading When Community Speaks …. Transitioning from Hustling to Industry Requires More Than a New Dress Code—it Demands a New Way of Thinking … By All Hustlers.
Africa is not just an emerging market. It is a strategic axis between East and West. With the world’s youngest population and growing global demand for value-added goods, the AfCFTA is our opportunity to lead. No one needs to ask permission to trade—or even to exist. When we believe we do, we risk becoming either … Continue reading When the Economy Speaks …. AU + AfCFTA Comparison with global regional economic cooperation platforms
In Cereal, Horticulture & Meat Production Early Signals, Not Yet a Systemic Map We do not yet have access to the extensive national data collection that underpinned the unemployment study. However, we have identified substantive datasets for Botswana and the region through FAOStats, which form a solid initial foundation. Using these, we are currently developing … Continue reading What Nature Speaks Water Usage and Agriculture
Meets needs fueled by Fear of Death or Overcome Fear of Failure or Battling Rejection and Seeking Acceptance. Occupations that attract individuals motivated by the need to be alive or to avoid death: Certain occupations attract individuals who are motivated by the need to avoid death or confront their deepest fears in a way that … Continue reading When the Community Speaks Personal Career Choices & Personal Emotional Drives
Here is a draft policy statement for the National Agriculture Sector Policy for Botswana. It is grounded in the core themes here: Policy Statement: National Agriculture Sector Policy – Republic of Botswana That Botswana commits to developing a regenerative, market-aligned agriculture sector that ensures food sovereignty, inclusive growth, and climate resilience. The Government of Botswana … Continue reading National Agriculture Development Matrix
As part of upcoming projects. Contact us if you want to commission us to do a systemic study in this topic area. Contact: +267-75987534 / sheilasingapore@gmail.com
China’s journey to becoming the global economic powerhouse it is today was built over several decades. It was marked by strategic decisions. It involved long-term planning and evolving priorities. Below is an overview of how China grew its capacities, what it emphasized over time, and what it has discontinued or started paying attention to in … Continue reading When the World Speaks China’s Path to Growth Part I
A 2017 report from the World Economic Forum ranked Botswana as having the world’s poorest work ethic, impacting its economic competitiveness and foreign investment. The low productivity is attributed to cultural factors, with a historical background of pastoralism resulting in a lack of urgency and innovation. Addressing these issues requires systemic reform focused on productivity and merit-based incentives.
As part of upcoming projects. Contact us if you want to commission us to do a systemic study in this subject area. Contact: +267-75987534 / parcforlos@gmail.com
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