The Ecosystem Project – FAQ

What is The Ecosystem Project?

We began the Ecosystem Project in 2023 to explore how to solve difficult problems when presented with high levels of complexity. We have heard from our clients and others that successful change has been getting more and more difficult as the world is more complex, connected, and interdependent. Many of the systems that influence our environments are resistant to change no matter what we seem to do. Over two years of research, tool building, and testing, we have formalized the process and are working with our clients to help them solve tough challenges. We now have a well-honed toolkit and soon to be released book that support the work and are looking for partners who have tough challenges they would like to explore and overcome.

What can you share about your unique theory of change?

In our experience, we have found many change agents or change managers using the wrong tools for change given the complexity of the problems they have or the results they expect. Our theory of change addresses this complexity directly and offers insights about interventions across four broad orders of complexity: the transactional, the functional, the strategic, and the ecosystemic. By understanding points of leverage across these four orders of complexity, we employ the multiple layers that emerge from the depiction process. We then use both planful and adaptive engagements to create change in

  1. The transactions that are available to the inhabitants of the ecosystem,
  2. The functions that are delivered by the orchestrators that support others and the ecosystem’s purpose,
  3. The strategies of the organizations who participate in the ecosystem, and
  4. The interdependencies, partnerships, and networks that are required to create systemic transformation.

What are the steps in the ecosystem depiction process? 

Once we have agreed on the specific ecosystem of interest, written a draft of the purpose statement, and formed the EDT, we schedule three 2-hour DESIGN sessions. These sessions are conducted virtually using Zoom for video conferencing and Miro, an infinite virtual whiteboard of sorts, for the immersive design work. We can also deliver the sessions live in a workshop format. We schedule these EDT sessions about two to three weeks apart so we can do the depiction work between sessions. As an option, we may invite broader groups of ecosystem inhabitants to review and comment on the progress. We call these FEEDBACK sessions. The entire process concludes with a set of ecosystem “pictures” that are accompanied by a narrative explanation of the depictions all packaged into a final report.




Who does the work and what are my time commitments?

All of the heavy lifting of session planning, facilitation, graphic design, and final writing and packaging is done by our team of experts. You might find yourself in one of two roles as a client partner. One, you may be invited to join the Ecosystem Design Team where you would be asked to attend the three 2-hour design sessions. You may also be invited to join an optional 1-hour feedback session and give your reactions to the emerging ecosystem depiction and provide recommendations for improvement. Either way, we promise these sessions will be fun, engaging, and contribute to your understanding of the ecosystem of interest and the landscape in which it exists.

What will our experience be like working with you as consultants? 

Our first task is to identify the ecosystem of interest for our design and depiction work. We also craft a purpose statement, what the ecosystem currently does and perhaps a bit about what it should do in the future. We then form the Ecosystem Design Team (EDT), a small group of individuals who will work to create the ecosystem depiction. This team is composed of our facilitators and experts but most importantly of individuals, or inhabitants, who live and take action in the current ecosystem of interest.



Can you give a few examples of ecosystem projects you’ve led?

While we have worked with systems dynamics and organizational change for over 30 years, we created this new canvas-based toolkit and facilitated process to help respond to the complexity in today’s environments. Grounded in our visually appealing depictions, we apply our theory of change leading to a set of interventions to create shifts and help ecosystems deliver better results sustained over time. The tools work in any kind of system where humans interact to meet needs, imagine new futures, or respond to high-potential – or even disastrous – changes in their environments. The processes work equally well in organizations, communities, and multistakeholder networks where no one is in charge. A few project examples include the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the lower Hudson Valley, the human talent hub in south eastern Minnesota, and several projects focused on organizational change within large organizations in the areas of human resources, strategic brand and reputation, and learning and innovation programs in dynamic industries.

Who are the leaders at Sierra Learning Solutions and NextWAVE Innovation? 

Sierra Learning Solutions is led by Dr. Rob Brodnick, an organizational psychologist and expert in nonlinear change in complex social systems. Rob served as higher education administrator, faculty member, and now works as a consultant as founder of Sierra Learning Solutions. The firm focuses on innovation and strategy helping organizations navigate to their desired futures. Karyn Zuidinga founded NextWAVE Innovation as an innovation, design, and UX firm. She’s helped clients across many industries sharpen their products and customer experiences as well as implement new solutions in complex environments. They have supported many clients working together as collaborative partners and now have expanded their network to include a large number of consultants, facilitators, and experts to tackle a wide variety of client challenges.




How did your book emerge from the creative community ecosystem? 

We engaged well over 100 scholars, practitioners, and seasoned experts to help refine our ideas through our creative community concept. The first phases of work focused on discovery and research to build a robust framework and toolbox for depicting ecosystems and exploring ecosystem dynamics. Then we collaborated with several partners to develop ecosystem depictions so they can explore opportunities to improve what they do and innovate. We decided to publish a book containing all of the background theory, processes and tools used to do the work, and a series of case studies so that others may learn with us and apply these learnings to improve their own ecosystems. The book The Ecosystem Project will be released in July 2025.

What about referrals? 

Perhaps you don’t need to hire us directly but know of a colleague who could really use our help. We are happy to include a referral or finders fee in our client contracts to encourage referrals.